The 36th Beirut Memorial Observance Ceremony took place at the Beirut Memorial in the Lejeune Memorial Gardens on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, October 23, 2019. The special ceremony honored the fallen service members and survivors who served in Lebanon from 1958 to 1984 and in Grenada. Lt. Gen. Brian D. Beaudreault, II Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, Lt. Col. Anthony C. Johnston, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment commanding officer, and retired Gen. Alfred M. Gray, Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, delivered remarks.
Transcript
(“America the Beautiful”)
Good morning. Today we as a community, continuing tradition, it marks the 36th anniversary of October 23rd, 1983. I am Ron Bower, Vice Chair of the Beirut Memorial Advisory Board, who, with the city of Jacksonville, conducts this now-annual observance at this location with the significant support and assistance of Marine Corps Installations East. Please rise for the invocation, which will be offered by the Bishop Will Smith, a proud former active-duty Marine who presides over New Beginnings Christian Center. Please remain standing for the presentation of the colors and the national anthem.
Good morning. Wonderful counselor, mighty god, prince of peace. Let us pray. Bless us, Father, the city of Jacksonville, Onslow County, and the great nation. Thank you for our service members past and present for their daily sacrifices they’ve made, and, for that, we are grateful. Father, we are here today in remembrance of the soldiers, sailors, and Marines that paid the ultimate sacrifice preserving freedom and peace on this day in 1983, and, for that, we are grateful. Today, we ask that you continue to bring comfort to their loved ones as well as those who have filled the void due to their painful loss. Although time has passed, the memories and the stories will never fade, and, for that, we are grateful. As we pay tribute and memorialize the events of that day, we ask that your sovereign grace cover our men and women who now stands the watch today all over the world. Protect and guide them in their daily pursuit of rendering their advanced training and skills, making them vigilant and prepared for the enemy’s assault, and, for that, we are grateful. Your most holy word says, “And the peace of God, “which pass all understanding, “shall keep your hearts and minds to Jesus Christ.” It is because of that we will remain a grateful nation. In your precious name, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
March on the colors. (“You’re a Grand Old Flag”) (“The Star-Spangled Banner”) Please be seated. On Sunday morning, October 23rd, 1983, 36 years ago today, a violent bombing took place at the headquarters building of the United States Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon. This event, plus subsequent actions in Beirut and Grenada, caused the death of 273 US Marines, soldiers, and sailors. Most of these men were from Camp Lejeune and were the friends and neighbors of the citizens of Jacksonville and Onslow County. Almost simultaneously, another bomb detonated in another section of Beirut, killing 58 members of the French Peacekeeping Force. This ceremony remembers the events of that day and honors those who lost their lives in the cause of peace. While today’s observance focuses on those Americans who lost their lives, let us also honor those who were part of the French Peacekeeping Force, and let us give our grateful appreciation for the Italian forces who helped rescue our troops. Their national flags have been placed at our memorial for today’s observance. Let us now honor our French and Italian colleagues with a moment of silence. Our community has vowed to never forget the events of October 23rd, 1983, and that is why this observance has been held annually. Thank you for being a part of renewing our pledge to never forget and for your participation in the honor to those named on the wall behind me who lost their lives in the cause of peace. I would like to give a special welcome today to the family members and the Beirut veterans who are attending. In addition to this ceremony, the military order of the Devil Dogs will conduct their annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Beirut Memorial Monument at the Camp Geiger circle. The ceremony is set for two PM, and those attending should the entrance to the Marine Corps Air Station to access the site. Signs and sentries will direct attendees to the site. Earlier this morning, there was a prayer vigil at this site for the families and the survivors of the bomb blast. These observances are important to our community, as October 23rd, 1983 holds a special place in our community’s history and the history of the Marine Corps. Mayor Sammy Phillips continues the tradition of carrying the torch of leadership and commitment to military families in our community to never forget the sacrifices of military families and their service members. A native of Jacksonville, a graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan College, East Carolina University, and the FBI Academy, Mayor Sammy Phillips served on the city council after retiring as Deputy Police Chief. In 2007, he was the first person ever elected mayor for a four-year term. Today, Sammy Phillips continues the solemn pledge of this community to never forget the events of this day more than three decades ago. Please welcome Jacksonville Mayor Sammy Phillips. (audience applauding)
