MCRD San Diego -- For 236 years, Marines have taken pride in the history of their beloved Corps. From every battle and moment in history Marines have taken part in, there has been a strong sense of honor and tradition to go along with them.
Aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego is the Command Museum dedicated to the preservation of the illustrious history and time-honored traditions of the Marine Corps. There, recruits are taught where their long-line of honor, courage and commitment descended from.
“It’s definitely interesting coming to the command museum,” said Recruit Andres A. Reyes, Platoon 1013, Company A, 1st Recruit Training Battalion. “It’s motivating to see what Marines in history have gone through and what they’ve done to make the Corps what it is today.”
The museum is designed to teach Marine Corps history, tradition and values while portraying the legacy of the Corps. It offers history of the Marine Corps from the late 19th century to the present day, a reference center which contains archives and a research library, and classes and tours for Marines, recruits, and groups within the civilian community.
“There are a lot of things many recruits don’t know before enlisting and what organization they’re becoming a part of,” said Reyes. “This place is definitely an eye opener.”
Recruits were split into groups by docents and were taken through every part of the museum, witnessing what the Corps started from to where it is today.
“The docents are outstanding,” said Recruit Kurtis K. Campbell, Plt. 1009, Co. A. “They do a great job presenting the history and basically telling the Marine Corps story. It makes the experience so much better.”
As the retired, knowledgeable docents guided recruits throughout the halls, they occasionally stopped to tell war stories from their earlier days, sharing memories of the “old Corps.”
“It’s truly inspiring,” said Campbell. “They had a lot of courage to do what they did back in the day.”
As eager as recruits are to learn more of the history, docents are just as excited to teach them, according to Bill Westmoreland, docent, MCRD Command Museum.
“It’s a wonderful thing showing them around,” said Westmoreland. “I hope they take from it as much as I do.”
Westmoreland has been a docent for 15 years. He believes the history of the Marine Corps should be taught more and is motivated to enlighten recruits every cycle.
“It’s a matter of pride,” said Westmoreland. “These are the future legends of the Marine Corps. These are our future heroes.”