Marines at Twentynine Palms paused to remember the loss of two of their own during their deployment to Afghanistan:

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends,” quoted Navy [Chaplain] Lt. Michael Taylor…from John 15:13, in the New American Standard Bible.

The two memorialized Marines were Lance Cpl. Cody Stanley and Lance Cpl. Joshua H. Birchfield.  The company first sergeant had a moving description for what the Marines witnessed: 

Memorials are a reminder to Marines of what they have chosen to sacrifice for the preservation of freedom for their country, said 1st Sgt. Rogelio Deleon… “The profession they have chosen to do is a serious profession; it is a life and death situation.”

The Chaplain added

It takes a rare few, a person of incredible moral disciplines, courage and understanding that its not about themselves. It’s about something greater, its about people who need to be honored, protected and fought for.

The spectre of sacrifice as an act of love is a theme in many military remembrances, though with regard to the military profession of arms it may seem a foreign concept to some outside of the culture.  Another longstanding tradition is the playing or singing of Amazing Grace.  Another tradition and meaningful practice is, of course, prayer, as noted in the photograph of the ceremony above.  Regrettably, there are some who advocate restrictions that would ultimately prohibit the unabashedly sectarian Amazing Grace or the presence of prayer even in these memorials to a brotherhood.

This picture is included in the library of photographs of religion in the military, located on the Resources page.