MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines and government employees from Marine Corps Installations East - Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune participated in the 75th Anniversary March on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Nov. 14. The 7.5 mile march took participants to different historical sites around the base.
"(The importance of the march was to highlight) the 75-year history here at Camp Lejeune by taking the young Marines out who may not be fully aware of the legacy, stopping at some of the historically significant areas throughout the base. Marines get to know some of the history and understand that there’s a long heritage of the Marine Corps just here at Camp Lejeune itself," said Col. Chandler Seagraves, the commanding officer of Headquarters and Support battalion.
The participants discussed leaders who influenced Camp Lejeune such as Col. Frank Goettge, Brig. Gen. Harry Liversedge and Lt. Col. W.P.T. Hill. Staff noncommissioned officers and officers were tasked with researching and preparing a brief at each of the stops along the march.
"People don’t normally look into the history of the base they’re on. They look into Smedley Butler and Dan Daly. They don’t realize what Marines have done for them here. It was nice to learn," said Staff Sgt. Chase Hill, a criminal investigator with the battalion. "Hopefully it gives them an idea that their actions can affect people generations down the road. Maj. Gen. Marston was born in 1884 and his actions have affected every Marine that’s ever been on Camp Lejeune since 1942."
Brig. Gen. Thomas Weidley, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations-East, led the participants on the march. It was a chance for civilian Marines and active duty Marines to participate in an event together and learn about Marine Corps history.
"It brings the active duty and civilian community closer when you do things together. It builds comradery. It was a wonderful day to get out and exercise. (The march) promoted unity amongst us," said Lynnette Bush, a comptroller with the battalion. "(The informational briefs) provided good information. There were actually things I did not know. It was a good history lesson."
The march ended at the battalion headquarters’ building where Weidley presented the battalion with a meritorious unit citation.
"This award is another piece that is symbolic to what you all do on a daily basis. The status quo isn’t good enough for you. (You’ve) always got to be better, always got to be moving forward," said Weidley. "This meritorious unit citation is another piece to the legacy that you all represent day in and day out. Keep up the great work. Keep advancing the legacy."