Ultimate Sacrifice

My new friend Marcus Byrd directs the Central Dallas Ministries main clinic in East Dallas. He is also a Marine who served in the Middle East during the first Gulf War. He doesn’t bring up his military experience frequently but when he does it always seems to grab my attention. Recently he told me that he had a drill sergeant who frequently said, “God loves Marines because everything they touch they kill.” He told me he didn’t understand it right away but came to appreciate his message. Marines follow orders, Marines follow a code, and Marines are efficient.

I recently saw an Email from another work colleague who has two sons currently serving in Iraq. In the Email there were two very powerful pictures I am including here. I am also including their captions. I have tremendous respect for these young people who are sacrificing for our country. This post is about appreciation so I do not want get into my views on the war. Our soldiers overseas must put their views aside with so much more at stake so for now I’d like to recognize their work and their service.

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.
During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: "See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."



Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted."