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By Lance Cpl. Frances Candelaria
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO - Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego consistently upgrades its facilities and after years of planning and more than six months of construction, the Visitors Reception Center is host to the new Boot Camp Gallery at the depot's James L. Day Command Museum. The facility's new addition was unveiled and had its first visitors during a reception, Feb 26.
The Command Museum was constructed in November 1987, and is one of the base's hot spots on Family Day and at graduations. The new gallery, located on the first, gallery illustrates the recruits' journey through boot camp, as well as the evolution of recruit training throughout history and the depot itself. The gallery even has yellow footprints, a pull-up bar and a weighted pack so visitors can feel how much weight the recruits carry during their hikes. The staff anticipates visitors being more interactive and gaining more insight and knowledge of recruit training.
"Hopefully it will give families a better understanding of what their loved one went through," said Joanie Schwarz-Wetter, education specialist, Command Museum.
Chuck Archuleta, exhibit specialist at the Command Museum, said that the recruits get a tour on training day 56, and in turn can show their families around when they come to visit the depot. He said the museum is open to anyone on base and highly recommends everyone to visit the museum and its new exhibit.
Archuleta pointed out the new PME theater classroom connected to the Boot Camp Gallery, and said once the final electrical touches have been added, the museum will be fully functional.
While awaiting the finishing details of the gallery and the Professional Military Education classroom to come together, the museum's staff strongly encourages anyone and everyone to book the Visitors Reception Center for an event. So far they have hosted one reception and received positive feedback.
"Visitors were very pleased with the space during the event," said Ellen Guillemette, archivist, Command Museum. "It has the right ambiance."
The entire museum staff is excited to see all the long hours of planning and hard work finally come together, said Guillemette.
"Seeing what the team could do working together and the effort put forth by the staff was great, but when the visitors first walk in and say 'Wow', that's what makes it all worthwhile," said Archuleta.
The staff is happy with the outcome of the new exhibit and hopes more people and organizations will use the center for hosting more ceremonies, classes and events in the future.
| Date Taken: | 05.15.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2010 20:10 |
| Story ID: | 49747 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 193 |
| Downloads: | 172 |
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