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1st Marine Division (Forward) Memorial Ceremony Honors Its Fallen Heroes
(September 21, 2010) |
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| CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (MCN - 9/16/2010) -- To honor
their fallen brethren, the Marines and sailors of 1st Marine
Division held a Colors and Memorial Dedication ceremony,
outside the division headquarters building here, Sept. 16. |
More than 200 guests attended the ceremony, led by
Brig. Gen. Joseph Osterman and Sgt. Maj. Phillip
Fascetti, commanding general and sergeant major of
1st MarDiv (Fwd) respectively. Most notably in
attendance were Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills,
commanding general, Regional Command Southwest,
Brig. George Norton, British general and deputy
commander, RC(SW), Brig. Gen. Malook, commanding
general, Afghan National Army's 215th Corps, and
Sgt. Maj. Micheal Barrett, sergeant major, RC(SW).
The ceremony began with a moment of prayer.
“On this solemn occasion, we memorialize our fallen
brothers who willingly offered their lives as |
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2nd Lt. Christopher Netley, 1st Marine Division (Forward), supply officer, stands at attention, as the commander of troops for the Colors and Memorial Dedication ceremony held aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Sept. 16, 2010, as a bell is rung for each fallen hero. The memorial ceremony was held in honor of the fallen heroes of 1st Marine Division lost while in support of the Operation Enduring Freedom. The Blue Diamond memorial monument holds the dog tags of the 83 fallen division heroes, to include British 40 Commandos and the 31st Georgian Battalion, since taking over Task Force Leatherneck, March 20. Netley, is a native of Palm Desert, Calif.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe |
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an act of service and ultimately as an act of
sacrifice for their great nation, their beloved
Corps and their brothers on the battlefield,” said
Lt. Cmdr. Carlos Ortiz, 1st MarDiv (Fwd) chaplain.
“Truly our brothers embodied the words of our Lord
who said, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, than
a man lay down his life for his friends.'” |
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Following the invocation, the American, Afghan, and Marine
Corps flags were raised one by one, as the 1st MarDiv (Fwd)
Band, played the national anthem, the Afghan national
anthem, and the Marines' Hymn, in congruence with each flag.
Directly in front of the flagpoles and at the epicenter of
the ceremony, was the 1st Marine Division (Fwd) Memorial
monument. The monument will stand proudly in front of the
division headquarters building as a daily reminder of the
ultimate sacrifice made by our fallen heroes of the
division, to include the British 40 Commandos, and the 31st
Georgian Battalion. It will also hold the dog tags, of the
Marines, sailors and coalition partners, who gave all for
their country, and the safety and security of the Afghan
people.
“We have this memorial today to recognize the ultimate
sacrifice the members of the division have made during this
counter-insurgency fight in support of our allies here in
Afghanistan, in an effort to establish their country and
make it a better place for their people,” Osterman said. “I
think it is really important that we realize that everything
we do out here is in support of that young lance corporal
‘walking point,' whether it is fighting the enemy, or
engaging with the community.”
Since assuming responsibility, March 20, as the ground
combat element of Task Force Leatherneck, the division has
lost 83 service members. In honor of those killed-in-action,
Capt. Jessamy Buban, 1st MarDiv(Fwd) adjutant, solemnly read
each of their names, followed by a ring of the bell.
After the names of 82 fallen heroes were recognized, both
Brig. Gen. Osterman and Sgt. Maj. Fascetti marched smartly
to the monument, and placed the dog tag of Lance Cpl. John
C. Bishop, the 83rd division service member
killed-in-action, Sept. 8.
The ceremony concluded with 1st Lt. David Bates' bagpipe
rendition of “Amazing Grace,” followed by Chaplain Ortiz'
reading of the Marine Prayer, and the band's playing of the
1st Marine Division fight song, “Waltzing Matilda,” Anchors
Aweigh, and the Marines' Hymn.
“Today was an opportunity for us to honor all of our
brothers-in-arms who have died fighting for our nations,”
Fascetti said. “It is humbling to be associated with such
warriors.” |
By USMC Gunnery Sgt. Will Price
1st Marine Division
Copyright 2010 | |
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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