CNMI Military and Veterans Affairs Executive Director Ruth Coleman said Marines joined the flag raising ceremony led by Park Ranger Nancy Kelchner at American Memorial Park’s Court of Honor at 8 a.m. yesterday.
But the flags were flown at half-mast.
“The flags will stay at half mast until today as we mourn for the 12 members of the Army and one civilian who died in the shooting at the Fort Hood Army Post in Texas on Thursday last week,” Coleman said.
Forty-two other individuals were wounded in the shooting.
The Marines and the VFW 3457 members also joined the flag ceremony at Garapan Elementary School at 7:30 a.m. yesterday.
As of Oct. 2009, there were 203,000 active duty and 40,000 reserve Marines.
In celebration of the Marine Corps’ birthday, VFW 3457 opened its canteen to everybody, even to non-military personnel.
The VFW 3457 canteen located along Beach Road will also open early today for the Veterans Day celebration which will start at 11 a.m. at American Memorial Park’s Court of Honor.
