BROOK PARK---Al Lerner, the late owner of the Cleveland Browns, was very proud of his military service and never forgot his roots as an aviator with the United States Marine Corps.
After Mr. Lerner passed away in 2002, his wife Norma and the organization continued to carry on their support of the military and especially the Marine Corps. The board members of the Three Deuce Five Marine Foundation recognized the Browns’ support prior to their meeting Thursday night at the headquarters of the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment (3/25).
“The Cleveland Browns are dedicated to supporting the men and women who serve through the United States Armed Forces,” said Jenner Tekancic, manager of community outreach for the Browns.
Through the Cleveland Browns Foundation, the team has supported the efforts of the 3/25 Marines. During its inaugural Cleveland Browns Motorcycle Rally in July, the team raised funds for the 3/25 Marines.
“The Browns have been great and the Lerner family has been a great supporter of the Marines of the 3/25,” said A.J. Perry, a board member of the Marine Foundation. “The Lerner family really took the battalion in, almost like an extended family. Mr. Lerner was a Marine, so he knew about brotherhood.”
The Marine Foundation offers assistance and support to Marines, Sailors and families of those who have been wounded or encountered other problems based on their service to the country. It was founded after the 3/25’s deployment to Iraq in 2005.
While in the Al-Anbar Province, geographically the largest in Iraq, the 3/25 lost six Marines of a sniper unit during an attack from insurgents. Two days later, 12 Marines from the 3/25 were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) struck their amphibious assault vehicle.
By the end of the Ohio Marine battalion’s tour of duty in Iraq, 48 Marines and Sailors were lost while another 150 were wounded out of a complement of 1,350 Marines.
