U.S. Marines return to New Zealand to mark 70th anniversary of WWII deployment

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US Marines salute at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior during a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial on June 14, 2012 in Wellington, New Zealand. John Key welcomed US marines to Wellington today to mark the 70th anniversary of American World War II forces arrival to New Zealand in 1942.

msnbc.com reports: U.S. Marines salute at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior during a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial on June 14, 2012 in Wellington, New Zealand. Prime Minister John Key welcomed the Marines to Wellington Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of American World War II forces arrival to New Zealand in 1942.

Fifty U.S. Marines and a 50-person Marine band are scheduled to spend three weeks in the country to participate in commemorative events, sunlive.co.nz reported in May.

"Together we will be remembering and honoring the sacrifices made during the Second World War,” Key said in a statement, the sunlive.co.nz reported.