To all former Marines, and to those who still serve the nation and the Corp, I extend best wishes and a hearty "Semper Fidelis!"
To my fellow veterans I extend warm wishes of health,happiness, and peace on this Memorial Day.
To those who gave given their lives so that I was able to enjoy the freedoms and comfort that this nation gives to all of us I remember you with a pray and heart full of gratitude and sorrow. Gratitude for your unselfish service. Sorrow for the pain your loss caused families, friends, communities, and the nation in total. One one can only wonder what contributions to society you may have made had you not had been a casualty of our nation'a many conflicts. Rest in eternal peace.
Now about my two favortie Marines!
I am sure my fellow Marines our probably thinking right now I am going to write about Chesty Pullar, winner of five Navy Crosses. Or Smedley Butler winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor. No. I wm writing this diary to remember two Marines who lives were a tremendous example to me.
Through them I learned the value of hard work. That character was not just a person in a book but was the substance by which you were measured and judge. They demonstrated time and time again that fair play was not a term in baseball but the principal by which you lived your life.
They lived lives centered around family, church, friends, and service to others. Their unselfish demeanor, their generous nature, their belief in God I try to emulate daily. As people they are extraordinary. Or should I say extra- ordinary.
Like many of their generation they came home from WWII resumed their lives, had a family, and lived an ordinary existence. What made them extra-ordinary was that between them they raised nine children to whom they bestowed on the values that politican's spout off so often about but rarely practice. One was Marine aviator who flew an F4-U in WWII. The other was mechanic who work on planes during WWII. One an officer, the other an elistee. One served for 20 yrs, other two. One was from Wyandotte, Michigan. The other from Wappinger Falls, New York. Both were Irish Catholic whose families were also deeply involved serving during the war.Both were liberal Democrats who worship FDR and JFK.
To many people they were know by titles such as Major, Corporal, Mr., Mrs., or Councilman. To me they were simply Mom and Dad.
So excuse me if on this day I get a little misty eyed, or sentimental. I want to share their story, not because it is so extraordinary, quite simply it is not. It is extra- ordinary. I am a priveleged son, living in a great nation surrounded by the blessing bestowed by our Creator and for that I am grateful to my Mom and Dad, twof the greatest Marine's I ever knew or will know.