The main ceremony located in Lejeune Memorial Garden began at 1030 on Monday, October 23, 2017.

This event was managed by The City of Jacksonville in cooperation with Marine Corps Installation East-Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, & the Beirut Memorial Advisory Board.

Program Events:

  • Musical Prelude - 2d Marine Division Band

  • Master of Ceromonies - Ron Bower; Beirut Memorial Advisory Board

  • Invocation - Chris Phillips; Pastor, River Life Church

  • March of the Colors - Second Battalion, Eight Marine Regiment

  • National Anthem - 2d Marine Division Band

  • Welcome - Sammy Phillips; Mayor, City of Jacksonville

  • Guest Speaker - HMCS Darrell Gibson, USN, Ret, Beirut Veteran

  • Musical Interlude - 2n Marine Division Band

  • Beirut Memorial Observance Address - Lt General Robert F Hedelund, USMC, Commanding General, II Marine Expetionary Force

  • Special Music - Prayer of the Children, Arranged by Andrea Klouse, My Country 'Tis of Thee, Samuel F Smith

    White Oak High School Chamber Choir, Directed by Hillary Goodson-Spear

  • Laying of Wreaths

  • Rifle Salute - Second Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment

  • Taps - 2d Marine Division Band

  • Retire the Colors - Second Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment

  • Benediction - Lt. Commander Ulysses Ubalde, USN, Chaplain, Eighth Marine Regiment

  • Musical Postlude - 2d Marine Division Band