A DAY IN THE MARINE’S LAST MOUNTED COLOR GUARD After 50 years, dayto-day life keeps them grounded By Laurie Pearson Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow
BARSTOW — The United States Marine Corps’ last remaining Mounted Color Guard continues to celebrate their 50th year in service, attending rodeos, parades and other events across the country, but it’s the day-to-day life that keeps them grounded. Members of the MCG proudly represent the Marine Corps and serve their community and country with honor. They travel extensively to participate in as many events as possible, and the invitations keep rolling in with event organizers requesting their presence. As the only remaining MCG, they are spread thin, their schedules packed with events from shore to shore, to include retirement ceremonies and high profile events such as the Tournament of Roses Parade. “I feel a great sense of pride every time I put on that uniform and get on a horse,� said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Beberniss, the staff
Sergeants Fernando Blancas, Jedidiah Birnie, Terry Barker, Jacob Cummins, Corporals Nicholas Davis, Alicia Frost and Javier Castellon all post with Staff Sgt. Nicholas Beberniss for a Mounted Color Guard portrait with Elephant Mountain in the background, at the stables aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow,
noncommissioned officer in charge of the MCG. For events across country, such as the Memorial Day Parade in the District of Columbia, it can take up to five days to
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get to the site, explained Cpl. Alicia Frost, cilities, horses, administrative duties, and stableman with the MCG. The horses are self-care. As a team, they muck out and transported via truck and trailer along clean the stalls. They groom and clean the horses and engage in ground-work trainwith the stablemen. “For me, the best aspect is all the travel- ing. They share the administrative load ing we get to do, and being in the rodeos and help one another with tasks such as and parades,� said Frost. “I love meeting fence maintenance, or stall repairs. The horses are fed by the stablemen all the new people everywhere we go. It’s awesome! The crowds are always cheering twice a day, morning and night, with each person taking flakes of hay and ensuring for us and thanking us for our service.� Children and adults alike see the MCG each horse has adequate food. They clean riders, in their perfectly pressed and pol- out the water devices and refill them often ished uniforms sitting tall in their saddles because desert conditions can cause the and request to have photos taken with water to evaporate quickly. At the end of each day at the stables, the them. As a recruiting tool, the goal is to team is often covered in dust and dirt, as inspire others to join the Corps. “It’s a very serious responsibility,� said they take pride in a job well done. “It’s great getting to see the reward of Sgt. Jedidiah Birnie, stableman. “People don’t look at you as just a person; they your hard work with the horses,� Birnie see you as representing the whole Marine said, “and having a sense of pride knowing Corps. So, you have to be on your toes at that the work you do here will be seen by all times and make sure you’re presenting thousands of people all across the country.� Beberniss, who was seriously injured a good face for the people.� As the only female on the team of riders, during war, takes pride in representing Frost embraces the heavy responsibility of wounded warriors as part of the Mounted being a role model for young women spe- Color Guard. He leads by example, ensuring that the team represents the Marine cifically. “I’m the face for all female Marines,� Corps with honor and integrity. “I like being with the Marines and menFrost said. “So, when other girls and women see me doing it, I hope it gives them toring them,� Beberniss said. “It’s great the courage to think that they can do it, watching those who don’t have horse exas well. They can be a Marine and make it perience grow and progress with the horsonto a competitive team full of male 0311s es. It’s really beneficial to everyone. Working with the Mustangs is rewarding and (infantry men/grunts).� While the A-Team, the first line of rid- the riders learn to control them, in rodeos, ers, is on the road, some of the other sta- parades, as well as noisy and busy city enblemen attend the events to assist with vironments.� The horses, which come from the Butransportation and care of the horses, while at least one remains behind at the reau of Land Management, are “green stables to care for those remaining horses, broke� by inmates before coming to the as well as the facilities and administrative MCG here. Green broke means that the horses are not fully trained yet, and only work. While at home, the Marines all particiCOLOR GUARD, continued on Page 13 pate in the daily maintenance of the faXXX NJMJUBSZQSFTT DPN t OFXT!NJMJUBSZQSFTT DPN