Marines honor the fallen on Memorial Day

Photo By Staff Sgt. Heidi Agostini | Sgt. Seah Donohoe, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd) prepares to hoist the colors May 31 at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

05.31.2010

Story by Sgt. Heidi Agostini 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The I Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd) held a Memorial Day ceremony at Camp Leatherneck to honor America's fallen.

As of May 30, 2010, the Associated Press reported the 1,000 service member killed in Afghanistan since the war began in 2002, Cpl. Jacob Leicht, a 24-year-old Marine from Texas hill country.

This was Leicht's second deployment. Previously wounded in Iraq in 2007, Leicht, who was born on the Fourth of July, deployed with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and died May 27.

Jacob's younger brother, Jessie, enlisted in the Marine Corps nine days prior to his older brother's death.

Today, service members remember Marines like Leicht, who sacrificed and fought for what he believed was worth protecting. It's Memorial Day here in Afghanistan, and on Camp Leatherneck it's not just Marines that are honoring America's fallen; its Afghan soldiers, British troops, Navy, Air Force and Army personnel.

Since the transfer of authority in early April, I MEF (Fwd) has suffered the deaths of 15 Marines and one Sailor.

"Today back home, 16 new crosses will be decorated with flags and flowers," said Maj. Gen. Richard Mills, commanding general, I MEF (Fwd). "Sixteen new families will grieve and understand the price of freedom. So today, as we remember all the dead of wars past, I ask that you remember those of this command who paid the ultimate price. But I ask that you remember them for what they are."

The fallen are heroes, not victims, for paying the price so that other people in this world can sleep safe and be free and protected, said Mills.

Some would agree that Memorial Day is a holiday whose true meaning has been lost in translation over the years. It's the unofficial beginning of summer. School days are almost over. There are picnics, barbeques, tanning at the beach, relaxing by the lake and an excuse to take a day off. The original meaning is long gone.

"That meaning was to honor the men and women who have answered the country's calls over the years and who died in our nation's service," said Mills during the ceremony. "Memorial Day is not a day to have fun or to relax instead it's a day to remember and to honor the true American heroes -- those who gave the ultimate sacrifice."

• Date Taken: 05.31.2010
• Date Posted: 05.31.2010 12:04
• Story ID: 50591
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF