Snippets From the AOR II

From a conversation with SN1 this morning:

I attended my first Ramp Ceremony. Sobering.

A young USMC Staff Sergeant was sent home today in the back of a C-17, honored by hundreds of US and Coalition troops in a short, but significant display. He was 27 years old. Sure makes you realize what you're doing over here and brings it front and center in your mind.

The ceremony is pretty standard from what I was told...but it was poignant none-the-less.

Standing there at attention, listening to the Marine Corps Hymn being played on the bagpipes, I couldn't help but think about his parents who were mentioned as his only relatives. Another young man gave his all...

So that's what's been on my mind for a lot of the day...

God bless and keep that young Marine and his parents.  As I told SN1:  we who "sit and wait" have no idea what it's like to attend a Ramp Ceremony.  I can only imagine...