DITR Lunch at the Globe & Laurel Restaurant and a Visit to the National Museum of the Marine Corps

We met at Globe & Laurel restaurant around 12ish for lunch. This place is really awesome. The restaurant used to be located in Dumfries for years; I guess the city wanted to do something with the land the restaurant occupied, so they had to move. They are now located at 3987 Jeff Davis Hwy Stafford, Va 22554.

I believe the new location is better, with a bigger building and parking lot. When you enter into this restaurant you hear the echoes of "semper fidelis" and "Ooh-rah". If you happen to be with someone that doesn't like to talk much, that's okay, because this restaurant has all kinds of different stuff to look at and marvel over, as you can see from the pictures, plus the food is good as well. If you never been you have to stop by and say hello...

After lunch; we headed to the U.S. Marine Corps Museum, it's only like 5 or so miles North of the restaurant. As I started to pull up to the parking lot, I stopped and took a picture of the entrance sign. Just looking at the sign gave me goose bumps, because you could just feel the history surrounding this place.

We all met in the parking lot, and walked up to the museum together, I took pictures of the entrance and when I walked thru the doors, I was hit with such pride to be a free American, because of what our service men and women have done for this country. This museum has it all, but they did leave out one little thing, which I will explain later.

Once you walk in you become transformed back into history. Starting out with the Continental Marines to the bad news when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, to the Korean War, and then to the Vietnam War and of course, the War on Terrorism.

You start your tour off with:

• the making of Marines, what it was like to go thru boot camp.
• World War II; some really great pictures of all phases of the war, there is the original flag that was raised on Mt. Suribachi on display.
• The Korean War; some really good displays on this war.
• The Vietnam War has some really good displays as well, I'm sure there isn't any thing that someone couldn't relate too.
• Of course, you can't leave out what is going on today; the Global War on Terrorism. The displays and so many pictures to look at and think back on our history/present, and what our men and women had and is enduring.

The one thing I believe the museum needs to add; women and their role in the Global War on Terrorism. They walk the front lines with their fellow marine men, so give them just due. I know I didn't see all the pictures in the museum, but I only saw two pictures of Marine women, in the lobby, and the making of a marine.

I plan to visit this museum again and trust me I will be looking for pictures of more women and there role, and if I don't find any, I will be asking why. I believe they should have been a section for women Marines!!!! This is for all the women Marines "Ooh-rah".

When you come out of the museum area, there is a store to get all your Marine goodies, if that is your thing. Inside the store they had the statue of Iwo Jima in LEGOs, pretty cool. As you look over the pictures I'm sure you will want and visit this place yourself.

Leaving the museum, we walked toward the Iron Mike statue. On the way over to the statue are red bricks of memorials to those that served this GREAT COUNTRY.

The Iron Mike statue is a Marine from World War I. We all sat on the back of the statue and a really nice gentleman agreed to take our picture. Those in the picture are from left to right; Rosi (R-2), Jeanne, Mary, Ellen, Lynn, and Lei.

It was a really nice day, filled with alot of fun and history. The only thing missing from my perspective was: ICE CREAM...