A cluster of dog tags hangs from the pistol grip of

A cluster of dog tags hangs from the pistol grip of a rifle as part of a battlefield cross constructed to honor 116 U.S. Marines and sailors from 3rd Marine Regiment who died during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Approximately 3,000 Marines and sailors honored their fallen brothers during a memorial run here, June 1, 2012. The infantry regiment's three battalions began supporting Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and during this course became the highest-deployed Marine infantry regiment. The regiment's 3rd Battalion recently returned from its third Afghanistan tour, marking the last scheduled combat deployment there for 3rd Marines.