thedrifter
07-03-08, 06:30 AM
The Florida Times-Union
July 3, 2008
Falling in line to salute a fallen Marine
By TIMOTHY J. GIBBONS,
The Times-Union
The Marines in dress blues raised their arms slowly in salute: One of their own had come home.
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Marine Cpl. Marcus Preudhomme was killed last week in Iraq, and the casket containing his remains was flown Wednesday morning to Jacksonville Naval Air Station.
The ceremony was the third in recent weeks, with military casualties also coming home in April and June.
Like the others, Wednesday's ceremony was marked by Patriot Guard riders and police escorts, by sailors and soldiers and airmen lining the streets of the base.
The line of dark coats marking the path through which the hearse drove was a somber addition to the sight. Shouted commands for the Marines to come to attention were the only sounds breaking the silence as the casket containing the remains was brought off an airplane.
"There's a profound sadness," said Master Sgt. Davy Hernandez, lined up with the other Marines awaiting the plane's arrival. "It's like it's our brother, like he's my own blood."
Preudhomme was killed last week about 30 miles west of Baghdad, according to the Department of Defense, when a man dressed as a police officer detonated an explosive belt during a meeting of tribal sheiks. Two other Marines and 20 Iraqis were also killed.
Preudhomme, a 2004 graduate of Fletcher High School, joined the Marines in 2005 and was stationed in Hawaii.
Alongside the Marines stood about 300 sailors who came to pay their own respects.
"It's a solemn, somber moment," said Command Master Chief Jeff Hudson. "You'll see a lump in the throat of the most hardened Marines and sailors."
Similar feelings were expressed throughout the base, as hundreds of civilians and military personnel lined the streets, showing their respect.
"It reminds me of my time in Iraq," said Lt. Stuart Hitchcock, an operating room nurse who had worked in a battlefield hospital. There, personnel would line the halls when a body was carried past.
The base personnel standing in Wednesday's sun were doing so for the same reason, Hitchcock said. "We stand here with pride," he said. "We stand here to show our respect."
timothy.gibbons@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4103
Ellie
July 3, 2008
Falling in line to salute a fallen Marine
By TIMOTHY J. GIBBONS,
The Times-Union
The Marines in dress blues raised their arms slowly in salute: One of their own had come home.
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Marine Cpl. Marcus Preudhomme was killed last week in Iraq, and the casket containing his remains was flown Wednesday morning to Jacksonville Naval Air Station.
The ceremony was the third in recent weeks, with military casualties also coming home in April and June.
Like the others, Wednesday's ceremony was marked by Patriot Guard riders and police escorts, by sailors and soldiers and airmen lining the streets of the base.
The line of dark coats marking the path through which the hearse drove was a somber addition to the sight. Shouted commands for the Marines to come to attention were the only sounds breaking the silence as the casket containing the remains was brought off an airplane.
"There's a profound sadness," said Master Sgt. Davy Hernandez, lined up with the other Marines awaiting the plane's arrival. "It's like it's our brother, like he's my own blood."
Preudhomme was killed last week about 30 miles west of Baghdad, according to the Department of Defense, when a man dressed as a police officer detonated an explosive belt during a meeting of tribal sheiks. Two other Marines and 20 Iraqis were also killed.
Preudhomme, a 2004 graduate of Fletcher High School, joined the Marines in 2005 and was stationed in Hawaii.
Alongside the Marines stood about 300 sailors who came to pay their own respects.
"It's a solemn, somber moment," said Command Master Chief Jeff Hudson. "You'll see a lump in the throat of the most hardened Marines and sailors."
Similar feelings were expressed throughout the base, as hundreds of civilians and military personnel lined the streets, showing their respect.
"It reminds me of my time in Iraq," said Lt. Stuart Hitchcock, an operating room nurse who had worked in a battlefield hospital. There, personnel would line the halls when a body was carried past.
The base personnel standing in Wednesday's sun were doing so for the same reason, Hitchcock said. "We stand here with pride," he said. "We stand here to show our respect."
timothy.gibbons@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4103
Ellie