Northeastern High School - Aerie Yearbook (Elizabeth City, NC)

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die in Beirut, Lebanor mourns the tragic outcome During the morning of October 23, 1983, a terrorist drove a truck stuffed with explosives into the Marine barracks, in Beruit, Lebanon. After the enormous explosion, we counted our Marine dead at 240. Scores more were injured. This Ma- rine unit suffered the heaviest casualties of any United States military outfit since the Vietnam War. This terrorist act, other military inci- dents, and the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut brought to surface many questions about our foreign policy and military presence in Lebanon. The Reagan Administration decided to make the point that we were not intimidated by terrorism; therefore, we kept our show of force in Beirut. The lost American soldiers; however, were not forgotten in Elizabeth City. The Academically Gifted students of Northeastern held a memorial service in honor of those lost. The heroes who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy were remembered through prayers, dedications, and hymns. Americans felt a renewed na- tional spirit of patroitism as 200 students and citizens of Elizabeth City joined to- gether October 30th to show support to their country, to show respect to their dead and to show solidarity to each American. Above right: A U.S. Marine carries boots and a jacket from the rubble of a building. The building was destroyed by a terrorist bomb. 240 Marines Elizabeth City Right: Mourners light candles in tribute of those who died. 16—Beirut. Lebanon

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Student Life —15

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of America’s “show of force” abroad. Left: A Marine Commanadant awards the Purple Heart to a wounded Corporal Scheider in a West German hospital. He was injured in the blast in Beirut. Below: Teachers and parents attended the service. Mrs. Harriet Hornthal and C.C. Austin join in on the singing. Below left: The Academically Gifted stu- dents of Northeastern lead the service. B«i(ul. Lebanon—17