On behalf of a caring community, my fellow council members, and a city of proud citizens and city staffers, I welcome you to Jacksonville, to this memorial, and to this observance. I want to acknowledge the presence and to welcome members of our armed forces that are here today, particularly our Marines and sailors, our interested citizens that are here, community leaders, the Beirut veterans, all other veterans, our local veteran organizations, and, most importantly, the families of these people, these soldiers, Marines, and sailors that gave their life for the defense of this country. I welcome our beloved General Al Gray, who’s with us today. (audience applauding) General Gray certainly holds a real solid place in all of our hearts and in our history. I welcome back to this observance Lieutenant General Brian D. Beaudreault, who knows of this community’s resolve and support of our heroes and the price of their service. General Beaudreault, sir, there was nothing any more amazing than to watch five thousand Marines from the 2nd Marine Corps Division marching down New Bridge Street on a cold day in February, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the second division. I welcome our new Chief of Staff for MCI East, Colonel Nicholas E. Davis, and our new commanding officer for Marine Corps Air Station New River, Colonel Curtis Ebitz, Jr. I appreciate our other elected officials who are here attending today, and I am confident they also join with me in accepting that it is our privilege to be here today as part of this community’s observance, and I welcome all those who attend today or who will watch this community’s time-honored tradition of caring. All are welcome to this observance. It is where I am honored to renew the pledge that we as a community and city will never forget October 23rd, 1983. Our community is a changed place since that day. We mourned for the loss of life, we grieved for their families and loved ones, we mourned for the unrealized potential of lives lost. We mourned as a community, one community. We were overwhelmed by the extent of the grief. So many were lost, and the loss touched so many. So intertwined were we as a community that we mourned together, military and civilian. That joint mourning, a reliance of faith and community, and compassion of others has been a common bond of remembrance since 1983. We have and we continue to offer our compassion, our thoughts, and our prayers to the families of those whose names are etched upon the wall behind me. We honor them with our observance and our remembrance. While we mourn this loss of life, we also honor their sacrifice by celebrating today. We celebrate that we have worked together as a community of both military and civilian members for a better place. We are a caring community, as reflected in the city seal. Caring is the spirit that caused this memorial to be built, so moved by the loss of life 36 years ago today that immediately this community sought ways to remember and mark that tear in the fabric of our community. 36 years ago tomorrow, classes led by Martha Warren at Northwoods Park Junior High School began funding to plant a tree for each of those who died in Beirut. Last year, we renewed the connection to Northwoods Middle School. The members of the Beta Club took up the task of making three hundred yellow ribbons to welcome the families and survivors of the Beirut bombing. This year, they also made the ribbons after a presentation by our Master of Ceremonies, Ron Bower. He told the history of the Beirut bombing and the school’s involvement. Last week, the students deployed the ribbons to the 273 trees at the new Beirut Memorial Grove across from Camp Geiger. It’s an awesome sight. Other ribbons adorn this site, and the Onslow Civic Affairs Committee called on the community to place ribbons on their businesses and homes to welcome our Beirut families and survivors. I wanna thank Northwoods Park current students and the Civic Affairs Committee for this unique one-city moment. I wanna ask our Northwoods Park students and our Civic Affairs Committee members to please wave or stand. (audience applauding) And let’s ask the formers members of the city’s Beautification and Appearance Commission and the members of the current Environmental and Appearance Advisory Committee to also stand. (audience applauding) We want to recognize their roles in creating and sustaining our caring community and leaving us with this magnificent memorial. Exactly 33 years ago today on October 23rd, 1986, this community gathered at this location to unveil this memorial. This memorial calls a remembrance of that day to have a tangible community presence and symbolizes our resolve to never forget. It is our duty as a community to hold this observance. This memorial has inspired others to be built here. It is a testament that this community has advanced the spirit of