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Museum to tell Marine Corps' story

QUANTICO Homer Zartman counts himself among those who helped build the National Museum of the Marine Corps' collection from the ground up.

The Surry County resident discovered a wealth of items after his father, a Marine who served in France during World War I, died in the early 1970s. He donated his father's garrison cap, binoculars, original-issue razor, uniform leggings, medals, ribbons, dog tags and more to the museum.

"It's a way to honor him, his memory and all the Marines that have fought in every war," said Zartman, 68, also a retired Marine. "Personally, it means a lot."

Jennifer Castro, the museum's collections manager, said individuals and families are responsible for a majority of items in the collection, which includes about 1,000 swords, 3,500 medals, 4,000 small-arms weapons, 20,000 uniforms and more.
Read entire article at Richmond Times-Dispatch