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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,149
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,149 |
Mobile, A.L. Two young Marines helped continue a half-century Memorial Day tradition by raising the American flag at the home of a WWII veteran who was unable to do it himself.
Robert Pearson, Sr. 88, fought with the corps' 5th Division in the Pacific for three years in WWII and was highly decorated. For more than 50 years, on Memorial Day, he has raised the U.S. flag atop a pole on his 20-acre property off Dauphin Island Parkway, honoring the nation's war dead.
Health problems threatened to keep the flag grounded this year, but one of Pearson's seven children, Daphne Wesley of Mobile, contacted the Marines with the 3rd Reconnaissance Company and asked for their help.
On Monday, two Marines in dress blue uniforms--1st Sgt. John Halpin and Staff Sgt. Brad Stuart--surprised Pearson when they arrived at his home at about 10 a.m.
Pearson regaled them with stories from WWII, telling about some brawls he had been involved with and how the Marine Corps "loves Marines who will fight."
After talking with Pearson and looking respectfully at his albums of WWII memorabilia, the two Marines walked over to the flagpole and attached a fresh new American flag that they had brough with them. Family members helped Pearson make his way to a chair nearby.
"Attention to colors!" Halpin barked as he stood at attention.
Stuart then hoisted the flag as Pearson, still seated, saluted and dabbed at his eyes.
-- 1999 SVT #220 --
In retrospect, it was all downhill from here. RIP, CEG.
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,039
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,039 |
...and that's why they're heroes.
'98 4Runner
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,198
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,198 |
That is awesome.
I'll add this to the pile of things that remind us all that Marines, and all members of the military, are truly a few levels above all other people.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 149
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 149 |
-Andy
'98.5 Contour SVT
'86 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
'97 GTP
'93 SHO MTX
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 609
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 609 |
THAT is the true spirit of our Armed Forces.  God Bless America! ...Now, if only the media spent HALF as much time telling those types of stories -- as well as showing all the schools, hospitals, water treatment plants, etc. that are now operating in Iraq -- as they spend telling about a few people making terrorists walk around naked in jail and do stupid things... Marty
98 SVT, Black, No. 786, May 7, 1997.
K&N, MSDS, Xcal2, Tint, Antennas, Big Gulp(R)-Sized Cupholder, Rear Dome Lt., Koni/Eibach, DMD, Pre-98 Sails, Brake Cooling Deflectors, Sidemarkers, Etc.
147K+ Miles
"Get the Door - It's GrooveNerd!"
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 345
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 345 |
Originally posted by GrooveNerd:
THAT is the true spirit of our Armed Forces. God Bless America!
...Now, if only the media spent HALF as much time telling those types of stories -- as well as showing all the schools, hospitals, water treatment plants, etc. that are now operating in Iraq -- as they spend telling about a few people making terrorists walk around naked in jail and do stupid things...
Marty
"I guess of all my uncles, I liked Uncle Cave Man the best. We called him Uncle Cave Man because he lived in a cave and because sometimes he'd eat one of us. Later on we found out he was a bear"
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/586498/1
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,290
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,290 |
Memorial Day is probably the only holiday that means anything to me anymore. For the past few years I've gone to the Mall (the national one in DC) the Sunday before to watch Rolling Thunder, pay my respects, and soak up the atmosphere.
E0 #36
'95 Ranger
'82 Honda CX500
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,502
Flaming Biker Dude
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Flaming Biker Dude
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,502 |
People suck.
Rev it till it MELTS.....
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,760
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,760 |
Ryan
Trollin!
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,667
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,667 |
Originally posted by Viss1:
Memorial Day is probably the only holiday that means anything to me anymore. For the past few years I've gone to the Mall (the national one in DC) the Sunday before to watch Rolling Thunder, pay my respects, and soak up the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, most people forget the true meaning. Its perfectly summed up in a song by Heywood Banks (the comedian)... and i'm paraphrasing here... "Everybody needs to remember, that Memorial Day is a time to.... SAVE SAVE SAVE ON A NEW MATTRESS!! WE'RE GETTING ALL THE CARS OFF THE LOT!! THERES NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME THAN RIGHT NOW!!! HUGE GIGANTIC BLOWOUT FURNITURE SALE!!! oh yeah and something about people that died for our country"
Diesel owns you
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