‘Find your story.’ National Museum of the Marine Corps Welcomes Veterans During Honor Flight Visit

TRIANGLE, Va. — Veterans flowed through galleries of the National Museum of the Marine Corps enveloped by generations of military service found overhead with historic aircraft to exhibits tracing the lineage of Marine Corps history.

Hosting more than 60 WWII to Vietnam era veterans via the Honor Flight Network, Sept. 20, the NMMC welcomed them with a simple message: “I hope you find your story in these galleries.”

For Gerald Haley, a retired Navy master chief petty officer who served as a cook with the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines during their initial deployment to Vietnam, there was almost too much to take in during a single visit. “There’s so much here, it would take me days to look around,” Haley said.

U.S. Army veteran Dale Sidenstricker, who served as a sergeant, expressed a similar feeling.

“I could spend an eternity here,” Sidenstricker said.

For the veterans who walked through the museum that day, finding their story didn’t mean they would find their names or photographs on a wall, it meant recognizing an era, an experience or the service of someone whose story felt familiar.

“They can see themselves here,” said museum docent Trish Manghelli. “If there’s a Marine’s picture on the wall, it’s worth taking a picture of it and finding out what their story is.”

She continued explaining that all there are lesser-known stories that are just as impactful as the more famous stories.

“We’ve all heard about Chesty Puller, Dan Daly, but there are so many more we have not heard about,” she said. “They’re reflected here, but you have to do the work to see who they are.”

The impact of those moments was not limited to the veterans. For museum volunteers, seeing those reactions gave the day meaning as well.

“I don’t know if I can properly describe it. It makes me feel honored,” said museum docent Brandon Bateman. “To be even a sliver of that feeling for them is an honor for me. As volunteers, these types of days and those types of reactions motivate us to keep coming back.”

Founded in 2005, the Honor Flight Network brings about 22,500 veterans to the national capital region at no cost. Since its founding, the network ensured over 300,000 veterans travelled to the area, where they visited the NMMC, Washington D.C., and attractions between.

To learn more about Honor Flight Network, veteran eligibility, volunteer opportunities and ways to support future trips, visit www.honorflight.org.

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