Purpose of the Memorial Project*
A VMO-6 monument will be built to memorialize the squadron crew members (officers and enlisted) killed as a result of hostile actions during the 46 years the squadron was an active unit. VMO-6 saw combat action in Nicaragua in 1928, in the battle of Okinawa in 1945, Korea in 1950-1955, and Vietnam in 1965-1969. Throughout its history, the squadron had 14 different fixed wing and 6 various types of helicopters. It was the first combat helicopter unit in the Marine Corps (1950) and the squadron achieved exemplary war records in all combat operations, as documented in the USMC official publication, A History of Marine Observation Squadron Six. The names of 3 known squadron members killed in Nicaragua, 5 in WWII, 23 in Korea, and 35 in Vietnam will be engraved on a black granite shaped airfoil along with etchings of 7 aircraft that were primarily flown in the squadron's combat operations. The monument names will include those who died in support of a VMO-6 mission – pilots, copilots, crew chiefs, aerial gunners, Navy corpsmen, aerial observers, and include squadron members on the ground killed by enemy hostile action. Also planned is the placement of commemorative bricks in the walkway around and close to the monument base for squadron members to memorialize their participation in the one of the finest and distinguished units in the Marine Corps. The monument will be erected in the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park, National Marine Corps Museum, 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, VA. The museum was dedicated in November 2006 by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. The memorial park has a chapel and both are on a series of small hills that overlook the museum from the East. Over a mile of paved pathways or trails have been constructed in the tree lined hills as part of the memorial park for placement of monuments. The complex is impressive and a perfect location for a monument to remember the fallen members of our extraordinary and heroic squadron. The museum and memorial park are a National Treasure and will be visited by thousands of Marines, friends, and visitors as well as families of our fallen comrades. It is a must see for visitors to Quantico and/or the Washington Area. More than 2 million people have visited the complex since its dedication. To learn more about the complex located outside the main entrance of Marine Corps Base Quantico and between I-95 and US-1, go to http://www.marineheritage.org/ and http://www.usmcmuseum.org/index.asp. Based on cost estimates, $70,000 is needed to design, build, transport, and erect the monument. The plan is to erect the monument at the end of March 2012, complete construction of the walkway and apron around the structure in April, and dedicate the memorial on May 17, 2012. The memorial will be completed in celebration of the Centennial of Marine Corps Aviation which is May 22, 2012.* Revised 2/20/2012
