Every year our town celebrates Memorial Day with a big parade. It starts at the high school, up South Main Street and ending in the center of town at the town common for speeches and rememberances.

I was honored as the Grand Marshal of this years parade. It really was an incredible, heart-warming and difficult day. I had my own float to ride on and was joined by a couple of other veterans; my son Jason who served 4 years in the Air Force, and a good friend 1stSgt Variato "Vinny" Sena who the week following this parade, left for his 2nd tour in the sand box; first Iraq, then Afghanistan.

I was also asked to say a few words which was not very easy as I fought back many tears. So I wanted to share my speech with my fellow veterans here at HTC:



"Thank you.

Some time ago I got a phone call from my friend Jim Hastings asking me if I would like to be the Grand Marshall for Memorial Day in Bellingham. My first question to him was "What is a Grand Marshall?" because I didn't have a clue. After some conversation and some hesitation, I told him I would be honored to do so. Some of you may wonder who I am and why I am here today. Well, I am just one of the many veterans from Bellingham, who served his country with honor and pride.

26 years ago today I was in route to Beirut, Lebanon as a member of a Multi-National Peacekeeping Force along with the British, the French and the Italians, to provide security, stability and hope to the people of Lebanon at a difficult time in a hostile place.

Fast forward 5 months to 23 October 1983, a beautiful Sunday morning when typically there was no set reveille, it was a day of rest, and we had only 3 weeks of our 6 month tour remaining. We were billeted in a 4-story building, the headquarters for the Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion/8th Marines. To more than 400 of us, it was our home. It was 0623 in the morning and more than 95% of us were asleep as a large terrorist truck bomb crashed into the lobby of our building and detonated.

A moment later, unable to move, I lay broken as help began to arrive. I remained conscious for the next few hours to witness the aftermath in detail. 220 Marines, 18 Sailors and 3 Soldiers died that day. 241 of the greatest heroes I had the honor of serving with. 15 of those young Marines were mine and I miss them dearly.

That’s what today is all about. To remember, to reflect and to honor ALL of those who have given their lives in service to our great country in ALL wars and conflicts since the American Revolution. Those who died in the Barbary Wars. The war of 1812. The Indian Wars, Texas Independence, the Mexican War, Civil War and the Spanish American War. World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Grenada, Beirut, Panama, Afghanistan and Iraq, to name a few. You and I, we are all here today, living, breathing and enjoying our most cherished freedoms because of those very veterans who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

I would like to read a poem by Kelly Strong. He wrote this poem while a senior in high school in 1981 as a tribute to his father who served 2 tours as a Marine in Vietnam. Kelly himself served and acquired the rank of Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard. The name of his poem is “Freedom is not free”.


I watched the flag pass by one day,
it fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
and then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform,
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert,
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of TAPS one night,
When everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That TAPS had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.


I want to extend my most personal thank you to all of you for attending today’s ceremonies and honoring all our American heroes.

Thank you."

Such things are an honor to me and the friends I have lost. Thank-you

Ooh Rah, Devil Dog! 9th ESB 90-91 MAG-39 91-94 1st Bn 5th Marines 94-98. Currently in the National Guard. It's an honor to serve my country with people like you.

Well done Steve... well done

A wonderful honor Steve.

Steve, *we* are honored by your service and my sincere thanks for sharing your day with us.

None but the Brave.
Steve,I have been with the site since '05.
This is the first I have heard that you were present during that bomb attack.

Folks, THAT, is how a hero acts.
He never calls attention to himself but always supports his fellow warriors.

May all of your close comrades Rest in Peace.
God bless you and all who serve to protect our freedoms.

You are number one in my book Steve!

What an honor

quote:

You are number one in my book Steve!

Steve's number one in a lot of folks books.