Your support, concern lifted morale, makes many heroes

"On behalf of the Marines and Sailors of the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, I thank the people of the Greater Canton area for your tremendous support during our battalion’s deployment to Iraq.

Your letters of encouragement and generous care packages lifted our morale and provided glimpses of home. Your concern for our fallen heroes and your kindness toward our families was truly touching and meant more than words can ever say.

The wonderful homecoming celebrations that greeted us on our return will always be remembered. I thank our families for their continual love and prayers. Despite the hardships and heartaches, they proved through a perfect blend of compassion and strength that they are just as much heroes as their Marines and sailors.

Finally, I thank the Marines and sailors of Three-Twenty-Five. What they accomplished was truly incredible. Regardless of how uncomfortable the conditions or difficult the mission, they never faltered. They did what America expects from her Marines and sailors — they answered our nation’s call, performed magnificently under arduous conditions, and accomplished their assigned mission. Their daily courage and selflessness continue to inspire and humble me.

It’s great to be home. Thank you — Semper Fi — and God bless America."

- Col. Lionel B. Urquhart, Akron
U.S. Marine Corps