Memorializing the noble act of Marines in Lebanon: citizens of Jacksonville, N.C., pulled together and in 1986 dedicated a permanent reminder to the sacrifices of Marines in Beirut

Carole Moore

The building served as headquarters for Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 24th Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU). Of the Marines and sailors who lay sleeping, 241 died. Many others suffered grave injuries.

Most of the dead and wounded were stationed at Camp Lejeune near Jacksonville, N.C. That morning, military casualty officers made their rounds to the families in a pounding rain. As the death toll mounted, city residents began to understand that this far-off terrorist attack struck straight at the heart of their community.

"These men were neighbors and friends" Mike Ellzey said. A West Point graduate who grew up as a military dependent, Ellzey serves as the city engineer. He says the tragedy made the community realize it had lost soccer coaches, Sunday School teachers and school volunteers in the explosion. That realization propelled them to do something--something that would become a lasting memorial.

Remembering the Fallen

They started by planting trees. One Bradford pear tree for each man who lost his life. Paid for by donations, the trees now grow along the median of North Carolina Highway 24, stretching from Camp Johnson, a nearby training facility, to Camp Lejeune. But there was a little money left over, so the decision was made to build a monument.

The base donated land bordering on the highway near the entrance to Camp Johnson. But construction couldn't start until they had more money--and a design. Abe Rosen, a former Marine, was chosen to lead the fund-raising committee.

Rosen divided his committee into two teams and let them compete with one another, with the goal of raising $250,000 no later than April 15, 1986. The familiar date was chosen to give the contractor time to complete the monument before the anniversary of the attack.

Organizers moved forward on the theory that they would spend all donations directly on building the monument itself, with nothing for administrative costs, advertising or fund-raising.

Rosen and his committee members begged for paper, printing and advertising, persisting even when someone told them no. They simply moved on to the next person, asking friends, neighbors, businesses, churches and schools for donations.

Little children also got into the act. One, Shannon Parrish, received a coveted Cabbage Patch[R] doll the previous Christmas. At the time, Cabbage Patch[R] dolls were highly prized and difficult to get. The child raffled off the doll and donated the proceeds to the memorial.

Building A New Wall

The memorial's simple design--a wall similar to the Vietnam Memorial--and attractive landscaping were the result of a contest held at the School of Design at North Carolina State University. The winning design combined two entries--that of architecture student Todd Neal and landscaping major Wendy Moses.

Meanwhile, the fund-raising committee went into overdrive and donations began to pick up. Marines stationed in embassies around the world took up collections. Kids emptied their piggy banks, contributing their pennies. Even the Brazilian Marine Corps sent a donation.

The contractor, Woody Myers, offered to build the memorial at cost, and by the target date the committee had raised $270,000, mostly through small donations.

Dedication of the monument was set for Oct. 23, 1986. Task force members worked right up until the moment of the ceremony, planting shrubs only hours before it was to begin.

The ceremony proved a great success, and the committee found $60,000 remained after construction costs. They decided a statue would make the memorial complete.

Guardian of Peace

The committee's search for a sculptor led them to Abbe Godwin, a critically acclaimed sculptor who traced her roots to Jacksonville. Godwin's work was well beyond their budget, but they were so impressed with her and her spirit they decided to approach her anyway. When Godwin visited the monument, she asked to spend some time alone there.

"When we next saw her, her eyes were red. She'd sat in front of that memorial with tears streaming down her face and she told us, 'I don't care how much money you have. I've got to do it,'" Rosen said.

Godwin called the finished statue "The Guardian of Peace." Her husband served in the Marine Corps, her father in the Army and her mother was born in a tiny town called "Marines" where Camp Lejeune now stands. She says she felt connected to the project from the beginning.

"It took a national tragedy [to] reawaken our appreciation for those who are willing to place their lives in jeopardy for us," Godwin said. "Could there be a more noble act?"

Today, Godwin's statue stands guard over the memorial, symbolizing the renewed relationship between the neighboring civilian and military communities in Onslow County Chiseled across the wall are the words, "They Came In Peace," as a reminder of why the men who died were sent to Beirut.

A Community Without Bounds

Many have found comfort in the memorial. According to one story, following an annual commemoration ceremony, a young boy wanted to make a rubbing of his father's name, but it was too high to reach. So he asked the man standing behind him if he would lift him. The man complied. He was retired general Al Gray, former Marine Corps commandant.

Gray has often talked about how the Beirut bombing affected him personally. And he's not the only one. Ellzey says he believes the tragic loss of the men who died in Beirut brought the civilian and military communities together. That bond remains strong today. As for himself, Ellzey now counts the families of the Beirut victims among some of his most treasured friends.

Rosen, who put his business into the hands of a family member to concentrate his efforts on building the memorial, agrees with Ellzey that the importance of the memorial to both the area and the families can't be underestimated.

"It was the most important undertaking in my personal life," Rosen said. "But it was always simply a labor of love."

CAROLE MOORE is a free-lance writer and former police officer. She is currently a columnist for The Daily News in Jacksonville, N.C.

RELATED ARTICLE: Stamp should honor Beirut dead.

Justin S. Morrill, a Civil War era U.S. senator, has one. So does a man known as the father of surfing, an obscure Depression-era novelist and artist Andy Warhol. Even cartoon characters like Tweety and Sylvester can claim the honor. But not the 241 men who died in the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983.

Former U.S. Marine Charles Hall has dedicated himself to the quest for a postage stamp issued to honor the men killed in the bomb blast. He's written presidents and congressmen, circulated petitions and talked it up among veterans groups.

"We don't begrudge anybody a stamp," Hall says. But he's astounded that cartoon characters like the Peanuts gang warrant a stamp when the Marines of the Beirut bombing do not.

The U.S. Postal Service plans on issuing a special cancellation stamp known as a "cachet" to coincide with the 20th anniversary. The cachet will be issued only that day at Camp Lejeune.

Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) and 34 other members of Congress have signed on as sponsors of H.R. 45, which calls for the issuance of a commemorative stamp. But the measure falls short of having enough sponsors to move it forward.

Still, both Jones and Hall say they haven't given up the fight. And Hall says plans to honor "all" terrorism victims with a single commemorative stamp doesn't go far enough.

"These were the first to die, the first victims to go down in the war on terrorism," Hall said. "They deserve that honor."

To view or sign the petition, go to www.beirutveterans.com and click on "Beirut Stamp Petition." Or call Charles Hall at (910) 324-1754.

RELATED ARTICLE: 20th anniversary remembrance.

On Oct. 23, 2003, families, survivors and community leaders will gather at the base of Abbe Godwin's bronze statue of a Marine to pay their respects to the men who died in Beirut.

Following the posting of the colors and playing of the national anthem, speakers, including Al Gray (former Marine commandant), Godwin and several Beirut survivors will take the stage.

Recording artist Eric Horner will perform, and wreaths will be laid at the base of the monument. Taps will be sounded at the retirement of the colors.

A morning candlelight ceremony also is scheduled for family members.

The public ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at the Beirut Memorial, located at the entrance to Camp Johnson on Highway 24, in Jacksonville, N.C.

For more information, go to www.beirutveterans.com or call Beirut Memorial Commission coordinator Mike Ellzey at (910) 938-5200.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
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