Marine Week 2011 Coming to St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States Marine Corps will partner with the City of St. Louis to bring Marine Week to the Gateway City, June 20-26, 2011. The week-long celebration will showcase the unique characteristics of America's Corps through more than two dozen events where attendees can watch combat demonstrations; climb aboard aircraft and ground equipment, to include helicopters, the V-22 Osprey and amphibious vehicles; and participate in community service projects alongside Marines.

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"Marine Week directly connects our Marines to the American public. St. Louisans will have the opportunity to hear Marines' first-hand stories of service and to talk to Marines about their day-to-day job responsibilities," said Colonel Bryan Salas, Director of Public Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps. "The week also offers a unique opportunity for the Marines to demonstrate why the Corps is America's Expeditionary Force in Readiness. We invite everyone to meet us in St. Louis in June to celebrate the Corps' past, present and future."

As part of the week's events, attendees can take in the sights and sounds of the Silent Drill Platoon, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, Marine Corps Band, All-Marine sports teams and military working dog teams. Marines will demonstrate extensive combat capabilities, including a Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration, highlighting the Marines' distinct ability to fight our country's battles in the air, on land and sea.

"The City of St. Louis is honored to host Marine Week 2011," said Francis G. Slay, Mayor of St. Louis. "The Marines' commitment to community, country, and Corps is woven into this city's culture and is one to which St. Louisans can certainly relate. We welcome our men and women in uniform come June and look forward to bolstering St. Louis as a gateway to the Corps."

Free and open to the public, all Marine Week events will honor and recognize Marines, including hometown and Missouri based, for their service and sacrifice. Currently, more than 2,300 active duty and reserve Marines from Missouri are serving at home and overseas, including Marines participating in combat operations in Afghanistan.  

The Marine Week schedule along with event locations will be announced at a later date. For more information about Marine Week, visit www.Marines.mil/MarineWeek. For updates, follow Marine Week on Twitter @USMC, (#MarineWeek)  or become a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/Marines.

SOURCE United States Marine Corps