KEOWEE KEY, S.C. -- “Its amazing.” “Its like a paradise.” “Its like something out of a movie.” “I wasn’t expecting that at all, not one bit.” “It gave me chills the way they welcomed everybody.”
The quotes above are just a few sound bites from a group of Marines who spent four days being appreciated, Keowee Key-style.
The Keowee Key community opened their homes, for the second consecutive year, to honor the service of around 30 Marines and sailors with four days of rest and relaxation, June 7-10. Keowee Key is a private community and affiliated with the Communities 4 Warriors (C4W), a non-profit corporation geared toward service member appreciation.
"This year's event will be similar to the very successful ‘Honoring Their Service’ event last year, with a number of improvements based on feedback from the Marines and our committees," said Larry Druffel, an event coordinator. “We use the name, Honoring Their Service, as our motto in planning.
“It is all about the Marines and Sailors. It is not about us. Our purpose is solely to honor the service of these heroes,” Druffel said.
The community hosted more than 20 Marines and sailors from the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, many of whom have deployed within the last few years, and six medically retired Marines from Greenville and Oconee County.
The Marines and sailors from MARSOC linked up with the six Marines from Greenville and Oconee County to ride together for the last 30 miles of the trip, which included a 300-motorcycle escort into Keowee Key. Along the route, the service members were greeted by a large crowd of well wishers carrying signs and waving flags.
“It was probably the greatest feeling in the world,” said Sgt. Bradley Smith, a MARSOC Marine. “It was amazing seeing everyone lined up on the side of the road with flags waving and holding welcome signs.
“As soon as we crept off the bus, those guys were lined up on each side of us, shaking hands, giving hugs. It gave me chills the way they welcomed everybody,” recalled Smith.
Following the warm reception, they began their four days of rest and relaxation, which encompassed a myriad of activities including: waterskiing, jet-skiing, golf, tennis, hiking, kayaking, riding ATVs and more.
During the event the Greenville Hospital System and Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital contributed therapists and equipment to allow service members with disabilities to participate in those events.
A number of other activities took place during the event to honor the Marines and sailors. One of the events was a dazzling ‘no noise’ fire works display as part of the Veteran’s Appreciation Evening at the Gignilliat Center in Seneca.
Most service members said they took more comfort in the friendly conversations, open arms, and gracious welcome of the Keowee Key community, than anything else in the four day retreat.
Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Ovanke, the staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge for MARSOC during the trip said, “The fact that these people have opened their hearts and their houses, and everything they have done for us has been the most impressive thing to me.”