BOSTON -- The Marines took to the land, skies to storm the city of Boston.
Various Marine units from around the country joined forces Monday at Boston Common to set up displays and showcase equipment used in current day operations.
The city’s downtown park will play host helicopters, a CH-53E Super Stallion, an AH-1 Cobra, and UH-1Y Huey and also an MV-22 Osprey.
The displays set up kicked off Marine Week Boston, a weeklong series of events showcasing the Corps’ culture, history, traditions and current missions with the citizens of Boston.
“The city of Boston and the people that live here have a great opportunity. Most of them don’t get to see Marines on a regular basis,” said Lt. Col. Peter Conlan, the lead planner for Marine Week.
A big hit for the crowd of Bostonians, was when the aircraft arrived at Boston Common, flying over the city. Maj. Paul Kopacz, the operations officer for Marine Tiltroter Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, 2nd Marine Air Wing, Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., said he hopes that Bostonians will be able to form their own opinions about the Osprey.
The displays set up at the park covered a variety of vehicles, weapons systems and aircraft. Marines from Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, had crew-served weapons set up to show Bostonians what the unit uses when deployed to a combat zone.
“Growing up as a kid, everyone has their Army men,” said Lance Cpl. Steven Beck, a mortarman with the company and a Springfield, Mo., native. “However, you never get to see it up close. This is our chance to show it up close.”
Conlan added that he hoped the Marines would get a chance to learn something about the city of Boston.
“It’s an opportunity to show off your town a little bit,” said the Methuen, Mass., native. “A lot of these guys [Marines] will really like Boston, especially this time of year.”
For more information about the events in Marine Week Boston, go to facebook.com/MarineWeek or twitter.com/Marineweek.