Let Us Not Forget

There is no way to convey to the families of these fallen Marines the sorrow we feel. There are no words... It is Every Parent's Nightmare.

God speed you, Heroes.

DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of 10 Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Daniel J. Clay, 27, of Pensacola, Fla.
Lance Cpl. John M. Holmason, 20, of Suprise, Ariz.
Lance Cpl. David A. Huhn, 24, of Portland, Mich.
Lance Cpl. Adam W. Kaiser, 19, of Naperville, Ill.
Lance Cpl. Robert A. Martinez, 20, of Splendora, Texas
Cpl. Anthony T. McElveen, 20, of Little Falls, Minn.
Lance Cpl. Scott T. Modeen, 24, of Hennepin, Minn.
Lance Cpl. Andrew G. Patten, 19, of Byron, Ill.
Sgt. Andy A. Stevens, 29, of Tomah, Wis.
Lance Cpl. Craig N. Watson, 21, of Union City, Mich.

All 10 Marines died Dec. 1 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Fallujah, Iraq. All 10 Marines were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, their unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

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Blessed Mother Mary, Wrap your arms around our sons and intercede on their behalf with Our Father, and hold them in your loving and tender embrace and comfort them as we would hold and comfort all our sons here on Earth. Amen.

COME to their assistance, All you Saints of God! Meet them, you Angels of the Lord. Receive their souls, and present them to the Most High. May the Lord who called you, receive you; and may the Angels lead you into the bosom of Abraham. Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Into your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers. In this life you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil and bid them enter eternal rest.

The old order has passed away: welcome them then into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping nor pain, but the fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.