Relieving the 24-hour guard at the War Memorial marked the end of Marine Week St. Louis 2011. At the closing ceremony, the community of St. Louis watched and listened as Maj. Gen. Anthony Jackson, and Lt. Col. Shane Tomko thank the city for their hospitality and support. Marine Week provided an opportunity to increase public awareness of the Marine Corps' value to our nation's defense and to preserve and mature the Corps' relationship with the American people. ::r::::n:: - Relieving the 24-hour guard at the War Memorial marked the end of Marine Week St. Louis 2011. At the closing ceremony, the community of St. Louis watched and listened as Maj. Gen. Anthony Jackson, and Lt. Col. Shane Tomko thank the city for their hospitality and support. Marine Week provided an opportunity to increase public awareness of the Marine Corps' value to our nation's defense and to preserve and mature the Corps' relationship with the American people. ::r::::n::

Gold Star families friends and Marines eat brunch during the Gold Star Mothers' Brunch at the St. Louis Union Station Marriott June 26, 2011. Gold Star families are those who lose a son or daughter in combat. Marines hosted a brunch in honor of these families and in memory their fallen sons as part of Marine Week St. Louis. - Gold Star families friends and Marines eat brunch during the Gold Star Mothers' Brunch at the St. Louis Union Station Marriott June 26, 2011. Gold Star families are those who lose a son or daughter in combat. Marines hosted a brunch in honor of these families and in memory their fallen sons as part of Marine Week St. Louis.

Lance Cpl. Westley Martinez, an infantryman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Marine Week cuts a piece of plywood for the goat shed on Kate Dauwalters farm. Marines volunteered with the Multiple Sclerosis Society to make Dauwalters farm more accessible from her wheelchair. Marine Week provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the Marine Corps' value to our nation's defense and to preserve and mature the Corps' relationship with the American people. - Lance Cpl. Westley Martinez, an infantryman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Marine Week cuts a piece of plywood for the goat shed on Kate Dauwalters farm. Marines volunteered with the Multiple Sclerosis Society to make Dauwalters farm more accessible from her wheelchair. Marine Week provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the Marine Corps' value to our nation's defense and to preserve and mature the Corps' relationship with the American people.

Sgt. Jeremy Crist with 2nd Battalion, 14th Regiment, donates blood at a Red Cross Blood drive. The blood drive was part of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Marine Week St. Louis, giving Marines an opportunity to increase public awareness of the Marine Corps' value to our nation's defense and to preserve and mature the Corps' relationship with the American people. - Sgt. Jeremy Crist with 2nd Battalion, 14th Regiment, donates blood at a Red Cross Blood drive. The blood drive was part of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Marine Week St. Louis, giving Marines an opportunity to increase public awareness of the Marine Corps' value to our nation's defense and to preserve and mature the Corps' relationship with the American people.

Lance Cpl. Rudy Basaldua, a machine gun team leader with 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, directs Trevor Erickson, 13, a native of St. Louis, in the buddy drag portion of the Combat Fitness Test June 23, 2011. Locals were invited to participate in the CFT as part of Marine Week St. Louis activities. - Lance Cpl. Rudy Basaldua, a machine gun team leader with 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, directs Trevor Erickson, 13, a native of St. Louis, in the buddy drag portion of the Combat Fitness Test June 23, 2011. Locals were invited to participate in the CFT as part of Marine Week St. Louis activities.

Lance Cpl. Julius Stoudmire and Kyle Schneider, a volunteer, stack donated doors at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, June 23, 2011. Marines supported the store by organizing donated materials and disposing of unserviceable furniture, allowing customers better access. Throughout Marine Week, Marines will be going throughout the St. Louis area, lending a helping hand to the local community. - Lance Cpl. Julius Stoudmire and Kyle Schneider, a volunteer, stack donated doors at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, June 23, 2011. Marines supported the store by organizing donated materials and disposing of unserviceable furniture, allowing customers better access. Throughout Marine Week, Marines will be going throughout the St. Louis area, lending a helping hand to the local community.

Lance Cpl. Julius Stoudmire, a rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, pulls weeds at the Missouri Botanical Gardens June 23, 2011. Marines participated in multiple community service projects around St. Louis as part of Marine Week. - Lance Cpl. Julius Stoudmire, a rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, pulls weeds at the Missouri Botanical Gardens June 23, 2011. Marines participated in multiple community service projects around St. Louis as part of Marine Week.

Lance Cpl. Christopher Williams, a radio operator with 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Marine Week, calms his nerves before the First to Fight amateur boxing tournament in St. Louis June 20, 2011. Williams and other Marines fought against local police officers and firefighters in a friendly competition to raise money for charity. - Lance Cpl. Christopher Williams, a radio operator with 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Marine Week, calms his nerves before the First to Fight amateur boxing tournament in St. Louis June 20, 2011. Williams and other Marines fought against local police officers and firefighters in a friendly competition to raise money for charity.

Sgt. Seth Forbes, a motor transport mechanic with 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Marine Week, is checked by medical personnel following his match in St. Louis June 20, 2011. Forbes was one of 13 Marines who boxed local police officers and firefighters to raise money for charity. - Sgt. Seth Forbes, a motor transport mechanic with 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Marine Week, is checked by medical personnel following his match in St. Louis June 20, 2011. Forbes was one of 13 Marines who boxed local police officers and firefighters to raise money for charity.