jinelson
04-29-07, 01:22 PM
http://www.op29online.com/content/articles/2007/04/27/news/news01.jpg
RCT-7 honors fallen comrades from recent OIF deployment
A memorial, with 164 sets of dog tags hanging around the grip of an M-16A2, was placed on stage to honor the service members who have been killed since Operation Iraqi Freedom began while attached to Regimental Combat Team 7.
Lance Cpl. Katelyn A. Knauer
Combat Correspondent
Marines stand equipped with rifles outside Sunset Cinema. They are the guardian angels. Inside the theater are Marines who have served or will serve in the sandy terrains of Iraq. From major generals all the way down to privates they sit together in solemn silence, all to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Marines, sailors, family and friends joined together to remember 72 fallen comrades at the base theater April 19.
The memorial remembered Marines, sailors and soldiers who lost their lives while serving a year-long deployment with Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division, during combat operations in area of operations Denver from Feb. 21, 2006 to Jan. 20, 2007.
The memorial is to remember the individuals, for the unit and families and to prepare the Marines to go to war again, said Col. William B. Crowe, commanding officer, 7th Marine Regiment.
Many felt the memorial did just that.
“It’s important that we hold memorials for the simple fact that they have done the country a great honor,” said Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Norman, technical network specialist, Headquarters Company, 7th Marine Regiment, who has served one deployment. “They went to a foreign land they didn’t know, fought and died for their country and they deserve to be memorialized and remembered for their courageous actions.”
While a screen depicted the picture, unit and hometown of each fallen comrade, a single rifle, helmet and pair of boots was displayed center stage. Simple in appearance the display represents an old military tradition practiced on the field of battle.
The helmet and identification tags signify the fallen comrade. The inverted rifle with a bayonet signals a time for prayer, a break in the battle to pay tribute to the fallen. The combat boots represent the final march of the last battle. From the rifle, hung 164 sets of dog tags, which represent the men from RCT-7 who lost their lives since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003.
As each name was called, a single bell chime was rung by Cpl. Joshua Ward, mobile multi-channel equipment operator, Headquarters Co., 7th Marines. Along with others who participated in the ceremony, Ward took his duty as closure to losing fellow Marines.
“It was an honor,” said Ward. “I had a lot of good friends that got killed over there. It was my way of saying goodbye. I felt proud. I felt sorry that my friends were gone, but felt proud to be able to serve next to people like that.”
At the end of the ceremony a rifle volley, along with the playing of “Taps” was preformed. Marines throughout the theater stood at the position of attention, some rigid faced, some with glazed eyes and some not holding back their emotions at all, as tears rolled down their cheeks.
Seventy-two Marines, sailors and soldiers lost their lives, but will never be forgotten.
http://www.op29online.com/articles/2007/04/27/news/news01.txt
RCT-7 honors fallen comrades from recent OIF deployment
A memorial, with 164 sets of dog tags hanging around the grip of an M-16A2, was placed on stage to honor the service members who have been killed since Operation Iraqi Freedom began while attached to Regimental Combat Team 7.
Lance Cpl. Katelyn A. Knauer
Combat Correspondent
Marines stand equipped with rifles outside Sunset Cinema. They are the guardian angels. Inside the theater are Marines who have served or will serve in the sandy terrains of Iraq. From major generals all the way down to privates they sit together in solemn silence, all to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Marines, sailors, family and friends joined together to remember 72 fallen comrades at the base theater April 19.
The memorial remembered Marines, sailors and soldiers who lost their lives while serving a year-long deployment with Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division, during combat operations in area of operations Denver from Feb. 21, 2006 to Jan. 20, 2007.
The memorial is to remember the individuals, for the unit and families and to prepare the Marines to go to war again, said Col. William B. Crowe, commanding officer, 7th Marine Regiment.
Many felt the memorial did just that.
“It’s important that we hold memorials for the simple fact that they have done the country a great honor,” said Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Norman, technical network specialist, Headquarters Company, 7th Marine Regiment, who has served one deployment. “They went to a foreign land they didn’t know, fought and died for their country and they deserve to be memorialized and remembered for their courageous actions.”
While a screen depicted the picture, unit and hometown of each fallen comrade, a single rifle, helmet and pair of boots was displayed center stage. Simple in appearance the display represents an old military tradition practiced on the field of battle.
The helmet and identification tags signify the fallen comrade. The inverted rifle with a bayonet signals a time for prayer, a break in the battle to pay tribute to the fallen. The combat boots represent the final march of the last battle. From the rifle, hung 164 sets of dog tags, which represent the men from RCT-7 who lost their lives since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003.
As each name was called, a single bell chime was rung by Cpl. Joshua Ward, mobile multi-channel equipment operator, Headquarters Co., 7th Marines. Along with others who participated in the ceremony, Ward took his duty as closure to losing fellow Marines.
“It was an honor,” said Ward. “I had a lot of good friends that got killed over there. It was my way of saying goodbye. I felt proud. I felt sorry that my friends were gone, but felt proud to be able to serve next to people like that.”
At the end of the ceremony a rifle volley, along with the playing of “Taps” was preformed. Marines throughout the theater stood at the position of attention, some rigid faced, some with glazed eyes and some not holding back their emotions at all, as tears rolled down their cheeks.
Seventy-two Marines, sailors and soldiers lost their lives, but will never be forgotten.
http://www.op29online.com/articles/2007/04/27/news/news01.txt