Although the exhibit has been on display since last month, Michael Anderson stopped by the PBY Naval-Air Museum Sunday to take care of a few final touches.

He knew a ceremony was going to be held Thursday to recognize him and two other Navy Hospital Corpsmen for their role in helping construct the museum’s new hospital corpsman exhibit. And to Anderson, that meant it was important to get out the iron and press the uniforms and to make sure the exhibit appeared sharp and tidy so there’d be no unexpected wrinkles.

“My chain of command let me know that this opportunity was out there,” said Anderson. “I thought, ’That’s cool. I’m a corpsman. That’s my rate. That’s awesome.’”

Capt. Frederick McDonald, commanding officer of Naval Hospital Oak Harbor, presented Anderson, Sandra Serna and Meylin Serna with letters of appreciation from the museum. All three sailors are stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The Sernas are married.

The exhibit was organized by retired hospital corpsman Richard Hoover, a museum volunteer who was interested in helping dedicate space in the museum to the enlisted medical specialists in the Navy who also may serve with the Marine Corps.

Located in a corner of the museum, the display features a field uniform donated by Anderson, medical bags and other items used by hospital corpsmen. There also is written material about the history of hospital corpsmen and photographs of 22 corpsmen who were awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military honor.

“I read every citation for each of those people up there and it’s very humbling,” Anderson said. “It gives me goose bumps talking about it.”

Hoover, who grew up in Oak Harbor and graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1987, approached Wil Shellenberger, president of the PBY Memorial Foundation, more than a year ago about helping at the museum. Schellenberger asked if he could orchestrate a corpsman display.

Hoover’s “Unit One” medical bag is part of the exhibit.

“Typically these things were handed down from corpsman to corpsman to corpsman in a linear pattern,” Hoover said. “I was the third person to have it.”

Hoover requested help from the Navy and got it from Anderson and the Sernas. He was pleased with their ideas and execution in research, gathering materials and the presentation.

“I’m amazed,” Hoover said. “It’s beautiful. It really is. It’s magificent.”

Also on hand to speak about the efforts of the hospital corpsmen was Jeffrey Dell, Naval Hospital Command Master Chief.