The Super Cobra is an attack helicopter that played a major part in the Marine Corps, primarily used during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Earnest Will, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom, cementing it’s place in Marine Corps history.
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On Monday, February 10, 2025, the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden featured a special appearance by Chesty XVI, the United States Marine Corps' bulldog mascot. This presentation was part of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation's (MCHF) celebration of the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary. Chesty XVI was accompanied by his handlers and MCHF President and CEO, retired Maj. Gen. James Lukeman, from the National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico.
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, now in its 149th year, remains one of the most prestigious dog shows in the United States. This year, more than 2,500 dogs from across all 50 U.S. states traveled to New York City to compete for Best in Show, a title that comes with recognition, prestige, and a trophy.
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Press Release:
Domino’s stores across Greater Woodbridge are teaming up with Ghostbusters Virginia to collect Toys for Tots from now through Dec. 8 at participating locations. Domino’s hopes to help bring the joy of the holiday season to children in need through donations from community members.
Customers who wish to donate can drop off new, unwrapped toys in donation bins in the lobbies of the following Domino’s stores:
- 16430 Navigation Drive in Woodbridge
- 14402 Richmond Highway in Woodbridge
- 5892 Mapledale Plaza in Woodbridge
- 2886 Dale Blvd. in Woodbridge
- 1395 Old Bridge Road in Woodbridge
- 556 Garrisonville Road in Stafford
- 2606 Jefferson Davis Highway in Stafford
- 338 Potomac Ave. in Quantico
- 5159 Waterway Drive in Dumfries
- 13448 Dumfries Road in Manassas
Customers who bring in one or more toys to donate will receive a large one-topping Hand Tossed Pizza for $6, now through Dec. 8. The offer will be applied once an in-store team member verifies a customer’s toy donation.
“Engaging with community giving opportunities such as collecting Toys for Tots donations is so fulfilling for our store teams,” said Nona Sonnier, Domino’s director of corporate operations in Virginia. “Domino’s is so much more than a pizza company; we are a company that deeply cares about its communities, and we are pleased to provide our customers with a chance to donate to a special cause.”
Toy donation bins will be collected and dropped off at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico on the afternoon of Dec. 8.
To locate and order from a participating Domino’s location, visit www.dominos.com.
Press release:
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is hosting a series of festive events to celebrate this year’s holiday season. From classic holiday films to creative crafts and Santa visits, there are activities for everyone to enjoy. Admission to the Museum and parking are free, and all events are open to the public. The full list and schedule of events can be found on the Foundation’s website.
December highlights include:
Holiday Film Series
The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s annual holiday film series features three movies showing on the Medal of Honor Theater’s giant screen throughout December. Tickets are $7 and may be purchased online at ticketing.useast.veezi.com or at the theater with special snack bundles available for $5 to enjoy during the show.
 The Nightmare Before Christmas
- December 7 at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
- December 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse
- December 14 at 11:00 a.m.
- December 17 at 1:00 p.m.
- December 22 at 1:30 p.m.
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018 version)
- December 14 at 3:00 p.m.
- December 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Cookies, Cocoa, and Crafts
Families are invited to visit the Museum to create holiday memories on Saturday, December 14, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Kids may enjoy free cookies, hot cocoa, and holiday-themed picture frame crafts on the Museum’s second floor, available as long as supplies last.
Santa Claus Visits
Santa Claus is paying a special visit to the Museum in his traditional red outfit on December 14 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and in his special camo suit on December 17 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Families may take free photos with Santa and enjoy holiday-themed activities. Visitors must arrive at least one hour before the end of the event to guarantee a photo opportunity.
The National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC) is offering a professional development opportunity for local teachers through its Nights at the Museum program. This innovative series, led by the Museum’s Teachers in Residence, Katie Malec of Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) and Christine Russ of Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS), aims to deepen educators’ understanding of the United States Marine Corps history and its role in shaping America.
Malec said these quarterly evening events “provide a rewarding experience that brings history to life.” Malec is in her second year as a Teacher in Residence after 17 years of teaching 7th-grade U.S. history. Russ has over 23 years of teaching preschool through sixth grade and this is her first year as Teacher in Residence. Malec said the two work as a team to “empower educators with tools and primary sources that make history relevant and engaging for their students.” The program’s goal is to “promote United States Marine Corps history and its contributions in creating, developing, and defending our country.”
The Nights at the Museum program supports the Museum’s mission: “Preserving the past, influencing the present, and inspiring the future.” Each session, free to educators, includes a private experience in the Museum after hours, complete with refreshments, presentations by NMMC staff and docents, and hands-on materials.  Many of the docents are veterans, who provide personal insights and stories to complement the historical exhibits.Â
Teachers can earn five professional development points while gaining ideas to incorporate Marine Corps history into their Standards of Learning (SOL)-based lessons.
In the program, the Teachers in Residence partner with various Museum experts to enhance content knowledge and improve classroom practices for local K-12 public school teachers. Malec said, “We cover the SOL content taught in schools in a way that brings the content to life for teachers with primary sources. Which in turn, the teachers can bring back to their classrooms to share with their students.“Â
Participants also gain access to behind-the-scenes areas and exclusive insights into the exhibits, offering a depth of understanding beyond a regular museum visit. “We tailor each evening to cover specific historical events involving the Marine Corps, while also demonstrating how teachers can incorporate this knowledge into their classrooms,” said Russ.
