Photo By Cpl. Michelle Piehl | Flowers break the pattern of headstones as the American flag flies at half-staff at...... read more read more
Subscribe
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – For generations, American service members risked their lives, some sacrificing it all, to defend the growing country. By land, air and sea, the troops valiantly fought to honor the flag that symbolized freedom and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
To honor those who have died to defend the land of the free and the home of the brave, America celebrated its first Memorial Day, originally named Decoration Day, May 1868. The holiday honored the fallen servicemen by laying flowers on their graves. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared the holiday to take place May 30 as he believed flowers would be growing throughout the country at that time of year. In December 2000, the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance formed and passed a law that dictated that the nation will observe a moment of silence annually on Memorial Day at 3:00 p.m., local time. This moment promotes American citizens to reflect upon the sacrifices of generations before, and of those who currently serve.
Lance Cpl. Dean Hoang, an administrator with the Installation Personnel Administration Center aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., says he intends to honor the sacrifice of his two friends who passed away during their time in the Navy. He said he plans on going home to Sacramento, Calif., to spend time visiting the cemetery in which the two Sailors were laid to rest.
“They gave their lives for this country,” said Hoang. “I’m currently serving it, so I feel like they’ve passed the torch to me.”
He said he believes it is important to take time to honor those who gave their lives to serve their country. Hoang explained that he feels this time should focus on the service members of past generations.
“I feel like this time is not really for us, it’s for those who pretty much gave it all,” said Hoang.
One retired Marine, Lt. Col. Jay Bibler, vice chairman of the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Historical Society, served more than 25 years as a Marine pilot. He flew the F-4 Phantom as it replaced the F-8 Crusader, serving the majority of his career in Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 121. He deployed with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 115 to Vietnam in 1967, which he described as a tough tour – his squadron lost at least 12 crew members of whom he personally knew.
“I knew all of them,” said Bibler. “I knew all of them – and others too. This just happened to be the ones that where in the squadron. I knew others before that had been lost over in different squadrons.”
During the Tet Offensive in January 1968, most of the American bases had been hit by rockets, mortars and ground attacks by the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong. Bibler was in Chu Lai during the attacks, losing three aircraft and damaging several others. That night, he lost a very good friend.
“There was about seven or eight officers in that bunker and three of those were killed when a rocket came in,” said Bibler.
Several years after the death of his friend, 1st Lt. Dick Kerr, he was given the opportunity to memorialize his service. Kerr’s daughter made contact with Bibler in a search to learn more about her father. He gathered several of their fellow pilots and retold the service of his fallen comrade. As a token of appreciation, Kerr’s daughter presented a piece of artwork to Bibler, which he in turn donated to the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum aboard MCAS Miramar.
Bibler explained that his times of remembrance are not reserved for Memorial Day alone, but rather are daily reminders for him. At reunions, he described that an empty table is always set aside to eternalize their service.
“We think about them all the time and remember them as the terrific Marines that they were,” he said. “They gave their lives supporting this country.”
For Memorial Day, Bibler explained there are many opportunities to honor service members within the San Diego community. Sometimes, he continued, it is best to take a moment of solitude to personally think about the sacrifices of fallen service members and what they have done for their country.
| Date Taken: | 05.22.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2014 20:15 |
| Story ID: | 130862 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 103 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Semper Fidelis: Marines past and present honor Memorial Day, by Cpl Michelle Piehl, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
