During the VRE Operations Board meeting on Friday, November 17, 2023, in Woodbridge, the state’s only commuter railway, presented the results of an internal survey showing 94 percent of respondents favor Saturday service and a majority are willing to pay higher fares to get it.
VRE CFO Mark Schofield said that implementing Saturday service would lead to an additional $1 million in operating costs in FY2025. However, the railway’s overall operating costs are expected to decrease by $1.4 million due to other reductions.
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Quantico Marine Corps Base: “Virginia Toys for Tots representatives recently launched an initiative to identify local Marine volunteers to help collect and sort toys for underprivileged children this holiday season.”
“With the organization’s headquarters located right outside Quantico’s front door in Triangle, Virginia, the Toys for Tots program is dedicated to making sure every child has a present to open Christmas morning.”
“The initiative coincides with the Marine Corps Reserve continuing its holiday tradition for the 86th year.”
Quantico Marine Corps Base: “The Virginia Railway Express will be closing the Potomac Ave. railroad crossing from 5 p.m., Nov. 17 – 5 a.m. Nov. 19. Access to the Town of Quantico will be through the Broadway St. Gate 3.”
National Museum of the Marine Corps: “The National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC) welcomed the 7 millionth visitor when Timothy Kapp, Jr of Youngsville, N.C. crossed the threshold on November 10, 2023.”
“Kapp, a Marine veteran with 12 years of service, and his wife, Kelli, traveled to the Museum for the Marine Corps birthday ceremony but traffic delayed their arrival. This is the first time they’ve been thankful for traffic jams, according to Kapp.”
“It was so awesome coming up the parade deck and having everyone wishing each other a happy birthday. This is the Marine’s house so it just feels right to be here on the birthday. Being the 7 millionth visitor is a real bonus,” Kapp said with obvious pride.
“Museum Acting Director David Vickers gave Kapp an even bigger bonus with a surprise “behind the scenes” look at the coming galleries, which tell Marine Corps history from 1976 to 2016. Those galleries aren’t open to the public yet but Vickers reasoned that “When we get to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 248th birthday, the Museum’s 17th birthday and our 7 millionth visitor all in one day it calls for something very special.”
“The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation presented Kapp with a gift bag containing NMMC and Marine Corps memorabilia and a certificate for a memorial brick honoring Kapp as the 7 millionth visitor.”
“On behalf of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, I am proud to congratulate you as the seven millionth visitor to the National Museum of the Marine Corps. You are the reason why we do what we do at the Foundation. Why we built this place, why we continue to share Marine Corps history and traditions. You represent the 7 million individuals who have visited and the 7 million who are yet to come. Semper Fi, Marine,” MajGen James Lukeman (RET), President and Chief Executive Officer of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation told Capp.
“The NMMC opened its doors on November 10, 2006, the 231st birthday of the Marine Corps. Since that day, an average of nearly 412,000 visitors per year have experienced the remarkable history of the Corps, artfully and accurately depicted throughout the galleries. Many visitors are veterans who experienced the history first-hand, who have often shared stories their families had never heard, or wept with their brothers and sisters in arms, but stood a bit taller as they exited the front doors. Thousands of students visit each year as well, gaining significant insight into the past in order to successfully lead in the future. Many young Marines were inspired and motivated to join simply because they visited this beautiful monument–a testament to the honor, courage, commitment and sacrifice that epitomizes the United States Marine Corps.”
Marine Corps Heritage Foundation:Â “The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation is holding its second Classic Car Show on Sunday, October 15 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.”
The National Museum of the Marine Corps can be found at 1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle.
“The free event is open to the public. Individuals and car groups interested in entering their vehicles (25 years or older) should use the form. Vehicle registration is free, but space is limited. Please register before Thursday, October 12, at 5 p.m.”
“The Museum is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on the day of the event. All visitors to the classic car show will be able to visit the Museum, enjoy lunch at Tun Tavern or Devil Dog Diner, visit the Museum Gift Shop, test your aim at the simulated rifle range and watch the film ‘We, the Marines’ on the giant screen in the Medal of Honor Theater.”
“9:30-10:30 a.m.: Registered Vehicle Check-in and 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Car show open to the public.”
National Museum of the Marine Corps:Â “‘They Came in Peace,’ a new temporary exhibit at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, opens on September 25, 2023.”
“This exhibit tells the stories of the Marines who conducted peacekeeping operations in Beirut, Lebanon, from 1982 to 1984 and the 22nd Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) that landed on Grenada in 1983 as part of Operation Urgent Fury.”
“The exhibit honors the 241 soldiers, sailors, and Marines from the 24th MAU who lost their lives in the October 23, 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks at Beirut International Airport as part of the Museum’s commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of this event. A memorial wall with the names of the fallen Servicemembers and a multi-media presentation incorporating contemporary footage of the bombing and interviews with surviving Marine veterans and next of kin of the fallen shows visitors the cost borne by the Marines of the 24th MAU and the impact the bombing has had to this day.”
“In 1982, Marines began a peacekeeping mission as part of a multinational force in war-torn Lebanon. The Marines and sailors on peacekeeping duty suffered 11 killed and 64 wounded during intermittent fighting before October 23, 1983. On that date, a terrorist suicide bomber in a 5-ton truck loaded with 2,000 pounds of explosives sped past a guard post at Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/8’s headquarters building, through a fence, into the building’s lobby, and detonated his bomb.”
“The explosion and subsequent building collapse claimed the lives of 3 soldiers, 18 sailors, and 220 Marines. This was the greatest single-day loss of Marines since the February 19, 1945 landing during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.”
“Six days before the attack, the 22d MAU sailed from North Carolina for the Mediterranean to participate in an exercise in Spain before relieving the 24th MAU in Lebanon. However, the amphibious squadron carrying the 22d MAU changed course toward the Caribbean at midnight on October 20, 1983 to participate in Operation Urgent Fury on the small island nation of Grenada.”
“The goal of the operation was to evacuate hundreds of American citizens and restore order following the outbreak of politically-motivated violence. The Marines from 22d MAU launched their invasion of Grenada on October 25, 1983, and remained on the island until they withdrew to relieve the 24th MAU in Lebanon on November 2, 1983; they began peace-keeping operations in Beirut on 19 November 1984.”
“‘They Came in Peace’ highlights the Marine Corps’ flexibility as America’s naval expeditionary force in readiness and the bravery, determination, and sacrifice of Marines in Lebanon and Grenada.”
WTTG-TV: “A Marine student assigned to the Marine Corps University – aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico – was found unresponsive in his vehicle over the weekend, officials say.”
“The student was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday, Sept. 2.”
Marines at Quantico are training to protect embassies abroad.
Base Commander Col. Michael Brooks provided a tour of the base's new MSG (Marine Corps Embassy Security Group) training ground on Thursday, August 31, 2023. Situated on the base's west side with most of the installation's munitions ranges, the four-week-old facility allows Marines to climb up a four-story building and fire from windows or the roof, simulating the defense of an embassy under siege.
When not in the tall structure, Marines took defensive positions on the ground, using their rifles to fire at targets near and far. When deployed, these specially-trained Marines will assist existing troops already on the ground working to protect U.S. assets.
