MARINE RAIDERS MEMORIAL

This project is a proposed design space as a memorial for the Marine Raiders of World War II. These brave warriors were a special battalion organized for specific tactical attacks on enemy targets. Known for their motto, “Gung Ho” or “work together,” these marines shared a strong bond of camaraderie that carried them through some of the toughest battles of the Pacific Theater. After the war the Raider battalions were dissolved leaving only the memories of Veterans as evidence of their service.

There are three spaces in this memorial, representational of three phases in the history of Marine Raiders. The first phase,the assembly room, represents the coming together of this special group of individuals who underwent unique training to form the Marine Raiders Battalions. In this room, one can approach pillars adorned with memorabilia from actual Marine Raiders. As one approaches each pillar, a sound clip plays from the perspective of one of the Raiders telling the story of how they joined the battalion.

As one enters the second phase, the war room, there is a stark contrast of cutting shadow and light. The pillars in this room are chaotically spaced, each one playing a story of a Marine's experience in combat. This room, then, is filled with layered noise. In both of these rooms, the ground is covered with black lava rock, the same as that was experienced on the islands of the Pacific Theater.

From here, a pillar of light shone through a crack in the wall leads you to the third space, the beach front, is designed as a sandy shore. The pillars begin to be covered and eventually vanish under the sand. This room represents the fading away of the Marine Raiders generation and the gradual loss of these brave individuals over time.