A TRIBUTE TO TONY, MY MARINE
AND TO ALL THOSE WHO WORK SO DILIGENTLY TO PROTECT AMERICA'S FREEDOM.
Bravo Co. Boot Camp Graduation: September 10, 2004
When a Marine Goes To Heaven
You can keep
your army khaki. You can keep your navy blue.
I have the
world's best fighting man to introduce to you.
His uniform is
different; the best you'll ever see.
The Germans
call him 'Devil Dog', his title is Marine.
He was born on
Parris Island, the place where God forgot.
The sand is
eighteen inches deep; the sun is blazing hot.
He gets up
every morning before the rising sun.
He'll run a
hundred miles or so before the day is done.
He's deadly
with a rifle, a bayonet of steel.
He took the
warrior's calling. He's mastered how to kill.
And when he
gets to heaven, Saint Peter he will tell,
"One more
Marine reporting, Sir. I've served my time in hell."
So listen all
young ladies to what I have to say.
Go find
yourself a young Marine to love you every day.
He'll hug you
and he'll kiss you, and treat you like a queen.
There is no
better fighting man: UNITED STATES MARINE!
Tony's Platoon: Plt. 1073 Bravo Co.
A poem I wrote after Tony graduated from Marine Boot Camp on Parris Island, South Carolina:
United States Marine
Marching on the
parade deck: hundreds of rumbling feet.
I haven't even
noticed the Parris Island heat.
All the men in
uniform: they put on such a show.
Ready to take
on the world, and any given foe.
I know my man
is out there. He's become one of them.
Protectors of
our country; such brave and selfless men.
I hurriedly run
to him as soon as he's released.
After the
prolonged waiting, a flood has been unleashed.
As he stands
before me, so proper, cut and clean,
I'm so proud
that this is my United States Marine.
He smiles and
gives me a hug. He seems to be so thin.
He's so
straight and proper. What has happened to him?
He stands so
rigid and tall and he won't do anything wrong.
He's learned
all these knew habits, as he's been here so long.
I wonder if I'm
dreaming, remind myself he's real.
He's the same
as before. So strong, so full of zeal.
Once he is off
the island, he becomes the boy I knew.
I'm so glad he
has not changed, yet now, he's part man, too.
Now I watch him
as he sleeps. This is a fighting machine?
Yes, he's one
of the few, the proud: my United States Marine.
EZboards
I must give credit to he message
boards
that have kept
me going throughout
Tony's
involvement in the Marine Corps:
