Front Royal, VA-National Marine Museum, Triangle, VA 10/3 130 driving miles; 4.7 walking miles

Today we scratched another item off of Ed's bucket list. Like many veterans I know, Ed is very tight lipped about his service.  After our visit to the National Marine Museum, the total extent of his comments: "Today was great." "Thanks for driving." "It was very moving." For me, who has not served, I can't even imagine. However, I was very impressed by the museum. I assume that all  branches of our services have pride, but the Marine culture literally breathes from each diorama. Quotes, both written and heard, still ring in my ears. From Dan Daly's cry as he led his Marines out of the trenches in WWI, "Come on you bastards, you want to live forever?" to a current Marine veteran who replied to a question (What are you fighting for?), "We're fighting for each other; it's not really about apple pie or anything like that." to a Vietnam veteran who was asked why he ran across a death zone to retrieve a brother, "He's a Marine, I wasn't going to leave him behind." to a WWII veteran's comment, "For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know." As one of the protected, my thought is that if we must fight, thank God for the Marines. After an eventless drive back, we stopped at the local grocery store to resupply, and we spent the rest of the day hunkered down in the room watching football and munching on thin gruel. I felt safe all day, guarded as it were by a United States Marine. Please remember, those of you who protect and those of you who are protected: Life is good, especially today. 

Ed, walking tall as he enters the tribute hall to him and his brothers.

Marines aren't pushed to fight, you have to hold them back.

Marines are the first boots on the beaches.

Marines tramp undaunted through jungles.

The very flag raised on Mt. Surbachi on Iwo Jima.

While the protected huddle under cover.

Marines rush into harms way from vehicles of all shapes and forms.

If we must fight, thank God for our Marines.