Thursday marked 42 years since the Beirut barracks bombing, a tragic event that claimed the lives of 273 U.S. service members. In Jacksonville, the community gathered to remember their sacrifice and honor their legacy with a candlelight vigil and a Memorial Day observance ceremony.
Two truck bombs were detonated at buildings in Beirut, Lebanon, which housed American and French service members.
Dennis Anderson, a Beirut survivor, reflected on the event, saying, “But for the grace of God I would have been on that wall myself.” Families of the fallen gathered to pay tribute to those who served in Lebanon between 1958 and 1984, and in Grenada, especially those killed in the Beirut bombing on Oct. 23, 1983. Anderson added, “Meeting the families and sharing their experiences. It’s therapeutic. It warms my heart to honor these men every year.”
Brigadier General Rizzo, Commanding General of Marine Corps Installations East, emphasized the enduring legacy of the fallen service members. “To us across the entire Marine Corps, I can tell you—serving as the commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East—the bonds and the ties have never been stronger. And that’s the promise they made over 40 years ago and have kept today,” he said.
The legacy of those lost in the Beirut bombing continues to shape today’s military and remains a poignant reminder of their sacrifice.