MCHF - October Marine Minute

ABOUT US    WAYS TO GIVE    PROGRAMS    VIRTUAL TOUR     October 2021

Museum Updates In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Department of Defense guidance and in response to rising levels in local COVID-19 cases, all visitors to the National Museum of the Marine Corps over the age of two are required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. To learn more about the Museum’s COVID-19 protocols designed to keep you safe, please visit usmcmuseum.com/covid-19.

Marine Corps Birthday News November 10, 2021 marks the 246th anniversary of the founding of the United States Marine Corps. As is tradition, the Museum will host a cake cutting ceremony in celebration. The Museum is also holding a special Family Day on November 13 featuring birthday-themed craft activities in honor of the 15th anniversary of the opening of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. More information on the cake cutting ceremony and Family Day will be coming soon.

Marine Corps Heritage Foundation 2022 Awards Program Nominations Open Soon The Foundation’s Annual Awards Program resumes this fall after a hiatus due to COVID-19. The Awards Program honors creative works which preserve or advance Marine Corps history, traditions, culture and/or service. Marines and civilians are eligible to submit their own artistic entries or the distinguished work of others. The Annual Awards are presented in 17 categories including journalism, documentary, literature, screenplay, photography and poetry. For a detailed list of the Awards and submission requirements, please visit https://www.marineheritage.org/awards.html

Opening of We, the People exhibition in Museum's Combat Art Gallery On November 1, 2021 the Museum’s Combat Art Gallery will open a new exhibition titled We the People: Portraits of Veterans in America. Featuring works by watercolorist Mary Whyte, the exhibition is a tribute to military veterans who are an essential part of the strength and fabric of America. The series of fifty large-scale watercolors depicts a veteran from every state. Whyte’s paintings are displayed around the world from here in the U.S. to Thailand and beyond. Her work has received numerous awards including the Portrait Society of America’s Gold Medal. The exhibition closes July 24, 2022. Traveling Combat Art Exhibit opens at the National Museum of the Pacific War The traveling combat art exhibition titled Honor, Courage, Commitment: Marine Corps Art, 1975-2018 is now on display at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas. The exhibition remains in Texas until January 1, 2022. The majority of the 36 works of art by 15 combat artists originates from the inaugural Combat Art Gallery exhibition at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. The Foundation is also pleased to announce three additional upcoming locations for the exhibition: The St. George Art Museum in St. George, Utah February-April 2022; the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio June-November 2022 and the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum in College Station, Texas May-September 2023.  Inaugural Heritage Award Recipient Nickolas Davatzes' Passing Marine Corps veteran Nickolas Davatzes, who was instrumental in creating the cable television networks A&E and the History Channel, passed away earlier this year. Davatzes, the son of a Marine, was a staunch supporter of educational and public affairs programming. He and LtGen Victor H. Krulak USMC were the recipients of the Foundation’s first Heritage Award in 1988. The Heritage Award recognizes an individual who has provided unique and significant service to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation in the fulfillment of its mission to preserve and promulgate the history, traditions and culture of the Marine Corps and educate all Americans in its virtues. We extend our sincere condolences to the Davatzes family.

Limited Showing at Medal of Honor Theater For a limited time, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation will show Clint Eastwood’s classic film "Heartbreak Ridge." The comedy film takes place during the U.S. invasion of Grenada which began Oct 25, 1983 and lasted just four days. The invasion was in response to a declaration from then President Ronald Reagan citing the threat posed to nearly 1,000 American nationals from the Caribbean island nation of Grenada’s pro-Marxist regime. The film will be shown in the National Museum of the Marine Corps’ Giant Screen Certified Medal of Honor Theater.  "Heartbreak Ridge" is rated R and contains considerable profanity, violence and sexual themes. Viewers under 17 require an accompanying parent or adult guardian. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before considering bringing young children. WHEN:          Saturday, October 23 at 11:30 a.m.                      Sunday, October 24 at 11:30 a.m.  To learn more and watch the trailer click here. To purchase tickets click here.

World War II Tarawa Battlefield Crosses History Flight’s chief operating officer Justin D. LeHew recently donated a variety of crosses and other artifacts to the Museum from the World War II battlefield of Tarawa, an atoll in the Pacific where more than 1,000 Marines were killed in combat with the Japanese. The crosses were erected to mark the gravesites of those who gave their lives there as well as for some who died of their injuries but were buried at sea. Other artifacts include a glass ampoule of iodine, a poncho that was used for burials and Japanese and American helmets and canteens. Stay tuned for more information about the artifact display.

Charitible Giving Tip Thank you to all of our friends who support the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation with gifts from their estates. Unfortunately, we don’t learn about many of these gifts until after the donor has passed away. Six years ago, we heard from two supporters – Jerry and Susan. Jerry told us he hadn’t given it much thought but he’d get in touch with us if he were interested in making a gift from his will. We never heard back from Jerry. Susan was considering a gift and we sent her information on ways to do so. This year Jerry passed away and we received a gift from his estate. And Susan called to say she was naming the MCHF as a beneficiary of her estate. Sadly, we were not able to thank Jerry during his lifetime nor learn what it was that motivated him to include us in his will. On the other hand, we have personally thanked Susan and learned that inspiration for her gift came from her son, for whom the Marine Corps was very important. He passed away a year after his return from Iraq. While we appreciate each and every gift, the donor’s personal story and the inspiration for the gift are also important. If you’ve already included the Foundation in your estate plans, please let us know. If you would like to explore ways to do so, contact Gayle Union at union@marineheritage.org or call 703.586.7463. There is, of course, no obligation and all inquiries are confidential.

Calendar of Events

We hope that you enjoy receiving these monthly updates from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. As a valued member and contributor to the MCHF, we want to provide you with timely news regarding our activities and ongoing support of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. We appreciate your support and welcome any feedback. This e-mail was sent to you by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add enewsletter@marineheritage.org to your address book.