Twenty-five years ago, on Oct. 23, 1983, at 6:22 a.m., terrorists drove a large delivery truck loaded with 12,000 pounds of TNT into the lobby of the barracks where some 300 American Marines slept and detonated the explosives. The explosion crumbled the four-story building, killing 220 Marines and 21 other U.S. service members while they were sleeping.
The Marines were stationed there to help keep the peace in a nation torn by war. It was the bloodiest day in the history of the Marine Corps since World War II, when Marines fought to secure the island of Iwo Jima.
Marines are trained to face, fight and kill America's enemies. A cowardly act, such as this, shall never be forgotten and should inspire all Americans to defeat acts of terrorism all over the world.
Freedom is not free and in order to keep it, we must keep working for it and sacrificing for it for as long as we live. Millions have died to preserve the American way of life and may we never forget that freedom is not free!
The Iredell County Marine Corps League will hold a 25th Beirut anniversary memorial ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Beirut Memorial site in downtown Mooresville. The ceremony will honor the sacrifice made by these Marines in the devastating attack.
We must remain faithful to the cause of freedom and the pursuit of peace as they, the fallen, have been. May their memories live on. The ceremony is open to the public and your presence at this sacred ceremony will be appreciated.
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