A MORNING IN THE MIDST OF HEROES: 77 Years of Valor on display at the 1st Marine Division Battle Colors Rededication

by | Feb 5, 2018 | History, US Marine Corps

1st Marine Division Band

Battle Streamers being attached to the Division Battle Colors by the CG

Remarks by the CG of the 1st Marine Division, MajGen Eric Smith

1st Marine Division Association — Team Picture

Former Division CG MajGen Richard C. McMonagle, USMC (ret)

It’s not often that one feels small when you make your living in the media because you have “a voice,” but on Friday, February 2, 2018 at the Headquarters of the 1st Marine Division one could not help but feel insignificant.  The Division rededicated its Battle Colors with the veterans who have written many of those chapters on hand.  It was humbling to simply be in their midst.

As always, the Division Band entertained and one by one the honors accorded to the historic 1st Marine Division by virtue of its valor in combat were placed on the Division’s Battle Colors.  Each streamer was brought to the Battle Colors by veterans of the Division, each escorted by a Marine currently serving in the Division. MajGen Eric Smith, the CG of the Division, spoke of the weight of the Division’s history and how mindful today’s 1st Division Marines are of the long shadow that is cast over them and how they strive to live up to the standards that the Division has written over the course of its 77 year history.

The “training highlight” of the day for this writer was to see the first Division Commander that I served under, MajGen Richard C. McMonagle, USMC (ret) and to stand at the position of attention in the midst of heroes, the Marines and Sailors who have written the incredible chapters in the history of the 1st Marine Division, to see them in their 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s proudly stand at attention or close to it as the Marines Hymn boomed in the Southern California air.

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