ABOARD USS KEARSARGE -- Marines and Sailors of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and Sailors of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) manned the rails April 7 as the USS Kearsarge pulled into a port in Palma, Spain.
The Marines and Sailors were granted liberty for six days to explore Palma during their first port call of their 2005 deployment.
The 26th MEU (SOC), embarked aboard the ships of the Kearsarge Strike Group is currently supporting operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
The custom of “manning the rails” when entering port evolved from the centuries-old Naval practice of "manning the yards." Men aboard sailing ships stood evenly spaced on all the yards and gave three cheers to honor a distinguished person.