Courtesy Photo | Marines carry the colors as they run for fallen Marines at Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 26,...... read more read more
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Marines from 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division and volunteers from other units hosted a memorial run for the fallen Marines of 3/2 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 26, 2017.
The Marines came together to run 26 miles in honor of the Marines who fought and lost their lives for their country.
“It’s good to do it. It reminds you of what Memorial Day really means,” said 1st Sgt. Robert Jernigan of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. “It’s a somber run but it keeps everyone together.”
A group of Marines ran around a one-mile square led by two Marines in the front who carried the American flag and Marine Corps flag. After each group completed their run they passed off the colors to the next group of runners.
“We’ve identified those killed in action on the Battalion Memorial in front of our battalion building and we’re running a lap for each Marine who was killed in action for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, overall it was 26 laps for the 26 Marines who were killed in action in 3/2,” said Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Latham, the company gunnery sergeant and company first sergeant for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.
The event was set up after a recommendation from one of the battalion noncommissioned officers as a way to celebrate Memorial Day.
“It was a Third Marine Division tradition… on Memorial Day we’d get up together and for all the fallen service members in that unit, two members would carry the guidon around the base,” said Sgt. Vincent Gathings, the non-commissioned officer in charge for the S-3 with 3/2. “I figured I’d carry that tradition from 3rd Marine Division to 3/2."
The Marines of 3/2 invited Marines from other units to volunteer and participate in the event as a celebration for the Memorial Day weekend.
“It’s very somber. It touches my heart that somebody thought about this and put this together,” said Cpl. Michael Lucas, a weapons platoon section leader from 3/2 India Company. “I’m just thankful I’m able to come and run this event and honor the fallen brothers I have.”
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2017 23:19 |
| Story ID: | 236092 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 327 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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