U.S. Air Force Maj. Richard Marnin thought he was visiting Beeler to speak about the meaning of Veterans Day.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Richard Marnin thought he was visiting Beeler Elementary School this week to speak to students about the meaning of Veterans Day.
Instead, Marnin was just the latest to receive a “rock star welcome” from the Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey military support group, as students gathered outside the school to chant “welcome home” and thank Marnin for his service.
Marnin was guided to the school with his own motorcade of police vehicles and bikers from the Warriors Watch Riders veteran support group, and as he arrived at Beeler, supporters waved flags and cheered his arrival in front of a large American flag hanging from a ladder truck from Evesham Fire-Rescue.
With more than 20 years of service with the Air Force, Marnin deployed several times, including to Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, where he served as a combat space manager coordinating air space.
Marnin returned from his last deployment to Afghanistan in 2008 and lives in town with his wife Dana, who serves as a classroom aide at Beeler.
Yet as officials with Operation Yellow Ribbon often say, the group believes all members of the military deserve their own welcome home event after returning from deployment, and so this week Marnin finally received his.
As Marnin addressed the crowd, he said he didn’t feel he deserved such a welcome, but he thanked those in front of him nonetheless.
“We do it for everyone’s freedoms and liberties, but we don’t take that obligation freely,” Marnin said. “This is what we do it for, to see everyone here smiling today and being safe and having fun. That’s what it’s all about.”
Dave Silver, chair of Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey, explained to the students that it was because of the military service from people such as Marnin that they had the freedom to assemble and cheer as they did this week.
“We’re choosing to use the very freedom you give us, sir, the freedom you protect and provide, to be here on this beautiful day in front of all these patriotic children to say ‘thank you for your service and welcome home,’” Silver said.
Beeler Principal Jerry Boland also thanked Marnin for his service and thanked his students and others in the crowd for showing their support.
Boland told Marnin that while he always gets chills when listening to the national anthem, hearing the music at this week’s event gave him a new kind of feeling as the school honored a veteran who was part the school’s family.
“Because of you, we are free,” Boland said. “Because of your service, we are proud Americans.”
Dana Marnin, who helped plan the event, described it as “awesome” and said it was a long time coming.
“He’s loved serving, he enjoyed it every day and every minute of it, and while he misses it, he’s home now,” Dana said.
To learn more about Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey, visit www.operationyellowribbonsouthjersey.org.
