Photo By Master Sgt. Alicia Leaders | Former President Bill Clinton arrives to the 17th Annual Salute to Freedom Gala aboard...... read more read more
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By Lance Cpl. Alicia R. Giron
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
NEW YORK - Former President Bill Clinton and New York Sen. Hilary Rodham Clinton joined U.S. active duty service members and veterans during the 17th annual Salute to Freedom Gala, Nov. 6, 2008, in celebration of the grand reopening of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
"I, like all of you, have eagerly awaited this reopening," said President Clinton, who, in 1996, became the first sitting president to visit the USS Intrepid.
The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, arrived in New York earlier in the week. The ship's crew, along with embarked Marines and sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, were on-hand to participate in the city's 89th Veterans Day Parade, as well as several events aboard the Intrepid.
Intrepid, a World War II aircraft carrier that has since been turned into a floating museum, underwent a two-year restoration, the most expensive in the museum's 26-year history. It involved redesigning the main interior exhibits, repairing and repainting aircraft and adding several more historic aircraft to Intrepid's collection.
"I'm so grateful that it's here in the heart of New York -- that this ship has found its home," said Sen. Clinton.
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is a scalable, multipurpose force of more than 2,200 Marines and Sailors. Commanded by Col. Gareth F. Brandl, it consists of its Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and its Command Element.
The 22nd MEU is currently conducting pre-deployment training and is scheduled to deploy this spring. For more information about the 22nd MEU, visit the unit's website at www.22meu.usmc.mil.
| Date Taken: | 11.06.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.25.2008 19:23 |
| Story ID: | 26802 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 327 |
| Downloads: | 137 |
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