West Virginia Joins National Effort to Find U.S. Marines

Governor Joe Manchin III has unveiled a new online form for West Virginia's active and former United States Marines and their families to register with a state database. The effort is part of the larger National Marines Heritage Foundation campaign to find 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 Marine Museum will be special not only for Marines and their families, but for all Americans," the governor stated. "It is an honor to join other governors across this nation to encourage Marines to become involved in this important and historic project. Every soldier has a story and now is a great opportunity for Marines to tell theirs, so fellow citizens can truly understand life as a Marine."

Current and former Marines and their families are encouraged to visit the Web site to access an online form and register. Information shared on the Web site will then be forwarded to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation for use in the development of the national museum.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps, a public-private venture between the United States Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, will be dedicated in November 2006 in Quantico, Va. The objective of this project is to tell the story of the Marine Corps through the eyes of the Marines.