Early arrivals who were waiting for the ceremony to begin passed the time looking for the engraved bricks they had purchased to line the walkway of Semper Fidelis Memorial Park and listening to the Marine Corps Band Quantico and country artist Josh Gracin, a former lance corporal and “American Idol” finalist. Others spent the time catching up with old friends as well as inspecting the Corps’latest operational equipment displayed by Marine Corps Systems Command.

Marine veteran Jim Lehrer, author and PBS “NewsHour” anchor, kicked off the dedication ceremony with a rousing speech, highlighting his own experiences as a Marine.

In addition to President George W. Bush, distinguished guests included General Peter Pace, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen Michael W. Hagee, 33rd Commandant; Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John L. Estrada; Lieutenant General Ron Christmas, USMC (Ret), President, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation; and LtGen James F. Amos, Commander, Marine Corps Combat Development Command Quantico.

“We are here today to bear witness to the delivery of America’s newest national treasure and to celebrate what this beautiful architectural masterpiece and these surrounding grounds will mean to future generations,” said LtGen Christmas. “It is here that the proud history of the United States Marine Corps will be appreciated, reflected upon, enjoyed like never before.”

President Bush told the assembled group: “The history of the Corps is now preserved within these walls. Many of you ... do not need a museum to tell you this history, because you wrote it yourselves with your sweat and your sacrifice -- in places like Tarawa, Chosin and Khe Sanh. These walls pay tribute to your contributions to American freedom. These walls remind all who visit here that honor, courage and commitment are not just words. They are core values for a way of life that puts service above self. And these walls will keep the history of the Marine Corps alive for generations of Americans to come.”

President Bush used the event to announce that the Medal of Honor will be presented posthumously to Corporal Jason L. Dunham. The family of Cpl Dunham, the first Marine to earn the medal since the Vietnam War, will accept the nation’s highest military award, at a date to be determined, for actions during 2004 in Iraq when the corporal jumped on a grenade to protect two of his fellow Marines. He died eight days later.

“As long as we have Marines like Corporal Dunham,” President Bush said, “America will never fear for her liberty, and as long as we have this fine museum, America will never forget their sacrifice.”

Echoing the thoughts of many, Andrew Genninger, a private first class in the war criminal detachment during World War II and present commandant of the Mitchell Page Detachment of the Marine Corps League, Chula Vista, Calif., summed up the day’s events in one word, “Fantastic!”

On Nov. 11, a smaller gathering attended a ceremony to dedicate Semper Fidelis Memorial Park. Invited guests toured the museum throughout the weekend. The museum officially opened to the public on Nov. 13.

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Christmas, with free admission and free parking. For more information, call (800) 397-7585, or visit www.usmcmuseum.org.