thedrifter
06-08-07, 06:03 AM
Marine Accepts Diploma In Hospital
Thu Jun 7, 6:41 PM ET
In the season of commencements, there was an unusual graduation ceremony in Boston Thursday.
NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported Friday that a contingent of Marines gathered in a Boston hospital to stand watch as one of their colleagues received his diploma. His buddies were worried that Col. Keith Cieri would not be able to walk across the stage in Newport, R.I., next week.
This is a story about life and using every minute to the fullest. He may be on a hospital gurney, but his mind is as ramrod straight as any Marine.
Cieri's colleagues traveled from the Naval War College in Newport because he can't come to them. With his family nearby, they assembled in the chapel at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Cieri is a patient at the hospital.
Cieri knows a lot about challenge. He received a master's of arts in national security and strategic studies. He earned the degree while going through chemotherapy and other treatments for a rare case of biliary cancer.
With the cancer advancing, the last month has been tough. His wife, children and mother were on hand as he received his diploma.
Though ailing, he was bolstered by the presence of some many buddies who call him an inspiration.
"Anyone who has seen Keith a week ago and saw him today -- we are still confident. We are still praying. He's still in the fight, and we think that he can make it," Col. Scott Loch said.
"He's made every assignment. He has done everything that we have done, and that is just an inspiration for us," Col. Norm Cooling said.
"We love each other, no matter where we come from, no matter what our color is, above everything else, Marines come first. We take care of each other," Cieri said.
As for cancer, Cieri said he is not done with the fight.
Ellie
Thu Jun 7, 6:41 PM ET
In the season of commencements, there was an unusual graduation ceremony in Boston Thursday.
NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported Friday that a contingent of Marines gathered in a Boston hospital to stand watch as one of their colleagues received his diploma. His buddies were worried that Col. Keith Cieri would not be able to walk across the stage in Newport, R.I., next week.
This is a story about life and using every minute to the fullest. He may be on a hospital gurney, but his mind is as ramrod straight as any Marine.
Cieri's colleagues traveled from the Naval War College in Newport because he can't come to them. With his family nearby, they assembled in the chapel at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Cieri is a patient at the hospital.
Cieri knows a lot about challenge. He received a master's of arts in national security and strategic studies. He earned the degree while going through chemotherapy and other treatments for a rare case of biliary cancer.
With the cancer advancing, the last month has been tough. His wife, children and mother were on hand as he received his diploma.
Though ailing, he was bolstered by the presence of some many buddies who call him an inspiration.
"Anyone who has seen Keith a week ago and saw him today -- we are still confident. We are still praying. He's still in the fight, and we think that he can make it," Col. Scott Loch said.
"He's made every assignment. He has done everything that we have done, and that is just an inspiration for us," Col. Norm Cooling said.
"We love each other, no matter where we come from, no matter what our color is, above everything else, Marines come first. We take care of each other," Cieri said.
As for cancer, Cieri said he is not done with the fight.
Ellie