I’ve not had many times where I’ve been in the presence of our military culture. But I have had 2. On one occasion, we went to DC where my wife and friends ran the Marine Corp Marathon. They did this to honor our friend’s father who died in Vietnam. We knew at the time that he had won the Navy Cross for valor, but did not know that his story hung on the wall at Quantico. 5 people ran, and at the end, all placed their marathon medals at the memorial wall, under his name. Me? I did not run. I held an American flag at “the blue mile”, which is a mile draped with flags, each flag bearing the name of a fallen hero. I held the flag that bore our friend’s father’s name. And here it is… the culture, the sacred honor, the quiet respect. I tell you, I’ll never forget it, and feel it represents the best of who we are. The second occasion was my father’s funeral, where he had a military honor. You know these guys must do this often, how easy would it be for it to become routine. No. No. Respect. Serious respect. I’ll never forget that one either!
I’ve not had many times where I’ve been in the presence of our military culture. But I have had 2. On one occasion, we went to DC where my wife and friends ran the Marine Corp Marathon. They did this to honor our friend’s father who died in Vietnam. We knew at the time that he had won the Navy Cross for valor, but did not know that his story hung on the wall at Quantico. 5 people ran, and at the end, all placed their marathon medals at the memorial wall, under his name. Me? I did not run. I held an American flag at “the blue mile”, which is a mile draped with flags, each flag bearing the name of a fallen hero. I held the flag that bore our friend’s father’s name. And here it is… the culture, the sacred honor, the quiet respect. I tell you, I’ll never forget it, and feel it represents the best of who we are. The second occasion was my father’s funeral, where he had a military honor. You know these guys must do this often, how easy would it be for it to become routine. No. No. Respect. Serious respect. I’ll never forget that one either!