As the nation observes Memorial Day this weekend, we should take a few minutes to reflect on the great number of American military cemeteries that span the far reaches of the planet, where boundless ranks of white stones stand silently at attention with few visitors to ever pay their respects.
There were never any veterans’ reunions for them – not one.
Well, at least not on this side of eternity’s threadlike veil.
In what seems like a blink of the eyes, it was last summer that I was talking with Chris Christian an Army Afghanistan veteran who last year was the featured speaker at the annual Shamokin Memorial Day observance who told me about how a group of Marine Corps veterans were getting together for the first time in a quarter-century.
I knew the organizer Joe Lindemuth, a …show more content…
There was also no question that I would be there.
As I made my trek, I couldn’t help but think of a scene from the movie Rocky II.
It was when Rocky Balboa laments to his former trainer Mickey that despite being retired, he still needed to be around boxing and the gym. In so doing, Rocky takes up a broom and is willing to empty spit buckets, if that’s what it takes.
It’s ironic the things we will do to get a taste of the grandeur of who we once were.
Not only was I welcomed on-board like a prodigal son of sorts, but I was treated like one of the fire team. That group included Steve Peek another Mount Carmel native, Jeff McBride, who flew in from Acworth, Georgia, John Hagan, a Queens, New York City native whose accent left no doubt to where he hails from, and retired GySgt. Robert Jeka, who made the hump, this time by car, from New London, Connecticut. Gunny Jeka proudly reported that his two sons are presently following in their dad’s deep Marine
There were never any veterans’ reunions for them – not one.
Well, at least not on this side of eternity’s threadlike veil.
In what seems like a blink of the eyes, it was last summer that I was talking with Chris Christian an Army Afghanistan veteran who last year was the featured speaker at the annual Shamokin Memorial Day observance who told me about how a group of Marine Corps veterans were getting together for the first time in a quarter-century.
I knew the organizer Joe Lindemuth, a …show more content…
There was also no question that I would be there.
As I made my trek, I couldn’t help but think of a scene from the movie Rocky II.
It was when Rocky Balboa laments to his former trainer Mickey that despite being retired, he still needed to be around boxing and the gym. In so doing, Rocky takes up a broom and is willing to empty spit buckets, if that’s what it takes.
It’s ironic the things we will do to get a taste of the grandeur of who we once were.
Not only was I welcomed on-board like a prodigal son of sorts, but I was treated like one of the fire team. That group included Steve Peek another Mount Carmel native, Jeff McBride, who flew in from Acworth, Georgia, John Hagan, a Queens, New York City native whose accent left no doubt to where he hails from, and retired GySgt. Robert Jeka, who made the hump, this time by car, from New London, Connecticut. Gunny Jeka proudly reported that his two sons are presently following in their dad’s deep Marine