GOVERNOR CARCIERI JOINS EFFORTS TO FIND U.S. MARINES PAST AND PRESENT FOR INCLUSION IN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS

04-25-2006

Governor Donald L. Carcieri is looking for past and present United States Marines and their families.

The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation has contacted Governor Carcieri’s office asking for assistance in the Foundation’s worldwide search for every man and woman who is presently serving or has served in the United States Marine Corps. The initiative aims to inform Marines and their families of the new National Museum of the Marine Corps and to involve them in shaping the Museum and telling the history of the Corps.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps, a public-private venture between the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, will be dedicated in November 2006 in Quantico, Virginia, and will tell the story of the Marine Corps through the eyes of the Marines. In addition to the Museum, the Foundation is currently developing a web site, on which a Marine can register and share his or her personal story. This online “Roll of Honor” will be a component of the Museum; at present the “Roll of Honor” is expected to be fully functional in June. Every Marine is asked to participate in the National Museum project by sharing their stories and contributing to the proud history of the United States Marine Corps.

As requested by the Foundation, Governor Carcieri has appointed a Rhode Island liaison to the National Museum, Colonel Herbert Waters (Ret.). Colonel Waters, of Middletown, left the Rhode Island National Guard in October, 2001. Having transferred into the National Guard as a Captain from the United States Marine Corps in 1985, Colonel Waters brings both Marine Corps experience and National Guard connections to bear in completing his task.

Colonel Waters will work with the Museum and help locate active duty and retired Marines in Rhode Island. To aid in this effort, the Governor’s Office has posted a registration form on the Governor’s web site for Marines to register and share their stories.

Rhode Island Marines and their families are encouraged to contact the Governor’s Office by visiting http://www.governor.ri.gov and following the link to “RI Marine Corps Info” or by going directly to http://www.ri.gov/GOVERNOR/heritage/to share their stories. The information shared on Governor Carcieri’s web site will be forwarded to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.

Please contact Colonel Waters at watersh@nwdc.navy.mil with your questions.