caring. For this community, the duty to care and remember is taken very seriously. Consider what happened after Hurricane Florence. That we saw our caring community respond to help others was reassuring as it was expected. Consider the Freedom Fountain, dedicated to all those who pass through our community in service to their nation. It, too, testifies that we as a community care about duty to nation and those who engage in that service. On behalf of the city council and the city of Jacksonville, I want to give thanks to those who serve on the Beirut Memorial Advisory Board and others who have advanced this and other memorials as part of our duty to never forget. They and the mayor of the city of Jacksonville are holders of a powerful pledge to never forget the service and sacrifice of those whose names are etched behind me. Jacksonville will never forget to remember their contribution. Jacksonville will never forget the debt we owe to them for reminding us of the importance of a supportive civilian community, for a grateful, brave, and deserving military community, and Jacksonville will never forget the lesson their passing taught us, that we are not two communities, but rather one, military and civilian whose lives are intertwined. Today, we celebrate and we remember that the sacrifice these brave men gave for the advance of freedom also gave a lasting legacy of community bonding for the city of Jacksonville and our military neighbors. That spirit endures and, with it, our memories and compassion for their families. Our commitment to you is to continue that spirit today, tomorrow, and forever. (audience applauding)
Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for your commitment to these families and for the city’s continued commitment to this effort. The Beirut Memorial Grove, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Freedom Fountain, and the Museum of the Marine Plaza, and the inspiring Montford Point Memorial, and the future of things to come at this site together continues a permanent commitment to recognize how unique this community is. The Beirut Memorial Advisory Board has been inspired by the acceptance of our observances and our solemn pledge by the families of those who suffered that loss. Their loss is reflected in the selection by the White Oak High School Chamber Choir, “Calling My Children Home” by Joseph Jennings and “America the Beautiful” are performed under the direction of White Oak High School Choral Activities Director, Hillary Goodson-Spear. ♪ Those lives were mine ♪ ♪ To love and cherish ♪ ♪ To guard and guide ♪ ♪ Along life’s way ♪ ♪ Oh, God forbid ♪ ♪ That one should perish ♪ ♪ That one alas ♪ ♪ Should go astray ♪ ♪ Back in the years ♪ ♪ With all together ♪ ♪ Around the place ♪ ♪ We’d romp and play ♪ ♪ So lonely now ♪ ♪ I often wonder ♪ ♪ Oh, will they come ♪ ♪ Back home someday? ♪ ♪ I’m lonesome for ♪ ♪ My precious children ♪ ♪ They live so far ♪ ♪ Away ♪ ♪ Oh, may they hear ♪ ♪ My calling ♪ ♪ And come back home ♪ ♪ Someday ♪ ♪ I gave my all ♪ ♪ For my dear children ♪ ♪ Their problems still ♪ ♪ With love I share ♪ ♪ I’d brave life’s storms ♪ ♪ Defy the tempest ♪ ♪ To bring them home ♪ ♪ From anywhere ♪ ♪ I lived my life ♪ ♪ My love I gave them ♪ ♪ To guide them through ♪ ♪ This world of strife ♪ ♪ I hope and pray ♪ ♪ We’ll live together ♪ ♪ In that great glad ♪ ♪ Here after life ♪ ♪ I’m lonesome for ♪ ♪ My precious children ♪ ♪ They live so far ♪ ♪ Away ♪ ♪ Oh, may they hear ♪ ♪ My calling ♪ ♪ Calling ♪ ♪ And come back home ♪ ♪ Someday ♪ ♪ I’m lonesome for ♪ ♪ My precious children ♪ ♪ They live so far ♪ ♪ Away ♪ ♪ Oh, may they hear ♪ ♪ My calling ♪ ♪ Calling ♪ ♪ And come back home ♪ ♪ Someday ♪ (audience applauding) ♪ While the storm clouds gather ♪ ♪ Far across the sea ♪ ♪ Let us swear allegiance ♪ ♪ To a land that’s free ♪ ♪ Let us all be grateful ♪ ♪ For a land so fair ♪ ♪ As we raise our voices ♪ ♪ In a solemn prayer ♪ ♪ God bless America ♪ ♪ Land that I love ♪ ♪ Stand beside her and guide her ♪ ♪ Through the night with a light from above ♪ ♪ From the mountains to the prairies ♪ ♪ To the oceans white with foam ♪ ♪ God bless America ♪ ♪ My home sweet ♪ ♪ Home ♪ ♪ God bless America ♪ ♪ My home sweet ♪ ♪ Home ♪ (audience applauding) Mayor Phillips previously mentioned the involvement of Northwoods Park Middle School. Today’s involvement of the White Oak students helps to ensure our youth know the story of the Beirut bombing and the mark it has left on our community. Thank you, Hillary Goodson-Spears, and the White Oak High School Chamber Choir. In 2015, Lieutenant General Brian D. Beaudreault was assigned to deliver the annual Beirut memorial observance address by the commandant. At the time, he was the commanding general for the 2nd Marine Division. His significant insight into world affairs and a connection to the Beirut bombing was shared with us. The next year, he led the effort to mark the 75th anniversary of the 2nd Marine Division. Today, he commands the II Marine Expeditionary Force, and this distinguished Marine brings us remarks and an introduction. Lieutenant General Beaudreault. (audience applauding)
Well, good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
[Audience] Morning.
