Readiness

Nic Doucette and Gabe Vasquez, both retired Marines, arrive to the shore and greeted by Marines from Headquarters Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve, here Aug. 6 2014. The two Marines kayaked through the heart of New Orleans down the Mississippi River to honor the service of Sgt. Gabriel Martinez and Cpl. Justin Gaertner. Both Martinez and Gaertner stepped on pressure plate-activated improvised explosive devices while using their metal detectors in Afghanistan Nov. 26, 2010. Both Marines lost their legs but survived. New Orleans was the last major city Doucette and Vasquez passed through during their 2,552 mile journey from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Codey Underwood)