 I received a USMC Birthday Salute celebrating the 230th Marine Corps birthday through the email last year, on November 10th, and my thoughts flashed back to those days, decades ago, when I proudly and honorably served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, July 20, 1970 – April 27, 1973.
Thirty-four years ago, on November 10, 1971, Lance Corporal Burton Fletcher participated in the 196th USMC Birthday Celebration held for the Military Police Battalion in Camp Pendleton, California.
I was called upon to lead a four-man team to present the celebration cake to the commanding general at the military police celebration. It was my role to hand the sword to Maj. General George S. Bowman, Jr., the base commanding general at Camp Pendleton, California. The photo with this article recaptures the event. I am the tight-jawed Lance Corporal on the right in the photo. This was heavy stuff for a young man, only 20 years old, some 34 years ago.
It is amazing how a photograph can capture events from decades ago and, like a memorial, revive memories from a much younger time in our lives. That is what we do as memorialists when we tell the life story of those we serve. Our firm leads a national movement to tell the story of a loved one in writing, as part of the memorial, so future generations will be moved by their visit to memorials in cemeteries and memorial gardens.
For all of my Marine Corps brothers and sisters, we remain faithful to the proud heritage of our Corps.
“From the Halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli
We fight our country's battles
In the air on land and sea.
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to bear the title
Of United States Marines.”
“Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun.
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job --
The United States Marines.”
“Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.”
We offer our services to assist your family in telling your loved one’s life story in both words and art, so future generations will know your loved one’s life story.
Semper Fi.
|
