Carlos Hathcock III
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I do not normally post stuff like this. But I feel compelled to I guess for this one. The servie was for Marines, but it sums up what and maybe why Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and the Coast Guard sailors do what we do.
I am having second thought on posting this as I know we have people with loved ones over there. If this is found offensive or whatever, I will have no problem wiping out the post.
Semper Fi my NTOWS friends.
Carlos
Memorial Service, MCAS Miramar, 2 December 2003
3D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING MEMORIAL REMARKS,
DECEMBER 2, 2003
IN JANUARY OF 1961, A NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT STOOD ON THE WIND SWEPT STEPS OF OUR NATION'S CAPITAL. THE WORLD WATCHED AS HE PUT HIS LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE, AND RAISING HIS RIGHT HAND HE SWORE THAT HE WOULD SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, AND THAT HE WOULD BEAR TRUTH FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WORDS OF THAT OATH WAS NOT LOST ON THOSE SERVING IN OUR COUNTRY'S MILITARY IN 1961, NOR IS IT LOST ON THOSE GATHERED HERE TODAY. FOR THAT VERY SAME OATH, THOSE SAME WORDS, FORM THE FOUNDATION OF THE FIDELITY OF OUR CORPS. IT IS OUR OATH OF OFFICE AS WELL. DURING HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY SENT A MESSAGE TO THE TYRANTS OF THE WORLD. "TO THOSE WHO WOULD DO OUR COUNTRY HARM," HE SAID, "LET EVERY NATION KNOW, WHETHER IT WISHES US WELL OR ILL, THAT WE SHALL PAY ANY PRICE, BEAR ANY BURDEN, MEET ANY HARDSHIP, SUPPORT ANY FRIEND, OPPOSE ANY FOE TO ASSURE THE SURVIVAL AND THE SUCCESS OF LIBERTY."
THE COMMITMENT OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE POIGNANT THAN IT IS TODAY. THE FIFTEEN MARINES WHOSE SACRIFICE WE HONOR HERE THIS DAY DIDN'T PAY JUST "ANY PRICE". THEIR FAMILIES GATHERED HERE AMONG US HAVEN'T BORNE JUST "ANY BURDEN". EACH HAVE GIVEN OUR COUNTRY A FULL MEASURE OF SACRIFICE. THERE IS SIMPLY NOTHING LEFT FOR THEM TO GIVE. WE WHO ARE HERE TODAY AMONG YOU HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN. NOR WILL WE EVER. WE ARE HONORED TO BE IN YOUR PRESENCE!
THE FIFTEEN SETS OF RIFLES, HELMETS AND BOOTS ARRAYED BEFORE YOU ARE SOLELY SYMBOLIC IN NATURE. THEY ARE TANGIBLE REMINDERS OF A BATTLE FOR LIBERTY THAT BEGAN IN A COUNTRY HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD 8
I am having second thought on posting this as I know we have people with loved ones over there. If this is found offensive or whatever, I will have no problem wiping out the post.
Semper Fi my NTOWS friends.
Carlos
Memorial Service, MCAS Miramar, 2 December 2003
3D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING MEMORIAL REMARKS,
DECEMBER 2, 2003
IN JANUARY OF 1961, A NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT STOOD ON THE WIND SWEPT STEPS OF OUR NATION'S CAPITAL. THE WORLD WATCHED AS HE PUT HIS LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE, AND RAISING HIS RIGHT HAND HE SWORE THAT HE WOULD SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, AND THAT HE WOULD BEAR TRUTH FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WORDS OF THAT OATH WAS NOT LOST ON THOSE SERVING IN OUR COUNTRY'S MILITARY IN 1961, NOR IS IT LOST ON THOSE GATHERED HERE TODAY. FOR THAT VERY SAME OATH, THOSE SAME WORDS, FORM THE FOUNDATION OF THE FIDELITY OF OUR CORPS. IT IS OUR OATH OF OFFICE AS WELL. DURING HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY SENT A MESSAGE TO THE TYRANTS OF THE WORLD. "TO THOSE WHO WOULD DO OUR COUNTRY HARM," HE SAID, "LET EVERY NATION KNOW, WHETHER IT WISHES US WELL OR ILL, THAT WE SHALL PAY ANY PRICE, BEAR ANY BURDEN, MEET ANY HARDSHIP, SUPPORT ANY FRIEND, OPPOSE ANY FOE TO ASSURE THE SURVIVAL AND THE SUCCESS OF LIBERTY."
THE COMMITMENT OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE POIGNANT THAN IT IS TODAY. THE FIFTEEN MARINES WHOSE SACRIFICE WE HONOR HERE THIS DAY DIDN'T PAY JUST "ANY PRICE". THEIR FAMILIES GATHERED HERE AMONG US HAVEN'T BORNE JUST "ANY BURDEN". EACH HAVE GIVEN OUR COUNTRY A FULL MEASURE OF SACRIFICE. THERE IS SIMPLY NOTHING LEFT FOR THEM TO GIVE. WE WHO ARE HERE TODAY AMONG YOU HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN. NOR WILL WE EVER. WE ARE HONORED TO BE IN YOUR PRESENCE!
THE FIFTEEN SETS OF RIFLES, HELMETS AND BOOTS ARRAYED BEFORE YOU ARE SOLELY SYMBOLIC IN NATURE. THEY ARE TANGIBLE REMINDERS OF A BATTLE FOR LIBERTY THAT BEGAN IN A COUNTRY HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD 8
