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As our nation celebrates 250 years of American independence in 2026, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation is proud to continue spotlighting the Marines whose stories shape not just the history of the Marine Corps but the very fabric of American society. Through our Marines Across America campaign, we are honoring the service, leadership, and lasting contributions of Marines in all 50 states.
Today, we turn our focus to Virginia, a state rich with Marine Corps pride and powerful stories of post-service impact.
Charles F. Bolden Jr.
NASA Administrator, Marine Corps Major General | Alexandria, Virginia
Charles F. Bolden Jr. is a Marine Corps aviator, NASA astronaut, and former NASA Administrator whose career bridges military service and space exploration. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he served more than 30 years in the Marine Corps, flying over 100 combat missions in Vietnam and retiring as a major general.
Selected by NASA in 1980, Bolden flew four Space Shuttle missions, including deployments of the Hubble Space Telescope, serving as both pilot and mission commander. In 2009, he became the first African American NASA Administrator, leading the agency through the end of the Space Shuttle program and the growth of commercial spaceflight.
Now based in Alexandria, Virginia, Bolden continues to champion STEM education, leadership, and innovation, carrying Marine Corps values far beyond the cockpit and into space.
Mary Beth Bruggeman
Nonprofit Leader & Marine Corps Veteran | Fairfax Station, Virginia
Mary Beth Bruggeman is a United States Marine Corps veteran and the President of The Mission Continues, where she leads national efforts to empower veterans to serve their communities. A 1999 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, she served eight years on active duty as a combat engineer, including commanding a company of Marines during the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. She later returned to the Naval Academy as a leadership instructor, mentoring future officers.
After earning a master’s degree from Georgetown University, Bruggeman transitioned to the nonprofit sector, joining The Mission Continues in 2015 and becoming president in 2019. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded opportunities for veterans to apply their skills to community revitalization, youth development, and civic engagement nationwide.
A strong advocate for women veterans and civic unity, Bruggeman continues to demonstrate that service is a lifelong commitment, guided by the same Marine Corps values she carried in uniform.
Steve Bozeman
Veteran Advocate & Community Leader | Lynchburg, Virginia
Submitted by: Chris Hughes
Steve Bozeman is a United States Marine Corps veteran and a deeply respected figure in Lynchburg, Virginia, known for his unwavering commitment to fellow veterans. For decades, he has worked tirelessly to support returning service members, especially those navigating housing and transition challenges after deployments to modern battlefields.
Bozeman is the driving force behind the Monument Terrace Troops Rally, a weekly gathering that began as a local response to the September 11, 2001 attacks and has grown into a lasting tradition of remembrance and appreciation. Held every Friday at noon since November 30, 2001, the event honors veterans and active-duty military members and has become a powerful symbol of community support in Central Virginia.
Through consistent presence, quiet leadership, and genuine care for those who served, Steve Bozeman exemplifies the Marine Corps values of honor, commitment, and service. His legacy is not defined by recognition, but by the lives he continues to uplift and the community he has helped unite.
SgtMaj Justin LeHew
Marine Corps Leader Dedicated to Serving Veterans | Fredericksburg, Virginia
Submitted by: Aisley LeHew
Justin LeHew completed his Marine Corps career as the Sergeant Major of 3d Marine Regiment, the largest infantry unit in the Pacific, serving as the senior enlisted leader responsible for the care, readiness, and discipline of thousands of Marines.
After retiring from active duty, LeHew continued his commitment to service by focusing on veterans advocacy and remembrance. He currently serves as Special Advisor to the Governor of Virginia on the Joint Leadership Council, helping advance initiatives that support service members and veterans across the state.
LeHew is the founder of Team Long Road, walking 3,365 miles coast-to-coast to raise awareness and support for veteran causes. He also co-founded the Amphibious Tractor Memorial and Association, works to honor the fallen through History Flights as its CEO, and serves on the board of Faithful Service for Veterans, pairing disabled veterans with service dogs.
Awarded the Navy Cross, Bronze Star with Valor, and multiple national honors, Justin LeHew continues to live the Marine Corps values of honor, courage, and commitment, ensuring that those who served — and those who sacrificed — are never forgotten.
