I Corps Honor Guard takes part in Le May "America's" Car Museum grand opening
Story by SGT Jacqueline Fennell
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 came from near and far and were put on display by their owners who wanted to share them to be a part of the LeMay legacy.
Lt. Governor 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.
Several "America's Corps" Honor Guard Soldiers were honored and proud to have been able to participate in the opening ceremony, they found pleasure and entertainment by visiting the car museum.
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. Many 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."
The members of the Honor Guard said they had the most fun when they had the opportunity to race cars and compete against each other on a real live model race-car track.
The owner and engineer of "Slot Mods" race-car tracks, Mount Clemens, Mich., David Beattie, said when he saw the Soldier's engaging in racing on his model track he thought of his three nieces and nephews who also serve in the military.
Beattie said he found satisfaction in making them happy because he knows it's an escape from what they have to do everyday, and this is why he builds tracks. Beattie hopes to engineer a race-car model track which may be displayed it inside of a Veteran's Affairs hospital for all wounded warriors to enjoy.
"America's Corps" Honor Guard Soldiers ended the day with fun memories and experiences of a place in time and history where they could always think back and envision the history of motor vehicles and the stories they tell at the LeMay "America's" Car Museum.
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