A Marine with Regimental Combat Team 2 mourns the loss of a fellow comrad
during a memorial service aboard Marine Corps
Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 23, 2011. The
regiment's 87 lives lost during the recent
year-long deployment of RCT-2 was the greatest
total loss of any regiment that fought in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom. |
|
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. (MCN
-2/23/2011) — Marines, sailors and family
members from Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd
Marine Division, honored their 87 fallen
comrades Feb. 23, 2011, aboard Marine Corps Base
Camp Lejeune, NC.
The regiment returned
from Afghanistan early February after a
year-long deployment in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom. The difficulty of their task
seemed to reveal itself among the formation of
fallen soldier memorials. Each memorial stood in
honor of the service member it represented.
“These men gave their lives for their
country, their fellow brothers, and for the
people of Afghanistan,” said Cmdr. Bill
Appleton, the regimental chaplain for RCT-2.
“They truly have the warrior mentality that many
of us look up to in times of war.”
Troops from British Royal Marines' 40 Commando
and the 31st Georgian Battalion were also
present during the service because fallen
service members within their ranks were included
among the formation of memorials.
“These
men showed no fear in the face of death,” said
Appleton. “The majority of them enlisted in a
time of war knowing their lives were on the line
for their country.”
The ceremony closed
with a 21-gun salute, followed by the playing of
Taps. Emotion filled the auditorium as family
members and friends made their way to the front
of the formation of memorials.
“None of
them were victims. None of them died quaking in
fear or hiding from the Taliban,” said Col. Paul
Kennedy, the |
