Marines’ museum area beginning to blossom
Photos by Joseph P. Cirone/For the News & Messenger
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Sean Stewart, operations officer of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, watches museum visitor Christopher Higham, 13, of Derwood, Md., struggle to complete one more chin-up at the museum’s playground on Saturday morning.
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By Julia LeDoux
Published: June 14, 2008
Mariah Burton didn't know she was making a little history as she enjoyed the new children's play-ground at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle on Saturday.
All the 7-year old knew was that she was having fun as she played alongside Kaytlyn and Madison Rubash as the Rubashs' father, Michael, looked on.
They were among the first to swing, jump and play at the site, which was dedicated during a ceremony on Satur-day.
"I was the first one up there," said Mariah with wonder in her voice. "I was playing on every-thing."
Retired Lt. Gen. Ron Christmas, the president and chief executive officer of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, said that in addition to the new playground, the museum will also continue to grow later this year. According to Christmas, construction of the first section of Heritage Parkway and a new chapel will begin in the fall. In the next couple of weeks architects will also begin work to design Semper Fidelis Memorial Park.
"There are wonderful things happening," said Christmas. "They are happening because of the tremendous partnership between the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation."
Tom and Karen Frana of McLean, members of the Heritage Foundation's Founders Club, were instrumental in bringing life to the new playground. Tom Frana recalled meeting with Christmas at the museum on a cold De-cember day in 2006. During the meeting, the men walked outside. Christmas pointed to a location and told Tom Frana that the spot was an ideal place for a playground. At the time the Franas' son was 13-months old.
"What kind of father would I be if I didn't provide my son with a playground," Tom Frana joked.
Karen Frana said the playground stands in service "to all the families who serve and have served our country and the Marine Corps. It is our hope that it will help facilitate a spirit of community and fun for the families who enjoy it."
Three new galleries and a new immersion experience that will allow visitors to "fight" the World War I battle of Belleau Wood are also planned for the museum.
"History museums like the National Museum of the Marine Corps are all about recognizing our past, looking ahead to our
future and trying to make it fun," said
museum director Linn Ezell.
Ezell noted that family visitors to the museum have one major complaint: They did not budget enough time to see all the facility has to offer and "maybe the little ones are getting tired of being inside. Part of making history fun is also providing a family-friendly outlet and this playground is absolutely what we need."
Prince William County Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, who represents the Dumfries District, agreed.
"With the tot lot and young child areas, as well as the state of the art child safety features, it is a place children can play and adults can relax," she said.
Two historical markers interpreting the colonial era King's Highway were also dedicated during the cere-mony. King's Highway was the first north/south route through Virginia. The road that began in Boston, Mass., and ended in Williamsburg has existed in what is now Prince William County since the 17th Cen-tury.
"George Washington and many troops traveled along this same pathway just one month before defeating the British forces at Yorktown and helping to win America's independence," Caddigan continued. "Today we commemorate our history and celebrate a place where our youngest citizens can play and have fun."
The museum also marked Flag Day by holding natural history walks, children's physical fitness training and a landscape art workshop.
Prince William Forest Park ranger Corrine Zimmerman provided information about the natural history of the Marine Corps Heritage Center site throughout the day. Visitors also had the chance to create their own Marine Corps hat, or "cover," and could also view features artist Tom Hubbard's traveling exhibit of 20 works of original art inspired by his journey to learn about his father, a Marine who was killed in Vietnam.
Staff writer Julia LeDoux can be reached at 703-369-5718.
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