On behalf of our 38th Commandant, General Dave Berger, and all Marines serving around the globe who are busy keeping the wolves away from our doors, we foremost extend our deepest gratitude to gold star family members from all conflicts that might be with us today, but in a very special way, those family members of the Beirut Marines, sailors, soldiers who died serving with the warriors they loved and while unselfishly serving the country they loved. It is indeed an honor to be here with you all this morning. You know, this observance truly reflects the absolute best of American values. It’s an annual manifestation that gets to the core of what we hold dearest as American citizens, where those serving, those who have served, and non-veterans alike gather in this sacred place, united for a time, pause their day, and make this event a priority to perpetuate the names, the memories, the lives, the yet unfulfilled aspirations of those who voluntarily subordinated their own personal desires to respond to the needs of the nation and who made the ultimate sacrifice. This community’s tireless commitment to Semper Fidelis is unmatched, and we appreciate the stalwart support every day in good times and bad by the countless generous acts large and small, unmotivated by any desire for recognition. Today, we see firsthand the real and incontrovertible evidence of the character of this community that elevates Jacksonville and Onslow County from being a good place to live to being a great place to live and raise a family. From the ashes of Beirut and the tragedy that befell our corps sprung new relationships between those inside and outside the gates of these local bases, and it’s only gotten tighter over the years. This ceremony would not be possible without the steadfast support and leadership from Mayor Sammy Phillips and the Jacksonville municipal officials who help organize and enable the safe execution of this event each year. Your full partnership with Brigadier General Dale Alford’s team at Marine Corps Installations East is a testament to the unwavering devotion to partnering with the military community. I’d like to thank all of our ceremonial participants from across 2nd Marine Division and the community, specifically the Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Ron Bower, the 2nd Marine Division band, Bishop Will Smith, the White Oak High School Chamber Choir for their participation in this special event. The time and effort you devoted to the ceremony is apparent. Thank you for supporting this memorial. The BLT 1/8 Marines and sailors are looking down and acknowledging all of you with an, “Oorah!” and, “Semper fidelis.” Would you join me in a round of applause for all the participants in the ceremony today? (audience applauding) We have other distinguished guests in attendance today that I would like to acknowledge. Certainly, the 29th Commandant, General Al Gray, Lieutenant General Retired Gary McKissock, Lieutenant General Retired Walt Gaskin, Major General Retired Tom Braaten, Major General Retired Mark Gurganus, Brigadier General Cal Worth, who is our next commanding general that will lead our Marine forces into Afghanistan, and Brigadier General Retired Dick Vercauteren. Mrs. Grace Yoo, the wife of our MARSOC commanding general, is with us today. We have many colonels, commanding officers, sergeants major, command master chiefs, friends of the Marines of Beirut and veterans, and I extend a warm welcome and a good morning to all, and I would also like to recognize my closest II MEF teammates that are here, Sergeant Major Richard Thresher, Command Master Chief Jody Fletcher, and my wife, Karen, for joining us all this morning. The bombing of the Beirut barracks on the morning of 23 October stunned the corps and our nation. Today, around America and in Washington, DC, we honor the fallen to never forget the incalculable loss our nation suffered when considering the individual talents, future potential, and future offspring of those 241 souls. We will also never forget who’s responsible so that history doesn’t have a chance to repeat itself. Despite Iranian denials, the attack clearly had a degree of Iranian support, Syrian collaboration, and we know the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had been training in the Bekaa Valley. After the French barracks was attacked by terrorists on that same October day, with the perishing loss of 58 French paratroopers, the French responded by attacking those targets in the Bekaa Valley. 36 years later, Iran continues to be the world’s leader in state-sponsored terrorism, and the problems they pose around the Arabian Peninsula and Middle East remain one of our very top national security challenges today. I was honored to address this gathering in 2015, and the threat that Iran posed to regional stability then continues to persist today. I need not say a whole lot more as we watch the news and see the results of Iranian malign activity that is disrupting life in Yemen, in Lebanon. They had a hand in targeting Saudi Arabia, and they are openly aligned with Russia and Syria. The president and other leaders in the administration have spoken numerous times on Iranian malign activity and of the president’s commitment to ensure the Iranians never obtain a nuclear weapon. While the Middle