JACKSONVILLE, Onslow County — The 42nd annual Beirut Memorial Observance will take place on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Beirut Memorial in Lejeune Memorial Gardens. This solemn event honors the service members who served in Lebanon from 1958 to 1984, as well as those who served in Grenada, with special remembrance for the lives lost in the Beirut Bombing on October 23, 1983.
Since 1983, Jacksonville mayors have pledged to “Never Forget” the fallen. This year, Mayor Sammy Phillips will join Brigadier General Joel F. Schmidt, Assistant Division Commander of the 2nd Marine Division, and Brigadier General Ralph J. Rizzo Jr., Commanding General of MCB Camp Lejeune, as scheduled speakers.
The Beirut Memorial Advisory Board, appointed by the Mayor and Camp Lejeune leadership, organizes this annual tribute.
Parking & Transportation:
Parking is available at the Veterans Cemetery across from Lejeune Memorial Gardens on Montford Landing Road. Shuttle service will run from New River Shopping Center on Hargett Street, provided by Jacksonville Transit.
Security Information:
For everyone’s safety, all attendees must pass through a security checkpoint. Early arrival is recommended to allow time for screening. The following items are prohibited inside the event area:
Glass containersIllicit substances and paraphernaliaWeapons (including knives)Mace/pepper sprayTasersStun gunsDrones
Prohibited items can be returned to vehicles or disposed of at the checkpoint.
Broadcast:
The observance will be available live on Jacksonville-Onslow Government channel (G10TV), Cablecast, G10TV.org, and the City of Jacksonville’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
This event serves as a powerful reminder to honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.