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Marine Receives Award On Behalf of Hero Mother
(April 1, 2011) |
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Corporal Christopher Conley, a crew chief with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, poses with the Citizen Service Before Self Honors Medal during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery March 25, 2011. Conley received the award on behalf of his mother, Marie Conley of Boston, who was recognized for sacrificing her own life to save a young boy by shielding him with her own body from a car that was barreling towards him October 21, 2008.
Photo by USMC Sgt. Michael S. Cifuentes |
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C (MCN -
3/29/2011) — The Armed Forces of the United States
has fought in numerous conflicts throughout the
nation's history and its troops have committed
heroic acts during every battle of every war along
the way.
Even today, Marines and sailors stationed
at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., continue to
uphold our military legacy while deployed to
Afghanistan and other parts of the world.
Regardless, one doesn't need to be in the military
to be a hero and ordinary citizens are certainly
capable of extraordinary action.
The
Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation recognizes
civilian heroes with its annual Citizen Service
Before Self Honors during a ceremony at the Tomb of
the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery every
March 25.
One of the recipients for 2011 was
Marie Conley, a crossing guard from Boston who was
killed in the line of duty when she sacrificed
herself to save the life of a young boy crossing the
street in October 2008. Conley was seriously hurt
after being struck by an automobile while shielding
the child with her body to protect him from harm.
Sadly, she succumbed to her injuries several days
later.
Receiving the honors in her absence
were her three sons including Cpl. Christopher
Conley, a crew chief with 2nd Assault Amphibian
Battalion, 2nd Marine Division.
“It's crazy
– I can't even think of the right words,” explained
Conley about his feelings for receiving the award on
behalf of his mother. “I'm just honored – it's an
absolute honor.” |
The day before the ceremony, Medal of Honor
recipients approached Conley, giving him their
support.
“These people have gone above and
beyond (the call of duty) and are thanking me for my
service and my mother (for her bravery),” said
Conley. “That hit me pretty hard – definitely in a
good way though.”
Marie Conley was selected
from hundreds of other applicants to be one of three
individuals to receive Citizen Service Before Self
Honors. She was chosen directly because of her
heroic actions on that October day over two years
ago.
“I think what this does is, on a
national basis, brings forward the fact that (there
are) Americans out there who have the courage to do
the right thing – who will put others before
themselves,” said Nick Kehoe, the president of the
Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation.
After originally learning about the accident in
October 2008, Cpl. Conley was shocked and devastated
by the sudden news. However he was not at all
surprised to learn that his mother sacrificed
herself to save a child.
“It didn't surprise
me to be honest with you,” said Conley. “Her whole
life she always put other people first.” |
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By USMC Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde
2nd Marine Division
Copyright 2011 | |
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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