August 14, 2006

• “Let us live to make men free…”

  
  

   

  
  

  As I was leaving my neighborhood today to go to work, I was held up by the funeral procession for Cpl. Joe Tomci, the Stow Marine who was killed in Iraq last week. Dozens & dozens of people lined Rt. 59, waving American flags to honor him as the procession rolled by. A Boys Scout Troop was there, and some veterans in their own army uniforms, saluting Tomci’s family.

  
  

   

  
  

  He was my age. He went to school with my friends, graduated with them. I cried as the procession drove by, & held my hand over my heart like you do when you say the Pledge of Allegiance. The signs at businesses down Rt. 59 were all dedicated to him, with messages like “Rest in Peace, Joe” and “God Bless our Marines.”

  
  

   

  
  

  But the one that got me was even simpler than that. I bawled when I saw it. It was on the sign to the Silver Lake Florist Shop:

  
  

   

  
  

   Semper Fi, Cpl. Tomci

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  Amen.

  • 5:24 pm
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