Quantico Marine earns Bronze Star for valor

Quantico Marine earns Bronze Star for valor

Date published: 9/25/2009

By Rusty Dennen

Quantico Marine given Bronze Star

Marine Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Clookey received a Bronze Star with valor device during a ceremony yesterday at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Clookey, an instructor at the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy, was cited for his actions during a deployment to Afghanistan in 2008 as platoon sergeant with 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team Marine Expeditionary Force.

The citation accompanying the medal reads in part: "His tireless devotion to duty and care for the Marines under his charge carried his platoon through numerous life and death situations" during 30 engagements between March and August 2008.

In one instance, he led a squad to clear an enemy machine-gun bunker, killing three insurgents.

--Rusty Dennen

Family weekend to draw crowds to UMW

The University of Mary Washington expects more than 1,000 students and their families to attend the school's family weekend today through Sunday.

At 7:15 tonight, the Eagle Pipe Band will hold a parade from Monroe Hall to George Washington Hall. The band will then have a concert at 7:30 p.m. at Dodd Auditorium.

Tomorrow's events include a 5-kilometer run. It will start at the Jepson Science Center fountain at 7:30 a.m.

For an online list of events, go to umw.edu/familyweek end.

--Jeff Branscome

Smithsonian readers get free admission into local museum

Interested in seeing what your regional museum has to offer, but short on spare change?

Well, tomorrow, admission is free at the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center for readers of Smithsonian magazine and Smithsonian.com visitors.

The museum, newly enlarged with the addition of the Catherine W. Jones McKann Center, is taking part in the periodical's fifth annual Museum Day, a special event at hundreds of institutions nationwide.

The McKann Center, 1001 Princess Anne St., is at the corner of William and Princess Anne streets. Call 540/371-3037 or browse fredericksburgareamuseum.com for visitor information.

Before going, participating visitors should print out an admission coupon (valid for two guests) upon visiting the Museum Day Web site, smithsonian.com/museumday.

The museum, founded in 1985, offers galleries of exhibits on the Colonial era, the Civil War, weaponry, the Rappahannock River, trade and transportation, banking, race relations, and diverse people who've contributed to the region's heritage.

Its top-floor Mansard Gallery just opened a changing exhibit, "Woven in Culture," on the ancient art of oriental rugs.

In honor of Museum Day, FAMCC will also offer free architectural walking tours of downtown Fredericksburg, which will depart from Market Square at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

--Clint Schemmer

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Date published: 9/25/2009