Pvt. Troy Asher of Marionville, MD, P.F.C. “JT” Riley of Phoenix, AZ, P.F.C. Carlos Ruiz of Corpus Christi, TX (back to camera,) PFC Angel Sanchez, (head down,) of Ft. Worth, TX, and P.F.C. Valerie Fenton of Chicago, IL, repair one of many coping around cemetery plots.
"CAN-DO" SPIRIT
"Once a Marine, always a Marine" has long been the motto that Marines understand better than anyone. Teamwork, professionalism, dedication and getting the job done, no matter how challenging it may be, have long been its hallmarks. Although not a conventional task on this occasion, a select group of Marines from Marine Aviation Training Support Group (MATSG) 21 rendered much appreciated public service at St. Michael's Cemetery on Saturday, May 17th, 2003.
When asked for help by St. Michael's Cemetery Foundation, Acting Commanding Officer of MATSG-21, Lt. Col. William R. Grace, USMC, thoughtfully responded, "when, where and how many?" Within a day, the senior enlisted Marine of MATSG-21, Sergeant Major Ronald Wise, confirmed the commitment. On May 17th, at 0800 hours, at St. Michael's Cemetery in downtown Pensacola, twenty-eight young Marines and two Staff Sergeants reported for "duty."
"THE CHALLENGE"
For Marines, it wasn't anything particularly challenging, but for ordinary folk like the writer and perhaps the reader,
Some hard bodied Marines of MATSG-21.
digging up and resetting coping around cemetery plots can be backbreaking and exhausting. Captain Larry Grimes, USN (Ret), Vice President of Cemetery Operations provided a brief description and locations at which the restoration project was focused and it wasn't long before hard-bodied Marines with shovels, rakes, and crowbars were changing the appearance of numerous plots from broken, bent over, crooked pieces of marble into "squared away" places of pride-in less than half a work day.
"TEAMWORK"
When asked about the weight of one piece of coping, one Marine commented, "it was only about seventy five pounds, sir." Only? Okay. But there were others that far exceeded that and it took not one but a number to move it into place. Although they had been together from a couple of weeks to several months, these young Marines displayed teamwork and efficiency as though they had worked together for years. How refreshing!
PVT. Joshua Parson of Baltimore, MD, takes a well deserved break from uncovering buried coping.
"PROFESSIONALISM"
It is normal for Marines to address their seniors, whether in uniform or civilian clothing, as "sir" or "ma'am." It was particularly impressive to hear those words when one realizes that it was likely less than a year ago that most of them graduated from High School, "Anywhere," USA. But that's only the icing on the cake, the substance was their work ethic, their commitment, the quality of their effort that was the most impressive and appreciated. As things were winding down, one Marine asked, "Would you like for us to come back every Saturday?" Well, sure, but we'll not abuse the offer.
"THE FUTURE"
As this aging-too-fast "Marine" observed those bright young Marines at work, it evoked a sense of pride in decades of association with the Corps and confidence in its future; but more-so, it evoked confidence in the great nation that it defends. "No better friend, no worse enemy!" Thanks Marines! We're glad you are "friends."
Pvt. Matthew McConnell of Boston, MA., and Pvt. Andrew Woods of Alton, IL, reset misaligned coping.