thedrifter
05-27-09, 07:31 AM
Marine lives on in armor
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
By BARBARA ORMSBY
Times Correspondent
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP — It was a solemn ceremony Tuesday when the memory of a young Marine from Baton Rouge, La.,who died in Iraq while saving the life of a wounded comrade, was honored with the introduction of a portable armored wall system named after him.
The event took place at the Herbert W. Best VFW Post 928.
McCurdy’s Armor is named for Ryan McCurdy, who served in Fallujah with Joe Dimond of Clifton Heights. Dimond is the products specialist/military liaison for Dynamic Defense Materials of Marlton, N.J. The armored system sets up in minutes and can be assembled into multiple configurations, removed easily and used repeatedly. Information on the product states that its windows will stop most ammunition and can be opened to return fire or communicate as needed.
Bob Dimond, a veterans activist and father of Joe Dimond, was master of ceremonies for the event. He told the crowd his son wanted to memorialize McCurdy’s selfless act by naming DDM’s portable wall after the deceased Marine.
“This product is meant to replace the sandbag structures that have been used in combat since before the Revolutionary War,” Bob Dimond told the audience. “Marines and soldiers like Ryan are being killed every day in Iraq and Afghanistan while standing in these outdated posts, or standing with no cover at all.”
Bob Dimond’s words were not lost on the dozens of Marines seated before him, all members of the 6th Engineer Support Battalion scheduled to leave today for camp before deploying to Iraq. The gathering at the post was also a salute to those Marines.
“Ryan saved a life on the battlefield and now he will save countless lives through his inspiration,” said state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, a war veteran.
U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, noted the presence of the support battalion.
Sestak looked at McCurdy’s mother, Jan, his Marine brother Grant, sister-in-law Heather and their baby daughter.
“What a family, what an American family,” the congressman said. “It is an honor to be here today in Ryan’s honor.”
Robert Lipinski, owner of DDM, announced that a portion of the proceeds from McCurdy’s Armor will go toward a community center in Baton Rogue to be named in honor of McCurdy.
“Jan, your son is a true American hero. You should be very proud of him,” Lipinski said.
Jan McCurdy spoke briefly, saying that the Marines are in her mind and heart every day.
“Ryan would have been so proud that his memory is being honored this way,” she said. “Ryan was a regular guy from a regular family. Marines are known all over the world from their bravery.”
Ellie
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
By BARBARA ORMSBY
Times Correspondent
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP — It was a solemn ceremony Tuesday when the memory of a young Marine from Baton Rouge, La.,who died in Iraq while saving the life of a wounded comrade, was honored with the introduction of a portable armored wall system named after him.
The event took place at the Herbert W. Best VFW Post 928.
McCurdy’s Armor is named for Ryan McCurdy, who served in Fallujah with Joe Dimond of Clifton Heights. Dimond is the products specialist/military liaison for Dynamic Defense Materials of Marlton, N.J. The armored system sets up in minutes and can be assembled into multiple configurations, removed easily and used repeatedly. Information on the product states that its windows will stop most ammunition and can be opened to return fire or communicate as needed.
Bob Dimond, a veterans activist and father of Joe Dimond, was master of ceremonies for the event. He told the crowd his son wanted to memorialize McCurdy’s selfless act by naming DDM’s portable wall after the deceased Marine.
“This product is meant to replace the sandbag structures that have been used in combat since before the Revolutionary War,” Bob Dimond told the audience. “Marines and soldiers like Ryan are being killed every day in Iraq and Afghanistan while standing in these outdated posts, or standing with no cover at all.”
Bob Dimond’s words were not lost on the dozens of Marines seated before him, all members of the 6th Engineer Support Battalion scheduled to leave today for camp before deploying to Iraq. The gathering at the post was also a salute to those Marines.
“Ryan saved a life on the battlefield and now he will save countless lives through his inspiration,” said state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, a war veteran.
U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, noted the presence of the support battalion.
Sestak looked at McCurdy’s mother, Jan, his Marine brother Grant, sister-in-law Heather and their baby daughter.
“What a family, what an American family,” the congressman said. “It is an honor to be here today in Ryan’s honor.”
Robert Lipinski, owner of DDM, announced that a portion of the proceeds from McCurdy’s Armor will go toward a community center in Baton Rogue to be named in honor of McCurdy.
“Jan, your son is a true American hero. You should be very proud of him,” Lipinski said.
Jan McCurdy spoke briefly, saying that the Marines are in her mind and heart every day.
“Ryan would have been so proud that his memory is being honored this way,” she said. “Ryan was a regular guy from a regular family. Marines are known all over the world from their bravery.”
Ellie