East has clearly been a focal point for deployment since the 1990s, the national defense strategy has the joint force reordering to the Asia Pacific. At the same time, Russia is aggressive as ever in all domains, air, land, sea, cyber, space, and remains an existential threat. North Korea is still governed by a malevolent dictator, and Africa still poses an assortment of challenges from great power competitors seeking increased access to resources and infrastructure. We’re trying to contain pandemics, and a persistent threat of al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist organizations continue to reside. Cyber attacks, cyber theft, cyber espionage are unceasing from all corners of the globe. We’re in an active daily fight to protect our critical infrastructure and to ensure information superiority. With the 2019 establishment of the United States Space Command or soon-to-be-established Marine Forces Space Command, the final frontier is now officially a war-fighting domain. The establishment of that command is absolutely vital to our national defense. While there’s no shortage of complex and interrelated challenges around the globe, the good and reassuring news is that you will find Marines, II MEF Marines among them, forward deployed to the combat zones and to global hotspots providing credible conventional deterrents where we employ both land-based and naval expeditionary forces. Should deterrents fail, you have my assurance that the 42 thousand plus Marines and sailors of II MEF are vigilant, trained, and ready to fight like lions and decisively win, just as they have for the past 244 years, and just as you and the rest of the nation expects from the Marine Corps. We remain committed to remembering our fallen throughout the wars, certainly to include the sacrifices of our Marines and sailors in Beirut, and, to the families, know that not only do we remember Beirut on October 23rd, but also at formal functions such as mess nights when Marines stand tall with clear voices and offer a toast to the Marines of Beirut. From 1983 until today, the legacy and courage and resiliency of BLT 1/8 continues to inspire Marines, and we apply the hard-earned lessons learned. We thank the Jacksonville and Onslow Military Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Commerce who, each month, as part of a Service Member of the Month recognition dinner, present a lithograph of this memorial and, with that, a short recitation of the history leading up to the attack, the aftermath, and the community support that flowed to the families of BLT 1/8. Truly, the friendships that blossomed in 1983 and the civil/military bonds that formed are not commonplace in many parts of America, even where bases are located, and now I’m honored to introduce Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Johnston, the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines. Anthony’s battalion has faithfully perpetuated the memory of our fallen brothers. Battalion deployment schedules often conflict with this annual observance, so it’s certainly fitting that, while we have the battalion back aboard Camp Lejeune, we take advantage of having 1/8 in the area and provide their commander an opportunity to address this very special audience. Anthony’s biography is in the program, but suffice to say he’s a combat veteran of operations in Iraq, in Afghanistan. He’s conducted exercises throughout the Middle East. He was screened and slated for command simply because he is one of our very best officers. He’s most competent to lead the men and women of character into harm’s way in attainment of any assigned mission and to ensure their welfare and that of their family members. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce the commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Johnston. (audience applauding
All right, good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I don’t think that we could’ve asked for a more beautiful day to remember and to execute this ceremony here today. I wanna thank the Beirut veterans for inviting me to participate in this, the 36th memorial ceremony, and before I continue, I wanna thank the Marines from 1st Battalion, 8th Marines who are standing in the back, and, most importantly, the Marines and sailors from the battalion who are part of the ceremony today. If you would, let’s just give them a round of applause, please. (audience applauding) All right, last year, the battalion was in Twentynine Palms on this day. We were getting ready for ITX, sitting in the dirt out there at Camp Wilson, and, in our battalion area, we gathered the battalion together in a formation, and we conducted the roll call in order to remember and honor our brothers in arms. I’m truly humbled and honored to stand here with you today in this place, and I thank you for the opportunity and the invitation to be with you this morning. I wanna thank the city of Jacksonville, Mayor Phillips, General Gray, city officials, distinguished guests and members of the community. Most importantly, the veterans of the Beirut battalion, their families, loved ones, welcome, and thank you for being here today. It’s an honor to be here at this memorial to see the incredible support from the community for our veterans. You don’t see that everywhere across this