Pasadena Rolls Out The Welcome Mat For Returning Marine Regiment

PASADENA, CA — More than 200 marines will be welcomed home from deployment overseas Friday morning at a ceremony in front of Pasadena City Hall.

The marines are part of the reserve battalion based in Pasadena, and members of the community are invited to come celebrate their safe return home. The members of 2d Battalion, 23d Marine Regiment were deployed last year and conducted exercises spanning four countries in the Indo-Pacific Area.

"In their civilian life many of them are First Responders, including police officers, deputy sheriffs and firefighters," city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said in a written statement. "Many of these Marines live and work in the local area. They provide their services for color guards, Military Funeral Honors, and participate in the Toys for Tots program over the holidays. In case of a natural disaster or emergency, our Marines can augment Pasadena's resources for both planning and response."

According to the city, the Pasadena Citizen-Marines have been deployed many times since World War II, for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, during which they participated in the capture of Baghdad.

"Recently, they were recognized as the best battalion in the entire Fourth Marine Division," added Derderian

The ceremony will begin at 10:20 in front of Pasadena City Hall at 100 N. Garfield Avenue.

Clarification: An earlier version of this article indicated that the Regiment took part in training exercises spanning four countries in the Indo-Pacific Area, including Taiwan. The soldiers did not conduct exercises in Taiwan.