BEIRUT 1983

 I thought that today I would take a few moments to remember the 241 service members who were killed in the homicide bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon on this day, 30 years ago.

These men, mostly U.S. Marines had been placed in the middle of a very nasty civil war that was going on at the time in Lebanon. The Marines primary duty was to serve as peacekeepers, to try to keep the warring parties separated.

The Marine Barracks which was near the Beirut Airport was destroyed by a truck bomb which was driven into the lobby of the building then detonated. Little did anyone know that this bombing was the opening shots in the war on terror that led to various other attacks on our country, to include 9/11 and still continues today.

Most of the Marines killed and wounded in Beirut were originally based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. We felt the loss maybe a little sharper since these service men were fellow "Tar Heels"

When I think of these fallen heroes, I am reminded of  Matthew 5:9.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of GOD"