country, the sincere love and support for past and present service members and to honor the legacy of the Beirut Marines. We are truly fortunate here in Jacksonville to live in a community that supports its veterans and service members. On this day, October 23rd, it’s about honoring service and sacrifice and remembering our brothers in arms. When I thought about speaking here today, and I reflected on the events of October 23rd, 1983, what became immediately obvious to me is the events of that day changed the way we look at the world and how we as a Marine Corps are postured for the future, how we train for this type of mission, how we sense and make sense of our intelligence, things like rules of engagement, things like how do we implement better force protection, and then I came across a message that was received in Washington, DC at the National Command Center, and the words that it says are just unthinkable. It stated, “Explosion at BLT 1/8 headquarters. “French report a building in their sector was also bombed. “BLT headquarters was destroyed. “Amplifying information to follow,” and that’s how it began. That’s what happened this morning in 1983. What was I doing on that day? Well, I wasn’t there. I wasn’t even in the military yet. I was eight years old. I was young, but what I do remember is I remember seeing the images on TV, and, in that day, we had newspapers, and I saw the pictures in the newspaper, but what was the most memorable moment was going to school and the teachers talking to us about what we were seeing, and it didn’t make sense. Why would anybody do this to Americans? Everyone was saying we were there to keep the peace. It just didn’t make any sense to me at the time. The world changed that day for Americans. It changed for me also, but I didn’t really fully understand what it meant until 18 years later when America was attacked again. This time, I was in the military, and I began to understand what happened on that day in Lebanon to the Marines of this battalion. Some would say the global war on terror began that day, on October 23rd. Maybe that’s true, I don’t know, but what I do know is it made us look at things differently. The threat had changed, and those lessons that we learned in Beirut, we carry on with us in the Marine Corps to this day. The impact of Beirut still shapes us today. Marines today remember the incredible acts of selflessness, sacrifice, and courage from the Marines of Lebanon. Your Marine Corps and this great community continue to pay homage to those great Americans and commemorate their lives lost, the families of the fallen, and the legacy they left behind. The future will require Marines to hold that line again. Terror, instability, great power competition will require us to serve alongside and support our allies and partners again, just as we did in Lebanon. Fortunately, we have the best war fighters in the world today. Many of them are standing behind you and up here on this stage. They’re a lethal force. They continue to adapt and learn. They’re good citizens. They’re loyal, they’re courageous, and they’re servant leaders. That is what makes us great. (audience applauding) They do it to serve this great nation. They do it because they believe in freedom, and they know it’s worth fighting for, and they will fight, and they will win to preserve this great democracy. In closing, our legacy matters, including the hard lessons, the lessons we learned in Lebanon. Every service member who was present that day, regardless if you served in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, or the Marines, you contributed to that legacy through your service, and we remember you and your families and our fallen heroes. What I can promise you is this battalion, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, will never forget. We carry your memory in this battalion, we remember your sacrifice, and we will always honor your legacy and service, so, on behalf of the Marines and sailors of this battalion, thank you for your service to this nation. It’s truly my honor to be here with you today to remember. Semper fidelis. (audience applauding)
Thank you, Colonel Johnston. Your leadership and your remarks are much appreciated. Today, we are honored to have the 2nd Marine Division band continuing their 36-year tradition of participation in this observance. (orchestra music) (audience applauding) Thank you very much, 2nd Marine Division band. Any introduction of the 29th Commandant is inadequate to describe the width and depth. Ladies and gentlemen, Al Gray, Marine. (audience applauding and cheering)
