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Chairman Comments: Museum of the Marine in NYC for Veterans Week

(Director of Operatios, SgtMaj Houle being interviewed on FOX news during the Veterans Day parade in NYC)

In the past two months, Sergeant Major of the Marine Joe Houle and I have been out introducing the Museum of the Marine to government officials, association heads, philanthropists and donors in Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia and New York City. Great meetings everywhere, but let me highlight what we did New York. We were invited to participate in “Veterans Week” by the United Veterans War Council. What a week! The council set up a quarter of their events. Headquarters for the Museum of the Marine and we displayed our mannequins, bricks, handouts and case statements. We attended the Salute to Korean War Vets, Welcome Home Vietnam Vets, the Mayor’s breakfast, and the Veterans Day Parade with over 23,000 participants.

We meet former police commissioner Ray Kelly; Councilman Erik Ulrich; State Senator Marty Golden; Retired BG Lorrie Sutton, head of the Mayor’s Veterans Affairs; John Rowan, long-time President of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) among many others—all of whom have committed to assist our Museum.

(SgtMaj Joe Houle, Councilman Erik Ulrich, and Chairman David Brown)

Join the Monthly Giving Program!

As the holiday season approaches we hope that you will think about giving back to the Marine Corps community and sign up for the Museum of the Marine's Monthly Giving Program. When you donate to the Museum of the Marine’s monthly giving program you are making it possible to take this from dream to reality for so many men and women who have served their country in the United States Marine Corps. No donation is too small. Your card will be charged at the first of the month and you cancel your donation at any time. The Museum appreciates all of its supporters. Semper Fi and Long Live the Legends! Click below for the link to sign up through our website.

http://www.museumofthemarine.org/get-involved/monthly-giving-program

4th Annual Gala: A Night at the Museum

 The Museum's annual fund raising event was held on 25 October at Marston Pavilion onboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune. The "Night At The Museum" proved to be a great experience for all and continued to highlight the rich heritage of Marines, Sailors and the citizens of the communities in the Carolinas that have supported them.

Highlighting the evening was award winning television personality Rita Cosby who spoke to the assembled guests and shared the story of her World War II prisoner of war father.  

The future museum will not only memorialize the Marine Corps in the Carolinas, but will also celebrate and memorialize the communities and citizens who have contributed so much.  In that spirit, businessmen Mr. Itchy Popkin and Mr. Mat Raymond were recognized with framed architectural graphics of the completed museum building to show our appreciation for their dedication and support to Marines, Sailors and their families over the years.

As most of you are aware, the actual building of the Museum of the Marine will take place in two phases. Phase I will be a Reflection and Celebration Park that will be located on the museum site in the Lejeune Memorial Gardens aboard Camp Lejeune. Phase II will be the construction of the Museum building itself along with the exhibits. We anticipate breaking ground on Phase I in early 2015. Construction of the park will consist of:

* Clearing and grubbing the entire museum site

* Installing infrastructure

* Constructing parking lots

* Constructing walking paths along with a concrete foot bridge and architectural lighting

* Clearing and sodding the courtyard area, providing landscaping throughout and installing an irrigation system

* Erecting 5 flag poles (with lighting)

* Installing the Interrogator-Translator Team Memorial

* Emplacement of memorial bricks in the walkways

* Installing the 11 foot bronze Eagle, Globe and Anchor statue in its water venue

Once completed, the Reflection and Celebration Park will be ‘gifted’ to the Department of the Navy (i.e. Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune). Secretary of the Navy, The Honorable Ray Mabus, agreed to accept the gift of the park, thus allowing us to proceed with construction.

Before we can actually break ground, there are numerous administrative issues that must be attended to including obtaining various permits, getting estimates and selecting subcontractors for various aspects of the work to be done, lining up financing, contracting with the builder and other legal issues. The Building Committee is working diligently to ensure ‘all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed’ so that we can begin construction as soon as possible. As we go to print on this newsletter, our best estimates are that the total cost of Phase I will be between $1.3 and $1.5 Million. In early spring Phase I will have a formal ground breaking ceremony.  Stay Tuned!