Today our walk was dedicated in honor of:
Marine SGT Justin M. Hansen, Age 26 of Traverse City, MI.
KIA Jul 24 2012 Operation Enduring Freedom
He was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Hansen was a 2003 graduate of Kingsley High School, where he played football. His father, Rick Hansen of Williamsburg, said that along with two tours of duty in Afghanistan, his son also served in combat in Iraq.
Hansen’s father said his son was no stranger to the insurgents that U.S. forces faced.
“I said, ‘Do you get real close to these guys — the enemy?’ And he said, ‘Oh yeah. Someday we’ll sit down in a corner and we’ll talk about it,'” he told the Traverse City Record-Eagle. “That day never came.”
Hansen joined the Marines in 2005, served a combat tour in Iraq and was on his second posting to Afghanistan. He was a 2003 graduate of Kingsley High School, where he played football.
We had a great 5.98 Mile walk this morning. We walked by Lake Holiday and then headed up to the War Memorial Park down town. We made a stop by the Military Memorial Museum and before heading home we stopped by the Train Depot. I want to thank everyone who honked, waved, and saluted in helping me honor this hero. We had 139 Honks this morning. Thank you.
Marine SGT Justin M. Hansen will not be forgotten !
.