Remembering the Fallen

I kind of feel bad that my first post in FOREVER is in regards to such a tragedy. My mind has been "elsewhere" these past few days. Tony is still in Hawaii, Darby is asleep and Saiders is snoring up a storm. I'm enjoying some time with Pandora...so it seems fitting this blog would be calling my name.

So, on January 19th a CH53D Sea Stallion went down in Afghanistan - all 6 Marines on board were killed. For some, this news was probably overshadowed by Joe Paterno's death, or maybe the Golden Globe best and worst dressed recap for the 50th time? Whatever...

For me and the rest of this Marine Corps aviation community, this incident has been at the front of our minds since Fox news reported a Sea Stallion crash Thursday night. No!

Rumors instantly started going around that it was a Delta, which meant it was our Hawaii Ohana, our friends, our community - the squadron that took over when Tony and the rest of Pegasus came home. No! No! No!

Yah, this hits home, but that's not why I'm writing tonight.
.

Yesterday morning, the fallen arrived at Dover AFB for a dignified transfer. Their families welcomed them home one last time. I REALLY wish I was saying this two months from now, but WELCOME HOME Captain Dan Bartle. Welcome home.

Welcome home Captain Nate Mchone, welcome home.

Pictures from

Though my heart weeps at the sight of these pictures it swells at the respect and honor shown to such deserving young men. I feel lucky to have known you both. RIP.

“A nation should be judged not only by how and why it sends its young people off to battle, but also by how it welcomes them home, and how it remembers those who sadly did not return."
~ McDonnell

Despite such a tragedy, the rest of the Lucky Red Lions have to continue on with the mission at hand out in Afghanistan. My thoughts and prayers are with them as they pull through this difficult time...finish up out there...and come home.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families that just lost their loved ones. They are gone but NOT FORGOTTEN.

Read and remember:
"So much is owed, by so many, to so few..."
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/82755/marines-afghanistan-honor-brethren-killed-helicopter-crash#.Tx7fISOJ_n0

Now, I think I'm way overdo on some Darby posts...

She decided that we needed to clean the bathrooms in red "click clacks" today. I do what I'm told.

I shall resume tomorrow...that is if I can refrain from American Idol.

Semper Fi.