After walking into the Veterans Memorial Museum and seeing just a few of the displays and a story each one tells, you know this project has a special anointing on it. It is more than another museum of war memorabilia; it is a biography book of men and woman, who experienced war and it tells of how they gave to this nation.

It is a museum that transcends history, not with old things that once belonged to someone; instead with "expressions" of the human story of pain, sacrifice, and life. The museum allows you to touch the Civil War soldier, the wounded soldier, and a marine in Afghanistan.

The museum began in 1995, when Lee Grimes who collected memorabilia had a dream at 3 a.m. in the morning. Believing God gave him instructions to build a museum, it started in a storefront in downtown Chehalis. By 2005, the new building alongside Interstate - 5, at exit 77, opened debt free to the public. It has been a work in progress since, almost all of it by donations and volunteers.

Chip Duncan, the director, who has his own compelling stories, loves to tell the account of the Ron Harmen display. Ron was a retired Marine, who loved to volunteer time with the museum and his favorite unwashed coffee mug is now in his display with its own story to tell.

One day while Ron, as volunteer, was drinking from his mug, a famous politician walked up to him. The politician started a long presentation how proud and grateful he was of Ron and the museum. Seeing through the rhetoric, Ron held up his hand and said, "No disrespect, all I come here is to do is drink my F***en coffee in peace."

The other side of Ron, he loved to talk to young adults about the Marine Corp and life. One day Ron spent time with a young man, who lived nearby, by the name of Joe Bier and greatly impressed him so much that he joined the Marines. Sadly, Joe has his own display after being killed in Ramadi, Iraq by an IED, leaving Ron deeply grieved until he passed away.

Each display, the library, and the gift shop brings more than respectful  honor to veterans; they convey teaching and understanding of the values that made that made the military and this country; sacrifice, loyalty, bravery, and even personal loves. Often there are pictures of the veteran in uniform alongside his wife and family, some of whom still live nearby. One display has a large wooden chain and hook, carved form a single board by a WWI soldier, therapy for PTSD.

Each display allows a visitor to know the veteran, who may be gone, but still has roots in among us; it just takes a few moments and a little imagination to witness them as they were. This is what Chip Duncan and his volunteers have intentionally built.

For more information call 360-740-8875 or visit www.veteransmuseum.org on line.