2/5 Marines Return 'With Honor'

Rancho Santa Margarita's adopted 2nd Battalion 5th Marines returned home to Camp Pendleton over the last couple of weeks, where the approximate 1,000 soldiers were greeted by the welcome efforts of Operation Help-A-Hero.

Wednesday night at the City Council meeting for Rancho Santa Margarita, those efforts were recognized by the City, who gave a commendation to Cindy Farnum, who spearheads the volunteer effort of OHAH.

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Lt. Col. Jason Perry was also present and talked of his appreciation for the city's efforts, which included such things as having kids make welcome home signs during the city's summer concerts, and volunteers cleaning living quarters for returning soldiers and providing goody bags.

Perry presented Mayor Tony Beall and the City with a flag that flew on behalf of Rancho Santa Margarita in Afghanistan. It was the second flag presentation of the night, as councilman Jesse Petrilla also presented a flag to the city.

Perhaps most moving was Perry's update on his troops and their performance since deployment in March as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (See video)

"I think they returned with honor and I think you can be proud of what they did over there as your adopted Marines," he said. "They performed well, as you would hope."

Perry also made mention of the city's Patriot Day celebration and lauded a video that was played at the beginning of the meeting that showed part of that Sept. 8 event at Central Park, as well as photos from the 2/5's return.