thedrifter
12-18-06, 07:56 AM
Marine Corps salutes one of its own
Bill Jackson, (Bio) bjackson@greeleytribune.com
December 18, 2006
On a cold and blustery Sunday afternoon, the U.S. Marine Corps took care of another of its own.
That's been a part of the Marines for 231 years, and it is continued by the Union Colony Marines, a detachment of the Colorado Marine Corps League, which is open to all Marines, retiring Marines, Marine Corps Reservists (active or non active) and Navy Corpsmen who served with the Fleet Marine Force.
They honored another of their fallen Sunday with a memorial for Chris "Andy" Anderson of Longmont, a Navy hospital corpsman killed in action in Iraq earlier this month, at the Weld County Veterans Memorial in Bittersweet Park. The memorial was the last of several for Anderson, who will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery later this week.
The Union Colony detachment is one of 12 in Colorado, and since the summer of 2005, it has been conducting memorial services for any Colorado Marine or Navy corpsman killed in action in Iraq or Afghanistan, said Ralph McClure of Greeley, a member of the detachment, who served with the Marines from 1960-66.
The service is conducted at 2 p.m. on the Sunday following the burial service for Colorado Marines or Navy corpsmen who died serving in the Middle East war. It is presented at the Veterans Memorial, 16th Street and 35th Avenue.
Anderson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C. He died Dec. 4 as a result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. A full military service was conducted in Longmont for Anderson on Saturday. Rear Adm. Brian G. Brannman, commander of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego was in Longmont to present the Purple Heart, posthumously, to Anderson.
The Marines, McClure said, hold a special place in their hearts for those corpsmen who volunteer to serve with the Marine Corps on battlefields. It was no different for Anderson, he said. He and six other members of the Union Colony detachment participated in Sunday's memorial for Anderson.
"We usually get four or five members (from the Union Colony) for each service," said McClure, who encourages the public to attend each of the memorial services. He served with the 4th Marines in the south Pacific and Southeast Asia.
The service includes the Union Colony Marines, who march to the veterans memorial in full dress blue uniforms. They carry the Marine Corps flag and lay a wreath with the name of the Marine or corpsman who was killed in action. The wreath includes a photograph and information about the service member gleaned from members of the family or funeral home which conducted the burial.
The wreath is then guarded by a Marine sentry in 15-minute increments for an hour.
"It's something we have been doing since the summer of 2005 and we hope that each one will be the last one, but unfortunately, we all know it will continue," McClure said.
About the services
Memorial services have been conducted by the Union Colony Marines for the following Marines/Navy Corpsmen killed in action in Iraq or Afghanistan:
» Lance Corporal Chad B. Maynard, Montrose, June 26, 2005.
» Lance Corporal Evander Herrera, Rifle, Aug. 21, 2005.
» Private First Class J. Trumbello, Westminster, Nov. 20, 2005.
» Corporal Bret Lunstrum, Denver Jan. 28, 2006.
» Corporal Klye Powell, Colorado Springs, Nov. 25, 2006.
» Navy Corpsman 3rd Class Chris "Andy" Anderson, Longmont, Dec. 17, 2006.
Ellie
Bill Jackson, (Bio) bjackson@greeleytribune.com
December 18, 2006
On a cold and blustery Sunday afternoon, the U.S. Marine Corps took care of another of its own.
That's been a part of the Marines for 231 years, and it is continued by the Union Colony Marines, a detachment of the Colorado Marine Corps League, which is open to all Marines, retiring Marines, Marine Corps Reservists (active or non active) and Navy Corpsmen who served with the Fleet Marine Force.
They honored another of their fallen Sunday with a memorial for Chris "Andy" Anderson of Longmont, a Navy hospital corpsman killed in action in Iraq earlier this month, at the Weld County Veterans Memorial in Bittersweet Park. The memorial was the last of several for Anderson, who will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery later this week.
The Union Colony detachment is one of 12 in Colorado, and since the summer of 2005, it has been conducting memorial services for any Colorado Marine or Navy corpsman killed in action in Iraq or Afghanistan, said Ralph McClure of Greeley, a member of the detachment, who served with the Marines from 1960-66.
The service is conducted at 2 p.m. on the Sunday following the burial service for Colorado Marines or Navy corpsmen who died serving in the Middle East war. It is presented at the Veterans Memorial, 16th Street and 35th Avenue.
Anderson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C. He died Dec. 4 as a result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. A full military service was conducted in Longmont for Anderson on Saturday. Rear Adm. Brian G. Brannman, commander of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego was in Longmont to present the Purple Heart, posthumously, to Anderson.
The Marines, McClure said, hold a special place in their hearts for those corpsmen who volunteer to serve with the Marine Corps on battlefields. It was no different for Anderson, he said. He and six other members of the Union Colony detachment participated in Sunday's memorial for Anderson.
"We usually get four or five members (from the Union Colony) for each service," said McClure, who encourages the public to attend each of the memorial services. He served with the 4th Marines in the south Pacific and Southeast Asia.
The service includes the Union Colony Marines, who march to the veterans memorial in full dress blue uniforms. They carry the Marine Corps flag and lay a wreath with the name of the Marine or corpsman who was killed in action. The wreath includes a photograph and information about the service member gleaned from members of the family or funeral home which conducted the burial.
The wreath is then guarded by a Marine sentry in 15-minute increments for an hour.
"It's something we have been doing since the summer of 2005 and we hope that each one will be the last one, but unfortunately, we all know it will continue," McClure said.
About the services
Memorial services have been conducted by the Union Colony Marines for the following Marines/Navy Corpsmen killed in action in Iraq or Afghanistan:
» Lance Corporal Chad B. Maynard, Montrose, June 26, 2005.
» Lance Corporal Evander Herrera, Rifle, Aug. 21, 2005.
» Private First Class J. Trumbello, Westminster, Nov. 20, 2005.
» Corporal Bret Lunstrum, Denver Jan. 28, 2006.
» Corporal Klye Powell, Colorado Springs, Nov. 25, 2006.
» Navy Corpsman 3rd Class Chris "Andy" Anderson, Longmont, Dec. 17, 2006.
Ellie