2/4 Monument
On 30 April 2009, during it’s 21st annual reunion, the assembled Marines and Corpsmen of the 2/4 Association, along with family members and many special guests, dedicated the Memorial Monument of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines.
Located on the grounds of the National Museum of the Marine Corps (near the currently under-construction Chapel), the Monument is a permanent tribute to all of the Marines and Sailors who have served with the battalion since it was formed in April, 1914.
Figures are shown with uniforms and weapons appropriate to the conflicts since that time – from doughboy-helmeted Marines with their Springfield rifles, to Pacific island-hopping Marines with their M1 Garands, to the "grunts" of Vietnam with their M16’s, to the "sandbox" Marines of today with their much-improved M16’s.
Corpsmen and doctors are commemorated by the figure of a "Doc" carrying a wounded Marine from the battlefield and tribute is rendered to Chaplains by the figure of a Marine kneeling in prayer.
Hosting the Dedication ceremony were Association co-founders (B/Gen., Ret) William Weise and (Assoc. President) Peter Schlesiona. Emcee was current battalion commander, LtCol Andrew Wilcox, along with current battalion Sergeant Major Mark Massey and the 2/4 Color Guard.
Guest speaker was retired Commandant of the Marine Corps Paul X. Kelley, who previously served as 2/4 Commanding Officer. Also in attendance were retired Commandant Carl Mundy, Jr. (also a former 2/4 CO), retired Commandant Al Gray and Gen. James Mattis, Commander, Transformation Forces and Central Command. Gen. Mattis previously served as a platoon commander with 2/4.
Special guests were John Barker, brother of 2/4 MOH recipient LCpl Jedh Barker, and Judson Fisher, son of the legendary 2/4 Commanding Officer "Bull" Fisher (who gave 2/4 the nickname "The Magnificent Bastards").
The immediately preceding Memorial Service was conducted by the Chaplain of the Marine Corps, R/Adm. Baker and Association Vice-President Randy Kington.