thedrifter
07-29-08, 06:50 AM
Corps Values: Marines honor local cancer patient
By Kathy Uek/Daily News staff
The MetroWest Daily News
Posted Jul 29, 2008 @ 12:04 AM
Like his U.S. Marine Corps grandfather, 10-year-old Tully Dennehy deserves a badge of courage.
The grandfather, Tom Breeds, got his in Vietnam, a Purple Heart.
Tully, who has been battling brain cancer since he was 2 years old, got recognized for his own brand of bravery recently in Washington, D.C.
The Marine Corps hosted him at a ceremonial lowering of the flag at Marine headquarters in Washington at which Lt. General Duane Thiessen got down on one knee to address the fifth-grader, and the entire Marine Corps band expressed its appreciation of him by chanting "Oorah, Tully."
Tully has always dreamed of growing up to be a Marine. In the interim, doctors "are trying to keep the cancer stable so he will enjoy a better quality of life," said the grandfather.
Breeds wanted to show his grandson what it was like to be a Marine. He planned to take the boy to the nation's capital to see the Marines lower the flag during the daily Sunset Parade.
However, reservations were not available. But the men and women of Semper Fi always take care of their own.
Breeds, past commander of Ashland VFW Post 2321, placed a call to a friend, brother Marine and Ashland native, Bobby Dionne, who spread the word among the Corps.
"An hour later, Brig. Gen. Ronald Johnson invited Tully to be guest of honor with the U.S. secretary of interior at the Sunset Parade," said former Ashland resident Breeds, who recently moved to Florida. "I couldn't believe it."
The event began at the home of the U.S. Marine Corps commandant, Daniel Conway. Tully met the famous Marine bulldogs, Chesty 12 and Chesty 13. Then Sgt. Maj. Sylvester Daniels introduced him to the Marine Corps band.
After learning how to give orders like "parade rest" and "attention," Tully warmed up the band. Following the success of his assignment, the band members shouted in unison, "Oorah, Tully."
Tully met Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne, one of the guests at the parade.
When Thiessen got down on one knee to address Tully, the young boy did the same. "Everyone started laughing and cameras were flashing," said Breeds.
Thiessen asked Tully what he liked about the parade. His answer, "The band."
"Tully told the general he only had one problem with the band: When they did their eyes-right on review, he didn't hear their eyes click," said Breeds. "The whole room lit up with that one,"
There is an old Marine Corps saying we learn in training at Paris Island, Breeds said recently. "They turn their eyes right so fast, they say they click."
Since Marines are known as Devil Dogs, Tully was sworn in as an honorary Marine and Devil Pup.
Kempthorne, Thiessen and other military dignitaries gave Tully a number of challenge coins, said Breeds.
The coins are a symbol of military loyalty. A World War I officer created the coins for his men. A downed pilot could get back through Allied lines by showing them to identify himself to French soldiers, according to the Web site www.allaboutchallengecoins.com
"Tully was the cat's meow," said Breeds.
From Washington, D.C., the two visited a fellow Marine from Breeds' Vietnam squad, Tom Frate, who took them to the Marine Museum in Maryland. Then they went on to Columbia, S.C., to visit another Vietnam veteran, James Patrick Young III.
Touched after learning Young's son was serving with the Marines in Kuwait, Tully gave him one of the Challenge Coins for his son.
Tully's brush with the U.S. Marine Corps has left its mark.
"He hasn't stopped talking about the parade and how he wants to be a Marine," said Breeds.
Ellie
By Kathy Uek/Daily News staff
The MetroWest Daily News
Posted Jul 29, 2008 @ 12:04 AM
Like his U.S. Marine Corps grandfather, 10-year-old Tully Dennehy deserves a badge of courage.
The grandfather, Tom Breeds, got his in Vietnam, a Purple Heart.
Tully, who has been battling brain cancer since he was 2 years old, got recognized for his own brand of bravery recently in Washington, D.C.
The Marine Corps hosted him at a ceremonial lowering of the flag at Marine headquarters in Washington at which Lt. General Duane Thiessen got down on one knee to address the fifth-grader, and the entire Marine Corps band expressed its appreciation of him by chanting "Oorah, Tully."
Tully has always dreamed of growing up to be a Marine. In the interim, doctors "are trying to keep the cancer stable so he will enjoy a better quality of life," said the grandfather.
Breeds wanted to show his grandson what it was like to be a Marine. He planned to take the boy to the nation's capital to see the Marines lower the flag during the daily Sunset Parade.
However, reservations were not available. But the men and women of Semper Fi always take care of their own.
Breeds, past commander of Ashland VFW Post 2321, placed a call to a friend, brother Marine and Ashland native, Bobby Dionne, who spread the word among the Corps.
"An hour later, Brig. Gen. Ronald Johnson invited Tully to be guest of honor with the U.S. secretary of interior at the Sunset Parade," said former Ashland resident Breeds, who recently moved to Florida. "I couldn't believe it."
The event began at the home of the U.S. Marine Corps commandant, Daniel Conway. Tully met the famous Marine bulldogs, Chesty 12 and Chesty 13. Then Sgt. Maj. Sylvester Daniels introduced him to the Marine Corps band.
After learning how to give orders like "parade rest" and "attention," Tully warmed up the band. Following the success of his assignment, the band members shouted in unison, "Oorah, Tully."
Tully met Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne, one of the guests at the parade.
When Thiessen got down on one knee to address Tully, the young boy did the same. "Everyone started laughing and cameras were flashing," said Breeds.
Thiessen asked Tully what he liked about the parade. His answer, "The band."
"Tully told the general he only had one problem with the band: When they did their eyes-right on review, he didn't hear their eyes click," said Breeds. "The whole room lit up with that one,"
There is an old Marine Corps saying we learn in training at Paris Island, Breeds said recently. "They turn their eyes right so fast, they say they click."
Since Marines are known as Devil Dogs, Tully was sworn in as an honorary Marine and Devil Pup.
Kempthorne, Thiessen and other military dignitaries gave Tully a number of challenge coins, said Breeds.
The coins are a symbol of military loyalty. A World War I officer created the coins for his men. A downed pilot could get back through Allied lines by showing them to identify himself to French soldiers, according to the Web site www.allaboutchallengecoins.com
"Tully was the cat's meow," said Breeds.
From Washington, D.C., the two visited a fellow Marine from Breeds' Vietnam squad, Tom Frate, who took them to the Marine Museum in Maryland. Then they went on to Columbia, S.C., to visit another Vietnam veteran, James Patrick Young III.
Touched after learning Young's son was serving with the Marines in Kuwait, Tully gave him one of the Challenge Coins for his son.
Tully's brush with the U.S. Marine Corps has left its mark.
"He hasn't stopped talking about the parade and how he wants to be a Marine," said Breeds.
Ellie