They are home!

Just Praising God !!!!!!!!!

3rd. Battalion, 2nd Marines returned from Iraq to their families. After a 7 Mo. deployment without a single fatality, the 3/2 came home to a heartwarming welcome, some Marines to new born boys and girls that they have never seen. Families drove from locations as far away as Washington State to greet sons, husbands and grandchildren. One Marine on seeing his girlfriend proposed to her, another announced that he will be married tomorrow. The 3/2 has been training the Iraqi Police and Army to act on their own or as a combined force in protecting their country.

Dear Betio Parents,
Hopefully many of your sons have returned back home for their leave time. I know this is a very exciting time, so many parities with family and friends welcoming home your Marines and Sailors.
Have a wonderful time with your sons! Please keep in mind the emails LtCol Baumgarten and I have passed onto you recently, keeping the focus on a safe and happy leave time for your Marines and Sailors.

As you gather this Memorial week-end keep in mind exactly what Memorial day is all about. So many people get caught up in the opening of pools, the unofficial start of summer and activities that come with the warmer months. Many will have picnics and enjoy each others company of those you don't get to see often.
As Marine Parents and family members you know all too well the risks our military face daily. We were so blessed to not have any of our battalion Killed in Action, this past deployment. Others have not been so fortunate. This week-end is to honor all of our fallen warriors, from all branches of our military. Those who died in World wars, Korea, Viet Nam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq and many other combat environments.

Those hero's who paid the ultimate price should be remembered daily not just on this one special day. It is because of all of them and the sacrifices they and their families have paid that we have the freedom and privileges we do in America. Our fallen have laid the path for others to follow and succeed with their missions, while keeping America the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I was told once by a Battalion Commander " It is what we leave behind that truly matters".

When you are attending a picnic or event this week-end, make a request that everyone take a moment to pay respect and tribute to all those we have lost in combat due to their bravery, honor and dedication to our Nation, and all those past and present that have fought for our freedom.

Say a special prayer for all those deployed now, that they may stay safe and unharmed while successfully completing their missions.

Please give your Marine or Sailor a special Momma Lewis hug, tell him I am so proud of him and appreciate everything he has done for the United States of America. He probably will say.. I didn't do anything special, I just did my job... That is the typical Marine answer... Remind him, yes he did his job, nevertheless he did it very well while he represented himself on our Nations behalf and for all our citizens safety. He took risks for all of us.

God Bless America and all those who have fought for our freedom!
Hugs
Patty


God Bless all our Marines, Sailors and " Special Angels"