Why did marines gather on Monday?

Marines gathered Monday to remember 23 of their own who were killed in a spate of violence that accelerated calls for the Bush administration to plan U. S. troop withdrawals. Six Marines were killed Aug. 1, including five from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, based in northern Ohio. Fourteen from the 25th Marines were killed Aug. 3 when their amphibious assault vehicle struck a roadside bomb; nine were from the Columbus-based Lima Company. Three other Marines were killed in separate incidents in the region. Reports of continuing deaths of U.S. service members have contributed to a decline in President Bush’s favourable rating for handling the situation in Iraq. A USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll released last week showed the nation split on whether it was a mistake to invade. Bush, responding last week to calls from protesters to withdraw U.S. troops, said it "would be a mistake for the security of this country."