National Museum of the Marine Corps

In January when Mom and Dad came to visit we took a trip to the National Marine Corps Museum that opened up at MCB Quantico in November of 2006. As museums go it's a pretty neat place and we had a wonderful time.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps at Night

In the gallery when we first arrived

Landing near Ho Chi Minh City

After going through the majority of the museum we stopped in Tun Tavern. It's a replica of the original tavern in Philadelphia where, on November 10, 1775 after the Continental Congress commissioned Samuel Nicholas to raise two Battalions of Marines, Nicholas set up shop in Tun Tavern and began recruiting the nation's first Marines. Since that day, Tun Tavern has been known as the birthplace of the Marine Corps.

That being said, the food was mediocre, the service sub-par, and the serving wenches were disappointingly aged. But it was a really neat place to go and spend time together. The girls loved being with Grandma Vicki and monopolized most of her time. Grandma Vicki loved this, of course.

Though he was much more comfortable with Grandma and Grandpa on this visit, Joseph mostly just enjoyed being with his sisters and mom and dad.

Kästlee, Maddie, & Joseph

Dad and I spent most of the meal talking politics and history
and had a great time. He really learned something.

Towards the end of our visit I began lagging behind the rest of the group to take some pictures I wanted to take. The results of my efforts are below. I'm so proud.

Smells like roses.

I made a difference.

Duchess and I grew very close at Stalag 13.

Another special friend.

Tired at the end of the day.

Last Pictures of Jake and Josh

Earlier this year Melinda contacted the photo studios where we had taken the twins' pictures the last couple of times. She explained the situation and asked if we could have the digital versions of the photos and authorization to use them. The staff at both places were incredibly sympathetic and eager to help and promise that they would get us the orignials as soon as possible.

We just recently picked up one of the CDs from The Picture People. This is the group of pictures from which we took the funeral photo. The pictures were taken just a few days before the accident. Melinda tells me that Jacob was having a pretty difficult day and was very unpleasant. Joseph and Josh were wonderful. I love these picture and wanted to share. I hope you enjoy them.