A Legacy Walk through Marine Corps History

The Timeline Exhibit of the National Museum of the Marine Corps

We were fortunate to be part of the opening ceremonies for the Marine Corps Museum. We were stationed near Quantico, Va, so we were able to watch as the museum was constructed. On opening day, people were bused in because the crowds were so great. Marines young and old, activity duty, reservists, and retirees showed up for this momentous occasion. Finally, the Marine Corps had a place to where people could come together and remember the long, illustrious history of the Marine Corps. Listening to the old Marines talk about their time in the Corps – priceless.

As a family, we walked through the museum and tried to take it all in. The enormity of all of the history that was being displayed at the museum was almost overwhelming. Munchkin was so little the first time we went to the museum, but that wouldn’t be our last time there. Each time, we saw something new and learned more about various aspects of the Corps. One of the things that I was always drawn to was the timeline – The Timeline of Marine Corps History. It was something that I wished I could take home with me as I wanted Munchkin to be able to learn more about it. The Marine Corps is such a huge part of our life that I wanted her to really understand what it meant for her Daddy to be a United States Marine.

Shortly before Christmas this year (2010), I learned that Marine Corps Heritage Foundation had put out a book – A Legacy Walk through Marine Corps History: The Timeline Exhibit of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. I was beyond excited when I learned that I would have the opportunity to review this book. It arrived right before Christmas, so Munchkin decided that we would slide it under the tree for Daddy to open on Christmas morning.

Together, we looked through the glossy, full-color pages. The timeline is broken down into nine different sections:

1775-1866: From the Halls of Montezuma….
1866-1914: First to Fight
1914-1919: World War I
1919-1940: The Marines Have Landed
1940-1946: World War II
1946-1954: Korea
1954-1976: Vietnam
1976-2001: Global Readiness
2001-2009: Semper Fidelis

What is unique about this timeline is that it shows the Marine Corps history and how it correlates with national and global events that were taking place during the same time period. On the timeline itself, Marine Corps history is featured above the line while national and world events are shown below the line.

As we looked through the book, I was reminded of our walk through the museum when we carefully looked at each part of the timeline. I had some of the same pictures from our visits. Other images were new since our last visit or unique to the book. I never felt that we had enough time to really look and read the timeline at the museum. Now, visitors can spend more time looking at the other exhibits in the museum, and they can take the timeline home with them in the form of this book.

A Legacy Walk through Marine Corps History is not only a valuable resource about Marine Corps History, but it’s also a valuable resource for learning about our nation’s history and the history of the world around us. We, as a nation, have forgotten so much of our history. We’ve forgotten much of our world history. It is good to be reminded of these things, so we can try to avoid mistakes of the past.

A Legacy Walk through Marine Corps History: The Timeline Exhibit of the National Museum of the Marine Corps is a must have book for anyone who is interested in Marine Corps history. While the 121 page book comes in both softcover ($24.95) and hardcover ($39.95) formats, I would highly recommend the hardcover format as it will be more durable.

I received a copy of this book to help facilitate the writing of a frank and honest review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.