Today I read the moving story of Cpl. Jason Dunham of the US Marine Corps. Today a battleship was christened in his honor, as he is the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. He died in 2004,after throwing himself on a grenade in Iraq, saving the lives of fellow Marines. I read the story with tears in my eyes.... wondering how his mother, father and sister felt on such a bittersweet day.
I stared into his picture on the screen- seeing a boy that was obviously barely a man when it was taken.
The picture, of course, reminded me of my own brother's formal portrait. Once you're a part of the extended Marine family- you know the story behind that picture. The straight, smile-less face, and the reason why. You know the secret behind that "uniform" in the picture- that it's really just the top; and that the recruits are hurried through like cattle during the picture taking process at either Parris Island or San Diego. You know that when that picture was taken, your Marine was enduring some of the most challenging and difficult days of his or her life. You know the nostalgia and pride of seeing your Marine's formal picture on graduation day- feeling so proud, but hoping you never see it on the news, or like I saw Cpl. Dunham's today.
But still, Cpl. Dunham's picture today is also a symbol of at least two other Marines who's pictures are not in the news today. And for that, I am thankful. I pray that God will bless his family.
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