CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Members of the the 1st Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group Motorcycle Club conducted a memorial ride, Aug. 27, in honor of two Marines who were killed two years ago while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Ten Marines, one corpsman and a chaplain rode their motorcycles from Camp Pendleton to the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego to honor Cpl. Stewart Trejo, 25, from Whitefish, Mont., and Cpl. Adam McKiski, 21, from Cherry Valley, Ill., who both died, Aug. 7, 2008, in Anbar province, Iraq.
The battalion’s motorcycle club organizes a ride every few months, but the club’s leadership wanted a special ride to honor the memory of the fallen 1st Maintenance Bn. Marines.
"This ride was a way for us to remember two of our fallen brothers from within the battalion," said Gunnery Sgt. Dave Gibson, 33, from Miami, who organized the memorial ride.
When they arrived at the cemetery, the service members located the grave site of Cpl. Trejo, and the battalion chaplain said a few words in honor of the fallen Marines who died during the same operation.
"I spoke about the kind of love that God has shown to us, the kind of love we all share as fellow Marines and sailors ... that we would be willing to lay down our lives for one another," said Navy Lt. James Hogan, 1st Maintenance Bn. chaplain, 34, from Austin, Texas. "But on that particular day, Aug. 7, 2008, it was Cpl. Trejo and Cpl. McKiskie who were there...and because they were willing to be there, we are here. When we remember what others have done on our behalf, we are inspired to serve all the more proudly and with grateful hearts."
The memorial ride was a small measure for the service members to show their appreciation for the Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice.
"We will not forget their sacrifice and wanted to honor their memory," said Gibson.