Combat Center Marines represent Corps, Country

Photo By Cpl. Julio McGraw | Pfc. Quami Dixon, student, Marine Corps Communications-Electronics School, native of New York, salutes the American Flag during the Banque Nationale de Paris Paribas Tennis Open’s Salute to Heroes Ceremony in Indian Wells, Calif., March 13, 2015. The flag the Marines held spanned the area of the main court. (Official Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Julio McGraw/Released)  

INDIAN WELLS, CA, UNITED STATES

03.13.2015

Story by Lance Cpl. Julio McGraw 

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - A spotlight shined on the statuesque Combat Center Color Guard holding the United States and Marine Corps flags. The sounds of more than 12,000 cheering fans echoed throughout the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where television cameras internationally broadcasted the presentation of the colors.

Combat Center Marines and Color Guard were featured during Banque Nationale de Paris Paribas Open’s Salute to Heroes at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif., March 13, 2015.

Sgt. Holly West, instructor, Marine Corps Communications-Electronics School, flipped the coin at the start of the first tennis match. The Combat Center Color Guard presented the colors and more than 80 Marines from MCCES displayed an American flag that spanned the main tennis court.

“I felt honored to hold our nation’s flag,” said Pfc. Brittany Stevens, student, MCCES. “Nothing feels more patriotic than holding the flag in front of essentially the entire world.”

The Salute to Heroes ceremony took place after Serena Williams and Monica Niculescu’s, professional tennis players, match in which Williams was victorious. The match and ceremony were broadcasted on various sports channels.

At the end of the match, Marines were given a free meal at the food stands around the stadium, where many attendees of the open stopped and thanked them for their service.

“Not every Marine gets the chance to represent the Marine Corps like we did,” said Sgt. Taylor Hunt, color sergeant, Combat Center Color Guard. “I think we didn’t just represent the Marine Corps, but we represented the entire nation.”

• Date Taken: 03.13.2015
• Date Posted: 03.18.2015 21:57
• Story ID: 157447
• Location: INDIAN WELLS, CA, US