Thank you. Thank you, thank you. What a great privilege and honor it is for me today to once again have an opportunity to be with all of you. I can’t tell you just how great it is to see you. I say a little bit of prayer every morning and every night for all of you and for those gallant warriors that we lost 36 years ago. I wanna say also that for the Jacksonville community, Mr. Mayor, the entire community, and all of its different organizations that you outlined, I thank you, thank you very much for remembering our corps of Marines. Thank you for everything you’ve done. When I went through the ticket arrangement to fly down here yesterday, I hadn’t flown in quite a while, and, first of all, I didn’t know how to get a email ticket, but I learned that lesson, I went through that, and then I got to the place where you check in with your ID card, and I didn’t have a boarding pass because I thought I had one but I didn’t, so I went back and I couldn’t use the computer to get a boarding pass and so I got some lady to help me, and I finally figured out a way to get on the airplane, so the security agent said, “Where are you going?” and I thought for a moment and I said, “I’m going down to America.” (audience applauding) I’m going down to be with some of the greatest people in the world in the great town of Jacksonville, Onslow County and what makes America great. I wanna tell you that our great leader, Colonel Tim Garrity and his wife, Karen, are fine. He couldn’t be here today but he sends his very best to all of you, and I know how much you loved him. There’s another gentleman that… (audience applauding) Another gentleman I wanna mention, General PX Kelley, who was our commandant at the time. PX is kinda coming down the home stretch in a way. He’s in a home in Vinson Hall, and he’s not very well. He doesn’t really remember very much. I go out to see him usually every week and never more than two weeks without seeing him and the like, and it’s funny, when I talk to him, at first he doesn’t know me, and then I start talking about some of the things he did in the Marine Corps and this and that, and he remembers that and he remembers me, and when I brought up, again, in fact, Monday when I was out to see him, I brought up the fact that I was coming down here to hopefully be with all of you once again, he appreciated that. He said, “They’re great Americans,” and he sends you his very best, so PX was thinking about you too. I have one other… (audience applauding) One other old man’s sea story to tell you. As you remember, last year when we had this great gathering, we were invited later to go to the White House, and many of you were there in the White House with us, and, of course, we were privileged our Commander in Chief, the President, speak to us and the like. I was in communications with him here about a week ago. He remembered that very well, he sends you his very best. He asked for all of you to please take care of yourselves and the like and so I told him that I would report that as well, so the President says hello. (audience applauding) And, finally, I guess I would say that we heard from our distinguished speaker. We heard a little bit about the threat in the future and what our Marines are doing and the like, and I just wanna kind of second that. In my humble opinion, having been privileged to be a Marine for 41 years and then hanging around for another however many years since I retired, I’m a big fan of the young men and women that serve today in all the services, whether they’re Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, and the like. I think they’re great. They’re different. They learn different than we did, and so I would suggest, for you old people like me, instead of making them learn like you did, try to teach them the way they’re in the habit of learning. It’ll be a lot easier for you, I guarantee it, and I think that they’re young, they’re smart, they’re technology experts and the like, and they’re different, and that’s not bad at all. That’s good. I will say also to them that these new multi-domains or the five domains of warfare that was discussed earlier where we’re talking about maybe having to operate on land, at sea, in the air, in space, and in the cyber domain and the like, it’s different now, but there are a few things that are fundamentally the same. Our maneuver thought process and the command and control and the like, that’s good. That’ll work today and it’ll work tomorrow. As a matter of fact, I spent about 25 years on the National Security Agency Board of Advisors after I retired, and the work that we were doing there, the whole maneuver thought process was the key to the whole command and control issue in these multi-domains, so I throw that out as a recommendation for you young Marines and the like, and I’ll talk to our commandant, General Berger, too about it, but, at any rate, he’s a great commandant. The commandant’s guidance is out there. It’s very futuristic, it’s very thoughtful, and he’s right on, and so, for those of you Marines that still think about those kinda things, get behind the commandant’s guidance and get with it ’cause we gotta make it happen. I would say one other thing to you young people that are serving today with this whole cyber threat and this whole cyber security issue. There are two sides, as we know. There’s the offensive side and there’s the defensive side. Don’t worry so much about the offensive side. We’re pretty good. We can handle that. The question is more of a national, geopolitical, geoeconomic question. The whole idea here is to have deterrents, just like we had deterrents in the nuclear threat. Now we have to have deterrents in the cyber threat, and you can’t have deterrents unless you take a public stand, an issue, and tell people what they can do and what they can’t, and we haven’t done that yet, but I think we’re getting around to it, and I think we’ll make that kinda thing happen. On the defensive side, you can read all the manuals you want. There’s no substitute