Sixth Marine Division - Presidential Unit Citation - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

At Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle, VA, there is a pathway that leads to nine memorials. The second one on the path honors the Sixth Marine Division and the Presidential Unit Citation award they received for their action on Okinawa during World War II.

The 6th Marines was formed on Guadalcanal in September 1944. They distinguished themselves during the Battle of Okinawa in the spring of 1945. (For a detailed history, see Laura Lacey's Battle of Okinawa.)

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Okinawa, the 6th decided to place plaques at several national cemeteries including the one at Quantico. The dedication ceremony was held on October 5, 1995. The plaque which bears the insignia of the 6th and the Marine Corps emblem is mounted on the top of an oval rough-hewn block of granite and reads:

SIXTH
MARINE DIVISION
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
OKINAWA 1945
DEDICATED 1995

While dedicating the plaque, the 6th Marines decided to expand its memorial at Quantico National Cemetery. Five years later, the Striking Sixth Memorial was unveiled.

A sign near the road marks the location of the Memorial Pathway which is a trail that winds up through the trees.

Quantico National Cemetery is open daily, sunrise to sunset.

References:

• 6th Marine Division Home Page: Quantico Memorial History
• Cemeteries - Quantico National Cemetery

Date of Dedication: 10/05/1995 Property Permission: Public Access instructions: Cemetery is located midway between Washington, DC and Fredericksburg, VA off Interstate 95 at South bound Exit 150B and North bound Exit 150 onto Rt. 619 West. Proceed ¾ mile on Rt. 619 West to the cemetery entrance on the left. Access times: From: 6:00 AM To: 8:00 PM Location of waymark: Quantico National Cemetery 18424 Joplin Road Triangle, VA USA 22172 Commemoration: 6th Marines - Presidential Unit Citation for Battle of Okinawa - 1945 Website for Waymark: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   04/24/2011 garmin_geek visited it