thedrifter
11-13-07, 07:26 AM
Marines honor Witteveen, others in ceremony Saturday in Grand Rapids
Public -
Monday, November 12, 2007
GRAND RAPIDS — Five Marines Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, including Private First Class Brett Witteveen of Hart, who died during the unit’s recent tour of duty in Fallujah, Iraq, were remembered Saturday in Grand Rapids.
WZZM TV 13 reported hundreds attended a ceremony Saturday morning at the Navy/Marine reserve center in Grand Rapids to dedicate a memorial in honor of the five fallen Marines.
In addition to Witteveen, the other Marines remembered were Sgt. Thomas Gilbert, Cpl. Jacob Neal, Lance Cpl. Jonathan Thornsberry, and Private First Class Kenny Van Slyke. All died in Iraq.
The memorial will be built behind the reserve center on Monroe Avenue.
“They made a horrible place a far better place than it was when we first arrived. They gave safety and security to people who desperately wanted it,” Major Dan Whisnant told the Grand Rapids television station.
“He was proud of what he was doing, proud of everybody that he was serving with and for,” Rick Witteveen, father of Brett Witteveen, said.
Witteveen says he’s glad there will be a lasting tribute for everyone to see.
Public -
Monday, November 12, 2007
GRAND RAPIDS — Five Marines Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, including Private First Class Brett Witteveen of Hart, who died during the unit’s recent tour of duty in Fallujah, Iraq, were remembered Saturday in Grand Rapids.
WZZM TV 13 reported hundreds attended a ceremony Saturday morning at the Navy/Marine reserve center in Grand Rapids to dedicate a memorial in honor of the five fallen Marines.
In addition to Witteveen, the other Marines remembered were Sgt. Thomas Gilbert, Cpl. Jacob Neal, Lance Cpl. Jonathan Thornsberry, and Private First Class Kenny Van Slyke. All died in Iraq.
The memorial will be built behind the reserve center on Monroe Avenue.
“They made a horrible place a far better place than it was when we first arrived. They gave safety and security to people who desperately wanted it,” Major Dan Whisnant told the Grand Rapids television station.
“He was proud of what he was doing, proud of everybody that he was serving with and for,” Rick Witteveen, father of Brett Witteveen, said.
Witteveen says he’s glad there will be a lasting tribute for everyone to see.