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SAN DIEGO - Every Marine a rifleman. These words have no truer
meaning to the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine
Regiment, which is currently known as the most deployed Marine Corps
battalion throughout Operation Enduring Freedom. These Marines
underwent a different mission in the early hours on Sunday, one that
afforded them the opportunity to serve the community in between
their periods of serving the nation.
Marines and sailors with
3/4 traveled to San Diego to volunteer at a shelter and participate
in a military recognition ceremony in a San Diego Padres baseball
game at Petco Park on May 25, 2014.
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A joint Navy-Marine Corps color guard marches with the colors during
their appearance at a military appreciation ceremony at a San Diego
Padres baseball game at Petco Park, May 25, 2014. “It was a great
time for camaraderie and reflection,” said Navy Lt. Travis Jewell,
chaplain, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Paul Martinez)
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Staff Sgt. Abel Olmstead, company gunnery sergeant, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, packs lunches during a volunteer event at the St. Vincent de Paul Village, May 25, 2014. Packing lunches was one of several tasks the group carried out in the kitchen, as well as serving food and chopping fruit.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Paul Martinez) |
“We wanted to do something for our single Marines for
some time,” said Navy Lt. Travis Jewell, Chaplain, 3/4.
“We're getting ready to case the colors soon and we thought
about a combination of community relations and fun.”
According to Jewell, the battalion was familiar with
reaching out to the community, but this time around, the
Marines and sailors would be setting foot in a new location
and earning a seat at a baseball game for their morning of
work.
“We've done community relations, such as
adopt-a-school and school visits since coming back from
deployment, but [the shelter and game] were a first-time
things for 3/4,” Jewell said.
The group arrived at
the St. Vincent de Paul Village around 5 a.m. to help
prepare and serve food to less fortunate members of the
community. There was plenty of work to go around as the
group chopped fruit, scooped spoons of hot eggs and oatmeal,
cut frozen desserts and prepared bag lunches with sandwiches
and chips.
“This truly is a village,” said Delilah
Prokosh, cook on duty, St. Vincent de Paul Village. “We have
about 700 men, women and children that live in this area. I
love having the Marines here because we don't get this many
volunteers on a regular basis.”
According to Prokosh,
the efforts of the group helped feed approximately 500
people, some of them military veterans. Once breakfast was
over, the group turned to wiping tables and mopping floors
to conclude a morning of feeding others and leaving a
spotless kitchen.
“I thank them for their service,”
Prokosh said. “Volunteers matter here.”
After their
volunteer work at the shelter, the group prepared for the
baseball game. With a clean appearance in uniform, Marines
and sailors took to the field to be seen and cheered on by a
crowd of over 30,000, spectators. Sailors from the USS San
Diego and drill instructors with soon-to-be-named Marines
from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego were also present.
As a treat to the crowd, Navy special operators with the
Navy Leap Frog Parachute Team conducted a landing on the
field, demonstrating their modern-day military prowess. The
San Diego Padres mascot, the Swinging Friar, ran down the
line of service members to greet them. Then, a joint Navy
and Marine Corps color guard took center field as uniformed
service members saluted the colors alongside hundreds of
veterans in the crowd whose service spanned different
branches and eras.
The service members joined the
crowd in watching and cheering for the players from the
bleachers, enjoying a game of baseball with a community that
welcomed them.
“It was a great time for camaraderie
and reflection,” Jewell said. “I think the day went very
well. [The group] got to serve veterans and eat with them,
and received recognition at the game.”
Once the game
was over, the group returned to the Combat Center, having
accomplished their mission to assist a community that needed
them and in the process, letting all others know the legacy
of "Darkside" before their colors are cased and the
battalion deactivates, until the Marine Corps needs them yet
again.
“Now we make sure they go to happy homes,”
Jewell said. “Whether it's the civilian world or other
units. [3/4] has built a great foundation with a legacy to
follow. It's not a goodbye but more of a see you later.”
By U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Paul Martinez
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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