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A New Beginning Remembers The Past At The National Museum Of The Marine Corps
10/29/2009
By Lance Cpl. Jahn R. Kuiper, Marine Corps Base Quantico
The sun rises above the National Museum of the Marine Corps and, for the first time, its rays pour through the glass windows of the chapel framed in stone and wood. The light glows around the figure of a kneeling Marine and onto an alter where the words "Semper Fidelis" are etched into the side. This is a place peace, solitude and remembrance.
This is the vision the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation imagined when construction of the Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel began in 2008. The culmination of this vision is being recognized today at the chapel’s opening ceremony at 11 a.m.
The chapel was always planned to be part of the museum’s visitor experience within the Semper Fidelis Park which spans more than 23 acres around the museum.
It was Timothy T. Day, an entrepreneur and former Marine captain, who made this dream a reality with his $5 million donation, which covered much of the project’s $6.8 million cost.
It took nine months for major construction to be completed after ground was first broken in December 2008.
"We are at 90 percent completion for the park," said retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Ron Christmas, the president and chief executive officer of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. "We will start the final phase in the spring and it will be done by the fall."
"The museum was the first part of the building phase and now we equally have the chapel to support the Marines’ museum and to support the Marines and their families," Christmas said. "We still have to finish the paved paths through the park."
Now that a chapel is substantially complete, Marines and others have a meditating place to meditate and remember the Marines who have paid the ultimate price.
"The idea was to have the museum surrounded by the park and have the chapel in the park so people can reflect on those who’ve passed before us," Christmas said.
Not only is the chapel a place to think of the past, but it is also part of the building of our future.
"This chapel is another part of our legacy being built," Christmas said. " It’s a place where one can sit and clearly think about the legacy of the corps, which Marines are very proud of. Anyone can come here and see our legacy … it’s a legacy that is very different."
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