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23 sets of helmets, boots and dogtags
Brigadier General Richard Natonski, Commanding General, 2d MEB
NAVY-MARINE Firing Detail
provides a 3-gun salute during a
special Memorial Service to honor the 23 Marines
from the 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade
who paid the ultimate price
during the OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
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MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY
27 May 2003
The 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade pays tribute to Fallen Comrades.
Story by: GySgt Yolanda Mayo
Public Affairs Chief, 2dMEB
Aboard the USS KEARSARGE (LHD 3), at sea in the Gulf of Aden, "There is a time for everything, and a reason for every activity under heaven, a time to be born and a time to die…a time for war and a time for peace…" Ecclesiastics 3:1-8, so began, Commander Douglas Rosander, of Philadelphia, Pa., the KEARSARGE Command Chaplain, at a Memorial Day ceremony
held here on Monday.
As the sun's rays brilliantly danced off the water, approximately 1000 members of the 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Task Force Tarawa) gathered on the flight deck to pay tribute to 23 of their fellow Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
With twenty-three helmets, rifles, dog tags, and boots on-line behind him, Brigadier General Richard Natonski, Commanding General, 2d MEB, spoke words which brought silent tears to many in the crowd, "Consider the enormity of sacrifice, the loss of even one service man or woman represents. Multiply that by the legion of those who have given their lives in the service of our country and the act of honoring them adequately seems overwhelming," said Natonski. "In fact, there is no single speech, tribute or gesture that can be rendered equal to their sacrifice."
Silence, as heavy as the humidity, hung in the air as each name of the twenty-three fallen Marines was read by 1st Lt. Randy Brown, from Buchanan Va., 2d MEB, Adjutant.
"It was an honor to be a part of the ceremony", Brown said, "but at the same time, it was difficult reading the names, knowing that each one had been someone's husband, father, or son."
After each name was read the ships bell rang out twice in memory of those lost. While the crowd continued to stand in silence, ATCS Jay Gillon performed Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA. The Marines and Sailors then stood proudly at the position of attention as the 21-gun salute rang out and taps followed softly behind.
First Sergeant Fred Turner, Company 1stSgt for AAV Co., 1st Battalion, 2d Marines will remember this Memorial Day for the rest of his life, "Twenty years in the Marine Corps, I've never lost a Marine, I have now." Turner went on to say, "whether I were to do one more year in the Corps or another ten, I don't ever want to have to experience this again."
An Nasiriyah saw some of the fiercest fighting of the war, 1st Bn, 2d Marines lost a total of 15 Marines in An Nasiriyah. As the Marines today remember their brothers of yesterday in the battles of Iwo Jima, Tarawa, Belleau Wood, the Marines of tomorrow will fight in honor of those who served
with the 2d MEB at An Nasiriyah.
After the ceremony, many just stood and gazed out at the sea, it was as if no one was ready to leave the somber ceremony
and move on to the daily tasks at hand.
For many of the Marines and Sailors, Memorial Day will take on a whole new meaning. No longer will it be just another "96"; the start of the summer. This day will forever be a time to reflect and remember their brothers, their friends, those they served with in combat, fighting for the freedom of people they never met, honoring their country and their corps. Although they are not physically here, their presence will be felt in the hearts and souls of all Marines forever. They will not be forgotten.
2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade
http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/meb/