for cyber security discipline, and that’s something that we Marines in particular oughta been second to none anywhere in the world. Cyber discipline. Do what you’re supposed to do and don’t do what you’re not supposed to do, and get your arms around the social media. Make it happen, do it right, and, if you don’t do it right, you’re outta here. It’s just like our policy with counter narcotics, drugs, and everything else like that. You get one chance and we’re gonna cure you. You get another chance, you’re gone. We’re better off with just two or three Marines in the corps as long as we know they can fight and they have discipline. (audience laughing) But, with that, (audience applauding) I wanna get back again to my friends here, to all of the Beirut veterans and their families. God bless you all, take care of yourselves, take care of each other, God bless you, semper fidelis. (audience applauding)
Just wanted to take a minute impromptu, but I recognize somebody in the audience that I think merits attention and recognition who was our last active-duty Marine who retired just a couple of months ago who was with BLT 1/8 when the building was hit, and I see him and it’s Lieutenant General Mark Brilakis, retired, Mark, could you raise your hand? Congratulations on what was a great career. It was a fantastic retirement. (audience applauding)
General Gray, General Beaudrault, we thank you for your remarks. We treasure your visit with us and know that these men and all those who honor Marines remain in your heart. As we reflect on this setting for our observance, we want to acknowledge all who worked to beautify, maintain, and promote this collection of memorials. It is a community treasure. Every year during our observance, it is our custom to lay memorial wreaths at the Beirut Memorial Wall. Doing so today symbolizes this community’s lasting memory and appreciation for those who have passed, as well as our continuing appreciation for their families and loved ones. The first wreath presented today is to honor the unique connection of our military and civilian communities in Jacksonville. Jacksonville Mayor Sammy Phillips and Lieutenant General Brian D. Beaudrault will present this wreath on behalf of our caring community. They will be joined by Fernando Schiefelbein. Fernando deeply and personally cares about this place and the Beirut memorial. He was appointed by Mayor Phillips as a member of the Beirut Memorial Advisory Board, which he represents in this wreath-laying today. It is the tradition that members of the 8th Marine Regiment present the second wreath. The 1st Battalion Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Anthony C. Johnston, and Battalion Operations Chief, Master Gunnery Sergeant Timothy Hanson, will present the second wreath in honor of those who lost their lives in Beirut and Grenada. Colonel Nicholas E. Davis, Chief of Staff of Marine Corps Installations East and Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune, and Marine Corps Air Station New River commanding officer Colonel Curtis V. Ebitz, Jr., will present the third wreath honoring the memory of our local Marines and sailors who have been killed in accidents while training for our defense. Let us also remember the 58 French peacekeepers who died on this day 36 years ago. Please rise for these honors. (gunshot) (gunshot) (gunshot) (“Taps”) Please remain standing for the retirement of the colors and the benediction by Navy Lieutenant Carl Scroggs, Chaplain 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, and please also remain standing for the musical honors to the branches of the armed forces. Retire the colors.
Let us pray. Eternal Father, strong to save, we come before you humbly today thanking you for this time of remembrance. We thank you for the heart and work of the city of Jacksonville to make this memorial a reality and for your continued blessings upon this memorial today, as in years past, and we thank you for the service and sacrifice upon which we have reflected today. We ask you, Almighty God, for your continued comfort and consolation upon the survivors, upon the families of all involved, upon the friends, and upon our 1/8 family. We implore you, Lord God, to equip us with the same devotion to duty and country that we have remembered today. Strengthen us so that, when our nation calls, however that call may take shape, we all may be willing to answer that call with a steady hand and a joyful heart. Give us faith that we may know you and, even in death, know the joy of eternal life. Give us strength to continue our course on Earth until we all may be reunited with our 1/8 brethren and all brothers and sisters in arms who have gone before us, and, just as they came in peace, help us, Father God, to go in peace and to have your peace. Bless, comfort, and guide us all, and help us always keep in mind our duty to remember. In your most holy and precious name, we pray. Amen. (solemn orchestra music) (upbeat orchestra music) (audience applauding)
Let us continue to stand in silent remembrance to give honor to the families while they move to the memorial area. This observance is now concluded, but our duty to remember continues. Thank you for attending and remembering those on this wall and on this day. (“Amazing Grace”) (upbeat orchestra music)