Lieutenant Colonel Kevin A. Williams (Ret.) & Staff Sergeant Daniel Strong (Ret.)
MCJROTC Instructors & Youth Mentors | Goochland, Virginia
Submitted by: Wes Royer
Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Williams and Staff Sergeant Daniel Strong continue their legacy of service as Marine Corps Junior ROTC instructors at Goochland Middle and High School, where they mentor and guide students in grades 8–12. In a small, rural school system, their MCJROTC program reaches over 100 cadets, offering leadership development, extracurricular opportunities, and pathways to college scholarships.
Through daily instruction and hands-on programs like marksmanship, Raiders training, and competitive team events, Williams and Strong instill discipline, confidence, respect, and teamwork. Under their leadership, the Raiders team completed an undefeated season and captured the 2024–2025 regional championship.
Parents and students alike credit Williams and Strong with shaping young people into thoughtful, confident leaders—whether or not they pursue military service. Even after retiring from the Marine Corps, both continue to serve with dedication, making a lasting difference in the lives of the next generation.
Major Robert Bradley
Marine Corps Officer & Korean War Veteran | Stafford, Virginia
Submitted by: Mark Bradley
Major Robert Bradley’s Marine Corps career spanned multiple generations of service and some of the Corps’ most defining moments. He enlisted as a private and fought at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. During the Vietnam era, he served as a staff sergeant, worked as a bulldozer operator, and later became a drill instructor at Parris Island, shaping future Marines.
Determined to continue leading, Bradley attended Warrant Officer School, earned a commission, and rose through the officer ranks, ultimately retiring as a major. His final assignment was as the warehousing officer at Headquarters Marine Corps, where he applied decades of experience to support the force at the highest level.
Known for his sharp wit and deep pride in family and service, Bradley inspired multiple generations of Marines, including his nephew, who followed in his footsteps in 1974. He is remembered not only for his distinguished career, but for the humanity and humor he carried throughout his life. Major Bradley is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, honored for a lifetime of faithful service.
Major Robert Bradley
Radio Reconnaissance Pioneer | Fredericksburg, Virginia
Submitted by: Gavin Taylor
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Clyde Dennis Taylor played a foundational role in the development of Marine Corps radio reconnaissance. He served in Beirut, Lebanon, during the 1983 barracks bombing, an experience that underscored the importance of intelligence, preparedness, and mission precision.
Taylor went on to become the first commander of a Radio Reconnaissance Platoon, where he helped establish the tactics, standards, and operational framework that would shape the future of radio reconnaissance within the Marine Corps. His leadership laid the groundwork for capabilities that continue to support Marine intelligence operations today.
After retiring from active duty, Taylor remained deeply committed to the community he helped build. He co-founded Radio Reconnaissance Technologies with then-Capt. Gillespie, his former company commander, continuing to support and advance radio reconnaissance efforts beyond the uniform.
Through both his military service and post-retirement work, Clyde Taylor’s impact on Marine Corps intelligence endures, reflected in the generations of operators who have followed the path he helped define.
Continuing the Mission in 2026
As the United States marks America’s 250th anniversary, these stories are a vivid reminder that the legacy of the Marine Corps is etched not only in history books, but in the communities where Marines live, lead, and serve every day.
The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation is honored to amplify these voices as part of our Marines Across America campaign—now integrated into our America250 efforts—to showcase how Marines have shaped America for 250 years.
👉 Help us continue sharing these stories and preserving the rich legacy of the Marine Corps. Your support allows us to honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire future generations.
About Marines Across America and America250
As our nation celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026, Marines Across America honors the legacy of those who have served in the United States Marine Corps and the impact they’ve made—on and off the battlefield—for 250 years. This special storytelling series, part of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s ongoing efforts to preserve Marine Corps history, highlights Marines from across the country whose service and continued contributions embody the values of honor, courage, and commitment.
Through personal stories, career reflections, and community leadership, these Marines represent the enduring spirit of service that has shaped America since 1775. As we commemorate America250, we invite you to help us preserve this living history. Your support ensures that the stories of Marines—past, present, and future—will be shared with future generations.
