MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Marines and sailors gathered during a change of command ceremony in which commanding officer of 10th Marine Regiment, Col. Bradley R. Hall, relinquished command to Col. Clifford J. Weinstein.
A change of command ceremony is a tradition that represents authority and responsibility for a unit being transferred from one commanding officer to another. The ceremony brought together Marines, sailors, family and friends as witness of the ending of one command to the beginning of another.
“One of the goals I had when I took command was to make 10th Marines a place that people wanted to be a part of,” said Hall.
Hall said that 10th Marines, and the artillery community combined make up part of a “varsity team.”
“It takes imagination and creativity to be a commander here, to be a Marine here, and to do what we do here,” said Hall. “For that I say we are the varsity team.”
According to Hall, he’s not the only one who is responsible for the varsity team.
“It’s the Marines behind me that make that happen,” said Hall. “Our legacy you see and our lineage.”
After Hall spoke, Weinstein took the stage and addressed the audience.
“For those of you that have worked with Colonel Hall, I know I have some pretty big shoes to fill,” said Weinstein. “So I will be committed to doing that, to improving and maintaining what we do here at division.”
Weinstein followed up his speech with an address to the new Marines and sailors that he will be in command of.
“To the Marines and sailors of 10th Marines, thank you for this magnificent change of command,” said Weinstein. “You truly are the focus of what we do every day as Colonel Hall has said, and that will continue as long as I’m here.”
Following Weinstein’s address to the Marines and sailors, it was then time for active duty and veterans of 2nd Marine Division to rise for their song, “follow me.”
This song, which has been a part of 2nd Marine Division for years, is a memoir of comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s freedom.
The ceremony ended with the Marine’s Hymn and a reception held at Marston Pavilion.