thedrifter
12-28-08, 08:08 AM
Guarding the home front
Since November, two Marines have stood at attention among the Christmas lights on the corner of Pefley Avenue, unwavering in all kinds of weather. They are the nephews of Phil and Laura Maurizio, Cpl. Brent Jones and Gunnery Sgt. Robert Mercure, and their lit portraits stand as a tribute to all the military that serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Maurizios understand the sacrifice of today’s military, and the multiple tours in danger zones of the world. Phil is a WWII Navy veteran who was at the invasion of Normandy, disengaging the ramp on a transport craft during Omaha Beach landings. He left his brother, a medic, on that beach, and didn’t see him again until the war was over—and for Phil, the war continued with tours in the Pacific, at both Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Indeed, their generation lived with war. Laura had a father that served in WWI, and a brother and five cousins who served in WWII. “It’s in our blood and in our bones,” she says of the patriotism they feel.
For 47 years, the Maurizios have put up a Christmas display at their Norfolk home, but after September 11, 2001, there was a change in tone. Phil made a flag out of PVC pipe and strung it with red, white and blue lights. Military portraits went up, and a soldier and sailor now stand sentry with the Marines. They might not agree with the war in Iraq, but as Laura says, “It’s not time to give up, you can’t give up. It’s time to support our troops more than ever.”
Ellie
Since November, two Marines have stood at attention among the Christmas lights on the corner of Pefley Avenue, unwavering in all kinds of weather. They are the nephews of Phil and Laura Maurizio, Cpl. Brent Jones and Gunnery Sgt. Robert Mercure, and their lit portraits stand as a tribute to all the military that serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Maurizios understand the sacrifice of today’s military, and the multiple tours in danger zones of the world. Phil is a WWII Navy veteran who was at the invasion of Normandy, disengaging the ramp on a transport craft during Omaha Beach landings. He left his brother, a medic, on that beach, and didn’t see him again until the war was over—and for Phil, the war continued with tours in the Pacific, at both Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Indeed, their generation lived with war. Laura had a father that served in WWI, and a brother and five cousins who served in WWII. “It’s in our blood and in our bones,” she says of the patriotism they feel.
For 47 years, the Maurizios have put up a Christmas display at their Norfolk home, but after September 11, 2001, there was a change in tone. Phil made a flag out of PVC pipe and strung it with red, white and blue lights. Military portraits went up, and a soldier and sailor now stand sentry with the Marines. They might not agree with the war in Iraq, but as Laura says, “It’s not time to give up, you can’t give up. It’s time to support our troops more than ever.”
Ellie