Quake Cuts Short Marine Museum Visits

By KJ Mushung

Triangle, Va. — The unexpected 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Mineral, Va., on Aug. 23 led to numerous evacuations across the Potomac Communities and beyond.

Even hours after the earthquake, many buildings remained closed until any damage could be assessed.

Locally, Stafford County closed its courts and libraries early. Additionally, area parks and recreation and community facilities, such as the Carl Lewis Community Center and the Rowser Building were closed.

Northern Virginia and Germanna community colleges were also evacuated and closed for the day. Germanna remained closed on Wednesday.

At the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Robert Rose and girlfriend Olga Reed were visiting from Lambertville, N.J., with their children when the ground shook.

Nine-year-old Victoria Reed thought that one of the life-size airplanes hanging on display must have fallen. Her sister, Alexandra, 7, said it felt like being on top of a washing machine. Aside from Victoria, the Reeds and Roses thought it was just a special effect that the museum had, like part of a war-related display.

And they weren’t the only ones. Mike DiCicco, a reporter for the Quantico Sentry, said that when the earthquake first hit, everybody was “zen about it” because they thought it was part of the display.

Then an employee or volunteer with a dead-serious face yelled, “We’ve got to evacuate. Everybody out!,” said Rose, a former active-duty U.S. Marine.

In addition to Reed’s daughters, Rose’s two sons, Robert Jr., 11, and Daniel, 5, accompanied them. All of the children said they were scared when they realized it was a real emergency and not a drill.

The museum was closed for the rest of the day as a precaution. Calls to the museum today to find out if it will reopen under normal business hours have yet to be returned.