Marines receive send-off

By Nishi Gupta
Posted: Monday, June 04, 2007 at 9:27 PM

PEORIA -- About 90 central Illinois Marines received a patriotic send-off Monday.

The Charlie Company Marines were fed a warm dinner and given a gift pack to remind them of the gratitude many feel for them.

The men and women are leaving Thursday for Iraq.

For many this will be their second and even third tours.

They say the few days they have left will be spent with their families-- but say they are ready to go.

"I try to stay positive and to be honest with you I'm not nervous one bit going back over. I have one mission and that's to come back come back to my wife, come back to my daughter," said Corporal Robert Thomas.

"You can't think about it. If you do, it's just going to get in the way of you performing. And I mean, it's a concern for everybody but you don't even pay attention to it. We got stuff to do," said Private First Class Andee Short.

The dinner was hosted by Central Illinois Proud Families of Marines.

Ellie