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YUMA, Ariz. - “Freedom is not free.”
This perpetually
used, yet never clich�d, American mantra encompasses the meaning of
Memorial Day – reflection and remembrance for the men and women who
have lost their lives in service to the United States.
Interlaced within the American populace are those few who donned
camouflage and took up arms in support of this country – veterans
who endured the hardships of national service and potentially lost
comrades on the field of battle.
During Memorial Day in Yuma,
Ariz., a group of veterans assembled as the honor guard for American
Legion Federal Post No. 19 and conducted a day-long tribute by
attending memorial ceremonies at a number of the city's cemeteries.
Their presence was powerful, and the concluding tribute they brought
to the ceremonies, an honorary 21-gun salute, was highly anticipated
and embraced by the citizens of Yuma.
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A memorial to fallen troops stands before a Memorial Day ceremony at
the Sunset Vista Cemetery in Yuma, Ariz., May 26, 2014. The American
Legion Federal Post No. 19, along with fellow veteran organizations
and local authorities, provided honor guards to the various Memorial
Day ceremonies in Yuma to show their support and fidelity.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. James Marchetti)
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These veterans of the Legion's honor guard, mostly
Vietnam-era troops, carried with them an unfathomable story
– a tale of boys becoming men under the pressure of war,
recognizable today through their impeccable bearing and
unyielding appreciation for the fallen.
“When we
started getting hit, we would get hit by mortar rounds,
artillery rounds and so forth about 170 times a day for
three months straight. All of a sudden you start wondering
if the next day would be your last,” said retired Marine
Corps Master Sgt. Jesse Martinez, the ceremonial team
commander for Post No. 19, on his experience in the Battle
of Khe Sanh, Vietnam. “You see a lot of your buddies die ...
it's not something you can ever really imagine unless you
were there. If it's your time, it's going to be your time,
and I guess it wasn't my time at that time.”
In the
aftermath of many of their military careers, veterans are
forced to jumble the puzzle pieces together and move on.
The American Legion and fellow veteran organizations,
such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, are there to support
those who served and offer them a close-knit community.
“It doesn't matter how old you are, or when or how long
you served,” said Martinez, a San Antonio native. “If you're
a veteran and you need help with something, we'll help you.”
Martinez explained that the Legion's ceremonial
participation is not only limited to Memorial Day; the honor
guard is available to and has performed in several veterans'
funeral services and military remembrance services.
“This is the United States of America, and we are all
Americans,” said retired Marine Corps Master Sgt. Terry
Green, the Legion's District 1 commander and a native of
Allentown, Pa. “Sometimes, when I was out with my Marines
putting Harrier pads down and working on aircraft, there
were Seabees with us, soldier engineers and civilians with
us, and we were all doing it for the honor and freedom of
the United States.”
Regardless of the occasion, the
men and women of the Legion will undoubtedly continue to
demonstrate their undying respect for those who have given
their lives for this country. Their faithful service sets
the standard for the future generations of American
veterans.
By U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. James Marchetti
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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