Photo by Lance Cpl. Jahn R. Kuiper Gn. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, gives a speech Oct. 22 during the dedication of theSemper Fidelis Memorial Chapel at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

The Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel opened its doors at a dedication ceremony Oct. 22.

‘‘This chapel is very important, as evident by the more than 150 present to see it dedicated, said Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps. ‘‘TheMarine Corps has had lots of chapels at tree lines, the hood of a Humvee or on a ship. This chapel has raised the bar for chapels and it is exactly where it should be — at theNational Museum of the Marine Corps.”

The benefactor of the chapel talked about what the chapel means to him.

‘‘I was very moved and impressed by the concept,” said Timothy Day who along with his wife, Sandy, donated $5 million to the building campaign. The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation covered the remaining balance to meet the total $6.8 million cost.

‘‘My wife pulled me aside and told me this is going to be very important to the Marine Corps and to your legacy,” Day said. ‘‘How do you say no to that? It is a great honorto assist, if even in a small way, the legacy of theMarine Corps.”

Others spoke of what people might feel when they enter the chapel.

‘‘I think a few things will happen when we go inside,” Conway said. ‘‘We will look through the crowd and see if we recognize any Marine we have served with. We will sit on a bench and think of the Marines who have passedbefore us. And, before we leave, we will say a prayer and thank God we were born in this great land.”

‘‘It’s a beautiful place of peace, reflection, celebration and remembrance,” said Robert Work, the undersecretary of the Navy. ‘‘We dedicate this place for all Marines, former Marines, family and friends.”

— Correspondent: jahn.kuiper@usmc.mil