YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. -- Marines, retired and currently serving, hiked up Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome as part of the 5th Annual Lewis B. Puller Memorial Hike Aug. 7.
The hike, which occurs during the first week of August on Purple Heart Day, which is the same day Marines landed on Guadalcanal in 1942, recognizes the sacrifices made by service members fighting in the Global War on Terrorism.
Five groups of hikers, made up of Marines, sailors, and civilian friends and family members, made the trek up Half Dome. The groups included a group lead by two retired generals, a group of chaplains, a group from Company B, 4th Landing Support Battalion, a group from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and a group representing Katlogic Inc.
Organizers said they hope to include more groups in the future, including Wounded Warriors, Royal Marines from Great Britain and the Netherlands, and Members of the Royal Families as part of the Princess Diana Royal Memorial Hiking Club – Half Dome Adventure.
Future plans also include hiking the Marine colors from the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., to Half Dome, flying it across to Glacier Point with the Joe Noll remote controlled drone helicopter, and then using it as part of a simultaneous memorial service with satellite hookups to bases in the U.S. and abroad.
To view video, visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wma3FJWrT4.
To volunteer and for more information call (718) 670-6718 or e-mail Philip Aaron at theedgedancer@gmail.com.