The series currently welcomes about 30 educators per session from PWCS and SCPS but is open to teachers from surrounding school districts. In addition to the evening events, the program opens doors for educators to learn about trunk programs to be brought into classrooms and customized field trips for students.
The next Night at the Museum is December 5, followed by February 20 and April 3, 2025. Educators can contact the program directors online.
The National Museum of the Marine Corps unveiled two new galleries to the public on Sunday, commemorating the exhibits with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The galleries feature hundreds of artifacts from all major United States Marine Corps operations from 1976 to 2021, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. As the 250th anniversary of the Corps approaches, this new exhibit will showcase the most recent 50 years.
It took 13 years of work by the museum staff and contributors to collect all of the artifacts for the exhibits. Many displays include uniforms of Marines and a comprehensive view of life in the Corps in combat and humanitarian missions.
“Each of the artifacts tell part of the Marine Corps story,” Keil Gentry, Director of the NMMC and retired Marine Corps Colonel said. “You will see the dress blues of 1st Lt. William Sommerhof who, along with 240 other Americans, was killed in the Beirut bombing on Oct. 23, 1983. Keep in mind, many of the dress blues you see in these new galleries represent a Marine killed in action.”
The new exhibits will also feature the integration of women and reservists in the Corps, advancements in military medicine and the role of unmanned vehicles in modern combat. There are also many interactive elements in the exhibit. There is a life-sized recreation of an Iraqi street scene, allowing veterans and visitors to directly engage with Corps experiences.
“They’re not just displays; they’re a powerful representation of the very best our Nation has to offer, of selfless service and sacrifice,” keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson said.
“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band will perform at the National Museum of the Marine Corps on August 22. The concert will start at 7 p.m. in the museum’s outdoor plaza.
The band, the premier band of the United States Marine Corps, will play various music. This includes patriotic and martial favorites, selections from the wind band repertoire, works by contemporary composers, and scores from film and theatre.
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. The Museum, Medal of Honor Theater, Rifle Range, and Museum Store will stay open for extended hours until the concert starts. Tun Tavern will offer service from 4 to 6 p.m., and outdoor concessions will be available during the performance. Admission and parking are free, and no tickets are required.
Updates will be posted on the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s Facebook page in bad weather.
Event Details:
– When:Thursday, August 22, 7:00 p.m.
– Where: National Museum of the Marine Corps, 1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle, VA 22172About the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation:
The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, established in 1979, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Marine Corps history. The Foundation supports historical programs of the Marine Corps through grants, scholarships, and the renovation, restoration, and commissioning of historical Marine Corps artifacts and landmarks. The Foundation funded the construction of the National Museum of the Marine Corps and Heritage Center and continues to expand its programs. More information can be found at MarineHeritage.org.
The U.S. Navy Band Cruisers are set to deliver a performance at the National Museum of the Marine Corps on July 25, 2024, at 7 p.m. This event is part of the ongoing MCHF Summer Concert Series.
Formed in 1999, the band consists of nine Navy members. The name, inspired by the Navy’s multi-missioned Cruiser ships, symbolizes the band’s versatile musical capabilities. Their repertoire includes jazz, rhythm blues, classic rock, and pop.
The concert will take place outdoors on the museum’s entry plaza, with provisions for weather conditions. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets for seating.
Before the concert, the museum and its facilities, including the Medal of Honor Theater and Rifle Range, will remain open until 7:00 PM, while Tun Tavern will close at 6:00 PM. Guests are reminded that alcoholic beverages are not permitted on museum grounds. The event is free to the public.
The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation (MCHF) announces that the last remaining USMC Mounted Color Guard will appear at the National Museum of the Marine Corps on May 23 and 24. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the Mounted Color Guard and watch live demonstrations. This event is a rare occurrence for the west coast-based Mounted Color Guard.
The Mounted Color Guard’s origin dates back to 1911 during the Chinese Revolution when the Mounted Detachment, known as the “Horse Marines,” was the Marine Corps’ only designated cavalry unit. This elite unit, stationed in China, was tasked with maintaining contact with American citizens in Peking, conducting census, patrols, and delivering dispatches.
The visit coincides with MCHF’s annual tradition of placing flags in Semper Fidelis Memorial Park for Memorial Day to honor fallen Marines. The event will take place on May 23 from 3 to 6 p.m. and on May 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, located at 1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle.
Established in 1979, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Marine Corps history. The Foundation supports the historical programs of the Marine Corps in ways not possible through government funds.
![U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, the Commanding General of Training and Education Command and Sgt. Maj. Stephen Griffin, the Command Sgt. Maj. of Training and Education Command, cut a ribbon at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle on Sunday. [U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Juaquin Greaves]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/marine-corps-new-exhibit-2.jpg){kind=link}
![Civilians look at displays at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle on Sunday. [U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Juaquin Greaves]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/marine-corps-new-exhibit-1.jpg){kind=link}
![Civilians look at displays at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle on Sunday. [U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Juaquin Greaves]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/marine-corps-new-exhibit-3.jpg){kind=link}