Marine Week begins in St. Louis

Marines gather in front of the Soliders Memorial just before opening ceremonies for Marine Week in St. Louis on June 20, 2011. Marines will have demonstrations and participate in numerous events throughout the St. Louis area to showcase their branch of the military service. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Marine Week begins in St. Louis

Lance Corp. Carlos Villa of San Diego gives Martin Dunn a lesson about a 240 Bravo gun mounted on top of a light armored vehicle during opening ceremonies for Marine Week in St. Louis on June 20, 2011. Marines will have demonstrations and participate in numerous events throughout the St. Louis area to showcase their branch of the military service. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Marine Week begins in St. Louis

Major General Raymond C. Fox makes his remarks in front of the Soliders Memorial during opening ceremonies for Marine Week in St. Louis on June 20, 2011. Marines will have demonstrations and participate in numerous events throughout the St. Louis area to showcase their branch of the military service. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Marine Week begins in St. Louis

A Marines salutes during the playing of the National Anthem during opening ceremonies for Marine Week in St. Louis on June 20, 2011. Marines will have demonstrations and participate in numerous events throughout the St. Louis area to showcase their branch of the military service. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Marine Week begins in St. Louis

A Marine sentry walks his post around the World War 1 Memorial at the Soliders Memorial after opening ceremonies for Marine Week in St. Louis on June 20, 2011. Marines will have demonstrations and participate in numerous events throughout the St. Louis area to showcase their branch of the military service. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Marine Week begins in St. Louis

A Marine Color Guard walks to post the colors during opening ceremonies for Marine Week in St. Louis on June 20, 2011. Marines will have demonstrations and participate in numerous events throughout the St. Louis area to showcase their branch of the military service. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Marine Week begins in St. Louis

Martin Dunn gets a closer look at a 240 Bravo gun mounted on top of a light armored vehicle during opening ceremonies for Marine Week in St. Louis on June 20, 2011. Marines will have demonstrations and participate in numerous events throughout the St. Louis area to showcase their branch of the military service. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Super Cobra Under the Arch

People came to the Arch, Busch Stadium and the War Memorial to crawl around some of the Marine Corps' biggest toys, like this AH-1 Super Cobra (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

Little Girl, Big Gun

Madeline Edwards, 6, takes aim behind the trigger of a .50 cal machine gun. (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

"It's a helicopter!" "It's a plane!" "It's . . . both?"

The V-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft, meaning it can fly as a helicopter (as pictured) or a propeller plane by tilting its blades forward. (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

Fansler in the LAV

Noah Fansler, 7, looks around the inside of an LAV on display near the War Memorial. (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

The Real Call of Duty

The viewpoint from someone looking down the barrel of the .50 cal machine gun mounted on top of a Light Armored Vehicle (LAV)-25A2. (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

Sgt. Tuell Demonstrates Marine Martial Arts

Sgt. Cory Tuell (left) shows how to disarm an enemy combatant armed with a pistol. Tuell is an instructer in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

The Military Working Dog Team

Military Working Dog Team members Cpls. Jarrod Keller (left), Branden Deleon (center) and Rrolffe show how highly trained dogs take down enemy combatants as onlookers watched. (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

Inside the Cockpit

The cockpit of a CH-46 Sea Knight. (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

Hoekstra Sprinting Back to "Base"

Brett Hoekstra, 9, runs in Marine gear: a helmet and kevlar vest. (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

"Not your daddy's shotgun."

At least, that's what GySgt. Hartman from "Full Metal Jacket" would say. This 155MM Howitzer weighs about five tons and can fire a shell 15 to 25 miles depending on the type of ammunition. (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

The Marine Band Plays

GySgt. Gary Robinson conducts the Albany Marine Band during the commencement ceremony. (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

Slay Officially Starts Marine Week

Mayor Francis Slay officially started Marine Week this morning outside of the War Memorial. He commemorated the event with an offical proclamation which was given to Maj. Gen. Raymond Fox and Lt. Col. T. Shane Tomko. (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

The Marines Are In Town

Marine Week 2011 kicked off today. The Corps showed off helicopters, artillery and armored vehicles and had demonstrations of their combat training. (KMOX/Travis Zimpfer)

Marine Week

Marine Week

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Marine Week

Marine Week

Marine Week

Marine Week

Marine Week

Marine Week

Marine Week

Marine Week

Marine Week

Marine Week

Marine Week

Marine Week

Marine Week