Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    I Corps Honor Guard takes part in Le May “America’s” Car Museum grand opening

    I Corps Honor Guard takes part in Le May “America’s” Car Museum grand opening

    Photo By Sgt. Jacqueline Fennell | “America’s Corps” Honor Guard soldiers, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., take a...... read more read more

    JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

    06.02.2012

    Story by Sgt. Jacqueline Fennell 

    28th Public Affairs Detachment

    TACOMA, Wash. – “Behind every car there’s a history and a story,” said Eric Johnson, a news anchor at KOMO 4 News, Seattle, Wash., who gave the opening speech and introduced Lt. Governor Brad Owen and Nancy LeMay, the widow of Harold LeMay. During the opening ceremony to “America’s Car Museum,” June 2, several people were acknowledged.

    Following his service in the Navy, LeMay and his wife collected 3,500 vehicles along with a number of other treasures in the automobile industry and donated them for exhibition so future generations can enjoy.

    Stretched in front of the museum, antique models from near and far were put on display by their owners who wanted to share them to be a part of the LeMay legacy.

    Owen expressed his support for the philosophy behind the opening of the museum.

    “This is America and we like our automobiles like no other nation,” said Owen. “Our automobiles are our history, a part of our economic history, social history, design, and even rock and roll history.”

    Some members of the JBLM I Corps Honor Guard said they were honored to be a part of the Le May “America’s” Car Museum grand opening ceremony and found enjoyment inside the museum.

    Service members of “America’s Corps” Honor Guard agreed they were very honored and proud to have been able to participate in the opening ceremony, and found pleasure and entertainment by actually getting to experience the car museum itself.

    They walked down a lane of cars on display from the past that linked vehicles to chains of events in history that shaped America like the World War II era and going back all the way to the British-American War.

    Members of the community at the grand opening approached the soldiers and thanked them for their service. Several I Corps Honor Guard members said they felt respected and appreciated.

    Odette D’aniello, the manager of Celebrity Cakes Studio, Tacoma, Wash., said she supports her troops, and added, “Service members often get disconnected from the community when they leave, so when they are able to come back and be part of an event like this, it’s a very welcoming experience.”

    They explained, the most fun was experienced when they had the opportunity to race cars and compete against each other on a real live model race-car track inside the museum.

    The owner and engineer of “Slot Mods” race car tracks, Mount Clemens, Mich., David Beattie, explained that when he saw the soldiers racing slot cars on his model track, he thought of his three nieces and nephews who also serve in the military.

    Beattie said it pleased him to see the soldiers smile, have fun and relax because he knows it’s an escape from what they have to do everyday.

    "This is why I build the tracks," said Beattie about his motive. Beattie said he hopes to engineer a race car model track and display it inside of a Veteran Affairs hospital, one day, so wounded warriors can enjoy.

    “America’s Corps” Honor Guard soldiers ended the day with fun experiences and memories of a place frozen in time where they could always envision the history of motor vehicles and the stories they tell at the LeMay “America’s” Car Museum.

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 06.02.2012
    Date Posted: 06.05.2012 19:51
    Story ID: 89476
    Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US

    Web Views: 78
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN