The Marine's have a special site that allows family and friends to receive news and photos during the troop's deployment. Today I read an article that reminds us that simple actions can be of great importance. During Keefe's time at USNA, we participated in a few of these ceremonies. They are somber and respectful. In today's crazy noisy world, you can actually hear a pin drop during the ceremony as there is complete silence when it's being performed. The article below is about color guard duty in Afghanistan.
Semper Fi!
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Marines continue time-honored tradition in Sangin
Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo
It is a military
tradition carried out on U.S. bases throughout the world. The raising
and lowering of the American flag is not just another duty for Marines,
especially while deployed.
In fact, morning and evening colors is so meaningful any military
members outside stop what they are doing, face the flag, snap to
attention and salute. Servicemembers who are driving pull their cars
over for the duration of the ceremony, until the color guard calls carry
on, announcing it’s okay to continue on with their business.
“I am honored to be part of the flag detail,” said Lance Cpl. Henry
Cervantes, an administrative clerk with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine
Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6. “Not everyone gets the chance to do
it. It’s a time-honored tradition, so I don’t take it lightly.”
Cervantes works with Lance Cpl. Lamarr Johnson, another administrative
specialist with the battalion, and the other part of their two-man flag
detail.
“Morning and evening colors is more than tradition,” said Johnson, who
is from Chicago. “For me it’s about those who gave everything for their
country.”
A part of Johnson’s daily responsibilities include the morning and
evening color guard. Twice a day he marches out to the flagpole and
calls “colors” to signify the start of the ceremony.
“I didn’t always understand the importance of the ceremony,” said
Johnson. “Now that I’ve been on the flag detail and learned the proper
way to fold the flag and be on time to raise and lower the flag, I take
more pride in it.”
Johnson learned the commands and actions quickly once he was assigned to the detail.
“Morning and evening colors is more than tradition,” said Johnson. “For
me it’s about those who gave everything for their country.”
Both of the Marines agreed the raising of the flag represents more than
pieces of fabric sewn together. They said it is about their brothers in
arms who lost their lives defending their country.
“Now that I’m a Marine, I have a better understanding,” said Cervantes.
“I think it’s because the people who lost their lives aren’t just
strangers. They are my family.”
The sense of family is why Cervantes and Johnson take their job so seriously.
The color guard will raise the American flag and the Afghan flag over
the base each morning to symbolize the two nations’ partnership. These
two Marines continue to add to the time-honored tradition and history of
our nation’s colors.
It doesn't look beautiful outside but it's certainly beautiful inside my heart! Keefe and I were able to finally have a Skype call. We had originally planned for Sunday but something came up on his end that interfered. Oh well as the parents say at the Naval Academy, "Semper Gumby"!!!
