DETROIT, Michigan -- Marine Week Detroit kicked off with an opening ceremony at Campus Martius Park, Sept. 6, 2017. The ceremony welcomed Marines to the city for the week, where they will demonstrate the abilities of the Marine Corps and connect with the public.
The city of Detroit is hosting around 700 Marines with the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Detroit. The week of events will include static displays, chances for the public to PT with Marines, multiple Marine Corps traditions, performances from the Silent Drill Platoon, along with many others, including the highlighting event of a MAGTF demonstration in the Detroit River.
The Special Purpose MAGTF curated for Marine Week Detroit includes Marines from all over the country, across many different military occupational specialties. The variation of Marines in Detroit gives the ability to demonstrate multiple aspects of the Marine Corps and its mission.
“We’re really here, not just because Detroit is one of the great cities of our nation, but I thought it would be a great place for your Marines to come and for you to see them and watch what they do”, said Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Robert Neller. “So there’s a number of events and there are schedules out that will tell you what they are.”
Marine Week is held once a year, aimed to bring Marines to cities that normally don’t have very much contact with Marines. The purpose of Marine Week is to celebrate Community, Country and Corps. This celebration gives the people of Detroit an opportunity to meet hundreds of Marines first hand and hear their experience and stories of the Corps.
“We all have our reasons as to why we joined, when we joined and did what we did,” explained Neller. “But I think you’ll be impressed, because the most important resource, not just of our country, but of our Marine Corps, is our people. And we got really good people. They come from you and I thank you for that so much.”
Marine Week Detroit will conclude September 10, 2017.