March in San Clemente claims 2/1 Marines killed in Kabul as hometown heroes

On sunny, blistery Sunday afternoon, Sept. 5, hundreds streamed down Avenida Del Mar done the hub of San Clemente’s downtown toward the city’s Marine Monument astatine Park Semper Fi.

The assemblage chanted, “USA! USA!” and carried American and Marine Corps flags successful tribute to the 13 work members who connected Aug. 26 were killed successful the bombing onslaught connected the Kabul airdrome portion helping to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies. Ten were from a azygous Camp Pendleton unit, the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.

The onslaught was the deadliest against U.S. forces successful Afghanistan since Aug. 6, 2011. When quality deed the section assemblage that astir of those killed came from adjacent Camp Pendleton, respective section women got unneurotic to nonstop a connection to the satellite that San Clemente is simply a subject town.

“Can I assistance you transportation the flag,” shouted Lisa Davis, arsenic she jumped from the curb on Del Mar to assistance a antheral who had been carrying the ample show with his arms dispersed isolated arsenic acold arsenic helium could.

“I emotion thing much than our state and the freedoms we have,” Davis said. “My hubby was successful the Marines astatine El Toro. He fought successful the Gulf War.”

Davis’s enthusiasm was not alone. Others chanted, “If you emotion your freedom, convey a work member, not Washington.”

San Clemente has agelong been known arsenic a subject town. Marines are arsenic overmuch a portion of this southbound Orange County formation assemblage arsenic surfing and President Richard Nixon’s Western White House.

Camp Pendleton has been a invaluable neighbour since the basal was established successful the aboriginal 1940s, and the assemblage has watched Marines walk done during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and, astir recently, done 2 decades of warfare successful Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We person ever loved our Marines,” said Tamara Fields-Seyhun, 1 of respective women who planned Sunday’s march for the fallen. “We saw different towns organizing vigils and memorials for the Marines successful an look of honor. We felt the aforesaid mode and we wanted to bash thing successful San Clemente.”

Fields-Seyhum posted her thoughts connected Facebook. Within minutes, 3 different women she attended San Clemente High School with – Laura Glynn, Julie Regenovich and Cyndi Martin – jumped aboard to get plans rolling and it grew from there.

On Sunday, the radical began its march from the apical of Avenida Del Mar astatine El Camino Real and toured aggregate blocks toward the Pier Bowl.

Those astatine outdoor restaurants and successful passing cars cheered and honked arsenic the assemblage passed.

“I’m present to enactment the fallen, those young kids that gave their lives,” said Mac Alvin, of San Juan Capistrano.

Once astatine Park Semper Fi, hundreds gathered astir the Marine Memorial wherever Pastor Jim Glynn, a retired 2/1 Marine, addressed the crowd. He served successful the battalion from 1976 to 1979.

As Glynn prepared to speak, a quiescent fell implicit the assemblage arsenic a Marine successful formal blues pushing a walker made his mode done the assemblage toward the monument.

Retired Sgt. Wayman Nelson, 86, who served from 1953 to 1961, had travel from Menifee to wage his respects. “These were my guys,” helium said. “I had to beryllium here.”

The names of the 13 fallen work members were read, with a infinitesimal of soundlessness aft each.

After the event, Jay Bellamy, a San Clemente soil sculptor, honored the fallen by gathering emblems of the Marine Corps, Army and Navy successful the soil adjacent the pier.

The Sunday tribute followed different vigil held Saturday and attended by astir 800 astatine Camp Pendleton’s Del Mar Beach. It was organized by respective Marine wives, whose husbands besides service with the 2/1 and were sent to supply information astatine the Kabul airdrome with those who died.

Pastor Jonathan Cooper, who leads The Mission Church successful Carlsbad, officiated the vigil. A twelvemonth ago, helium besides led a vigil for 8 Marines and a Navy corpsman killed erstwhile their amphibious battle conveyance sank successful a grooming mishap disconnected San Clemente Island connected July 30, 2020.

“Here we basal again contiguous connected the aforesaid beach, grieving the nonaccomplishment of 10 of 13 men and women killed successful Kabul, Afghanistan,” helium said. “To the families, I can’t ideate your pain. Words cannot afloat explicit the sorrow and agony your hearts indispensable beryllium burdened with.

“To the chap Marines and veterans who person mislaid brothers, particularly to you successful the 2/1, our hearts ache for you,” helium told those assembled. “I person nary uncertainty you wanted to beryllium determination that time to combat a cowardly enemy, to comfortableness the injured and, astir of all, to beryllium with your fallen brethren. May your calling not beryllium shaken truthful that our assemblage and state whitethorn proceed to person warriors similar you to vanquish evil and tyranny.”

Saturday’s vigil besides included a show by state euphony vocalist Coffey Anderson, who has a song, “Mr. Red, White and Blue,” that is simply a tribute to the toll Marines person paid successful the combat against terrorism. Anderson had been scheduled to play a performance astatine adjacent Seapointe Estates, a gated San Clemente community, erstwhile helium offered to execute astatine the basal event.

“Bringing everyone to observe their lives was good, and I truly bash judge that’s what happened,” said Divya Karl, who helped signifier everything. “Families and friends got a accidental to travel up and talk astir their work subordinate and proceeding the comic stories and being capable to laughter was thing we needed successful the midst of the sadness.”

Those who attended besides signed cards for the 15 Marines inactive recovering from their wounds during the bombing. Those volition beryllium sent to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.