MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (March 10, 2005) -- The Marine Corps Heritage Center held a coin laying ceremony at the site of the future National Museum of the Marine Corps and Heritage Center Monday. 

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael Hagee, along with the president of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, retired Lt. Gen. Ron Christmas; co-chairman of the heritage center fund-raising campaign and former president of Wachovia bank, Bud Baker; and retired Brig. Gen. Jerry McKay each laid a coin at the base of where the 250-foot mast will be built inside the heritage center.

The 250-foot mast is the focal point of the building’s design, symbolizing the flag raising at Iwo Jima.

“The tradition of laying coins stems back to Greek times where they would lay coins on the mast of their ships,” said Christmas. Should they engage in a naval battle and perish at sea, he explained, they would have already paid their fare to go to the afterlife. “Now tradition has grown through the years.”

Hagee presented the first coin, his 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps coin.

“The coin laid by General Hagee represents all Marines of today, of the past and of the future,” said Christmas. “It also represents all the young men and women who serve today in Iraq (and) Afghanistan.”

Baker presented the second coin, a silver half dollar.

“This coin represents our founders group for the Heritage Center,” said Christmas. “I will place the third coin for Mr. Fred Smith, the other co-chairman of the fund-raising campaign. What’s unique about this coin is that it was given to him by his secretary, whose husband is a Marine who served in Vietnam, and father served in both World War II and the Korean War.”

McKay presented the last coin.

“This coin comes to us from actually being laid at the base of Mount Suribachi, where the original flag was raised,” said Christmas.

“History means a great deal to Marines,” said Hagee. “It’s how we measure our performance today. We go back and look at great Marines and what they did to shape our Corps. History provides a bridge to today. But what I am really excited about is November of next year when they open the museum.”

“From all of us who work at the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, we are totally dedicated to what we know will be a national treasure,” said Christmas.

According to a Marine Corps Heritage Center news release, the National Museum of the Marine Corps will be a state-of-the-art institution that will honor all Marines and share their stories with the American public through remarkable interactive displays.

“This is a great milestone and a step closer to the realization of the museum,” said Christmas. “The next milestone will be raising the steel mast next week.”

The National Museum of the Marine Corps and Heritage Center is scheduled to open in November 2006.

For more information about the National Museum of the Marine Corps, visit www.usmcmuseum.org.