Semper Fidelis.

Latin for "Always Faithful", this phrase is the motto for the United States Marine Corps.

Due to a plan shift, I visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps today instead of the University of Virginia.

I've visited this museum before, but today was really something special.  The weather was incredible, and the exhibits were more developed than before.  The museum building itself is a modern interpretation of the photograph "Raising The Flag on Iwo Jima"  taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945.  In the picture, five Marines struggle to raise the second (replacement) flag on top of Mount Suribachi during WWII.

Photo creds to mah bestie, Wikipedia

Throughout the museum, there were exhibits showing Marine participation in almost every conflict we've ever had since the 1800's.

Here are some pictures from the museum-- it was super interactive.  You could board a "rumbling helicopter", sit in the middle of a forest during an attack, listen to the accounts of Marines through telephone listening devices, walk through a typical bunker, and feel the chill the soldiers felt in an exhibit that simulated the cold battlefield of the Chosin Reservoir.

I make a cute soldier, no? XD

One of the many planes hanging in the main lobby of the museum

Tank exhibit

One of the many quotes circling the walls of the lobby

Helicopter exhibit

Unmanned drone (controlled by remote) this technology is the future of modern warfare

Marine emblem on a window 

The Flag Raising at Iwo Jima sculpture reproduced from LEGOS (how do they do that??!!) in the gift shop

Part of the landscaping towards the entrance of the building

Entrance to the "Semper Fidelis" Memorial Park

Me in front of the museum entrance

Actual flag flown at the mountain top in Iwo Jima shown in the famous flag-raising photo (photo creds to my good friend Wikipedia)

Going through this museum... observing all of the things Marines do and their sacrifices to make our lives as we know them better... It fills me with a huge sense of gratitude.  I am proud to say I have family who has served in every branch of the military, and I would just like to say thank you.  Thank you for helping to protect this marvelous country, thank you for protecting our freedom, thank you for your never ending inspiration; your valor, which is the quintessence of human morality.  We salute you. <3 <3 <3 

"From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
of United States Marine.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in ev'ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines."

xoxo