Columbia, SC (WLTX) — The Marine Raider Memorial March came through the Midlands Saturday afternoon as part of their 900 mile journey through several southern states.
The march is being held to honor the 16 individuals that were killed in a KC-130 aircraft crash in Mississippi last July.
Sarah Leach, one of the marchers, lost her husband in the accident and says this prompted her to become a part of the Marine Raider Memorial March.
“There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to do something like this." Leach said. "Hearing the stories of what happened and the journey of meeting people, I wanted to be able to speak on my husband’s behalf because he was an incredible man.”
Since July 14th, the Marines and several others have marched throughout the country. The goal of the march is bring the 16 individuals who lost their lives back home to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
"It’s lonely when your love one dies and I think that anyone that has lost of love one can relate to that." says Nathan Harris, who is the Raider Memorial March Director. "To be able to have an event like this to celebrate their lives is motivating to them.”
As of Saturday night, the group has marched 560 miles and has already marched through Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.
If you missed your chance to see the group in the midlands Saturday, they will continue their path through South Carolina Sunday morning, making stops in Eastover around 4 AM, Sumter at 9 AM and Myrtle Beach as they make their way back home to North Carolina.