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National Museum of the Marine Corps welcomes its 7 millionth visitor

SEVENCOVER
Pictured from left to right are retired Maj. Gen. James Lukeman, president and chief executive officer of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, U.S. Marine veteran Timothy Kapp, Jr., his wife Kelli, and Museum Acting Director David Vickers. On Nov. 10, 2023, Timothy Kapp became the 7th million person to visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
Marine Corps Heritage Foundation

The National Museum of the Marine Corps recently welcomed its 7 millionth visitor, Timothy Kapp, Jr of Youngsville, N.C.

Kapp, a Marine veteran with 12 years of service, and his wife, Kelli, traveled to the museum for the Marine Corps birthday ceremony on Nov. 10, 2023, but traffic delayed their arrival. This is the first time they’ve been thankful for traffic jams, Kapp said.


“It was so awesome coming up the parade deck and having everyone wishing each other a happy birthday. This is the Marine’s house so it just feels right to be here on the birthday. Being the 7 millionth visitor is a real bonus,” he said in a release.

Museum Acting Director David Vickers gave Kapp an even bigger bonus with a surprise “behind the scenes” look at the coming galleries, which tell Marine Corps history from 1976 to 2016.

The galleries aren’t open to the public yet but Vickers reasoned that “When we get to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 248th birthday, the Museum’s 17th birthday and our 7 millionth visitor all in one day it calls for something very special.”

The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation presented Kapp with a gift bag containing NMMC and Marine Corps memorabilia and a certificate for a memorial brick honoring Kapp as the 7 millionth visitor.

"On behalf of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, I am proud to congratulate you as the seven millionth visitor to the National Museum of the Marine Corps. You are the reason why we do what we do at the Foundation. Why we built this place, why we continue to share Marine Corps history and traditions. You represent the 7 million individuals who have visited and the 7 million who are yet to come. Semper Fi, Marine," retired Maj. Gen. James Lukeman, president and chief executive officer of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation told Kapp.

The NMMC opened its doors on Nov. 10, 2006, the 231st birthday of the Marine Corps.