Happy Birthday USMC
As I mentioned in the previous post, I went to the Marine Corps birthday ceremony today at the ROTC building at the Oregon State campus. Although not a Marine myself, I have many strong connections to the Corps and like to support them. Here is a photo I took.
The Marine on the left is Pat Parsons and the Marine on the right is Ed Elizondo.
One of the traditions of the Corps is that the first piece of the birthday cake is given to the honored guest, and the second piece is shared by the youngest and oldest marine present. Ed Elizondo was the youngest marine. After serving in Iraq, he was accepted into a commissioning program, and is attending OSU. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a photo of him with the oldest marine present, but Pat was pretty close. These two span over 60 years of USMC history.
The honored guest was a Capt. who had been sent by his unit to bring some personal items of 2nd. Lt. Fredrick Pokorney, Jr. back to his family, and OSU. 2nd. Lt. Pokorney died along with several other Marines in "Bloody Sunday" March 23, 2003 in An Nasiriya, Iraq. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Like Ed Elizondo, Fred Pokorney was an enlisted Marine who went to OSU and obtained a commission. It was a touching reminder that being in the military is not just another job. That is one of the reasons that there exists such a bond between warriors that transends race, religion, and politics. All such people are truely Americans first.
The Marine on the left is Pat Parsons and the Marine on the right is Ed Elizondo.
One of the traditions of the Corps is that the first piece of the birthday cake is given to the honored guest, and the second piece is shared by the youngest and oldest marine present. Ed Elizondo was the youngest marine. After serving in Iraq, he was accepted into a commissioning program, and is attending OSU. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a photo of him with the oldest marine present, but Pat was pretty close. These two span over 60 years of USMC history.
The honored guest was a Capt. who had been sent by his unit to bring some personal items of 2nd. Lt. Fredrick Pokorney, Jr. back to his family, and OSU. 2nd. Lt. Pokorney died along with several other Marines in "Bloody Sunday" March 23, 2003 in An Nasiriya, Iraq. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Like Ed Elizondo, Fred Pokorney was an enlisted Marine who went to OSU and obtained a commission. It was a touching reminder that being in the military is not just another job. That is one of the reasons that there exists such a bond between warriors that transends race, religion, and politics. All such people are truely Americans first.
posted by 74 (William Powell) at
3:17 PM
