080618-M-1855J-003-LR

RAMADI, Iraq (June 19, 2008) - Staff Sgt. Earl Lucas, a platoon sergeant with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, listens to an Iraqi citizen detail the seriousness of structural damage at a boys and girls school in Ramadi June 18. Repairing the schools in Ramadi has been a key effort in the rebuilding stage. A number of schools in the city are in need of renovations due to structural damage and leaky roofs. �(Repairing the schools is essential because) it�s a school�it�s their future,� said Cpl. Chris Sarlo, a squad automatic weapon gunner with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. �The children coming up now grew up around violence and fighting. Now that the fighting is over with, we need to focus on their education and hopefully make everything better in the region.� (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Casey Jones) (RELEASED)