Page 66 - Bugle Autumn 2014

The team at Arlington National Cemetery after finishing the marathon
The battalion had sent a team of wounded Riflemen to the Washington DC Marine Corps Marathon before in 2011 supporting seriously injured riflemen around the course in a hand cycle.
This year fortunately the battalion did not have as many severe injuries, but we were still invited to send a team along with a group of British Army teams supported by the Allied Forces Foundation. Eight Riflemen travelled to the event, including three
who had been wounded on Op HERRICK 16,
though all were able to run the event under
their own steam.
The Allied Forces Foundation had laid on a packed programme of visits and tours during our five day stay in the capital which included some very
special events such as a unforgettable welcome by the entire
Marine Corps Marathon
staff of the US National Guard headquarters who
all turned out to applaud
our wounded teammates
into their building, a visit to
Capitol Hill and a tour of the
Pentagon that included the US
military’s Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff stopping by to speak to our soldiers. All the Rifleman agree, however, that our highlight was being hosted by one of the local posts of the American Legion in the Maryland woods, where over a fire and generous barbecue, veterans from both sides of the Atlantic exchanged stories about being wounded in Vietnam and Afghanistan decades apart.
The marathon itself is one of the largest in the United States and is particularly supported by American servicemen and women. The course is a memorable tour of the famous sights of the city including legs taking the Riflemen in front of the White House, past the Lincoln Monument and finishing in Arlington Cemetery after a lap of the Pentagon.
Rifleman Demurier was the top performer for 3 RIFLES, finishing just seconds under three hours, followed home
immediately afterwards by Sjt Mcintosh. Lt Bailey and Rifleman Spencer both finished between three and four hours, before
Buglers Jefferies and Elis, Cpl McAvoy and Rfn Bond brought the team home.
The five days in Washington were an unforgettable experience and a fantastic opportunity to show off our regiment and get some experience of the US military.
Taking part in future years is highly recommended to all of the Rifles.
Buglers Ellis and Jefferies sound the last post in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial, at dawn on the morning of the marathon
64 XXX
THE RIFLES