popasmoke
02-12-2005, 09:38
Recveived from Brian Baker:
popasmoke@bak.rr.com
Gentlemen / Ladies / Marines,
Sending this to the sponsors, the 361 email list, and some of those HMH-361 Marines deployed in Iraq. Attended the 361 Memorial Service today. Roger Herman and I were there, along with Ron Hatton, and several other vets. Will try to give you a sense of the ceremony.
It was blustery and raining. Low clouds scudding over the base and Chapel. When Roger and I arrived, we were invited by Maj Gilden to meet with the families. We did so in one of the study rooms adjacent to the Chapel. We met with Chris Alaniz' wife, mother, sister, and other friends, Lyle Gordon's wife and father, SSgt. Kimbles mother and sister, and LCpl Hernandez' mother and father. What to say? We extended our heartfelt condolences and grief, and told them of the 361 "family" they were now in. We told them of all of you and that your hearts and prayers were with them. It was touching, poignent, and I felt helpless and at a loss for words.
The Chapel is large. Seats approx. 350. Every seat was filled, and both side aisles were three deep with those standing. Easily 450+ in attendance. The organist was playing Ave Maria as we awaited the service to begin. On the dias were flower arrangements, from the wives, MAG-16, The Association, and 361 vets.
Opening remarks were made by LtCol Arruda, with a tribute to the flight crew. Eulogies were given by friends of each of the families. A Chaplain provided several prayers during the service, as well as a "memorial message", the jist of which tried to make sense of the concept of why bad things happen to good people! Such incidents are part and parcel of the warrior class I guess. Still doesn't make it any easier to digest.
They then "Called the Roll" reading the names of all those, flight crew and Charlie Company, that died that day, punctuating each name read, by the tolling of a bell. Somber, each bell stroke was like a forlorn exclamation of loss.
Following the Benediction, Bag pipes played the Marine Corps Hymm, followed by a rifle volly, then Taps, echoed by a second bugle. I cried, as did most of those there. Brothers lost, but never to be forgotten. It was a beautiful service, we sent them on their way to Valhalla in true Marine Corp fashion.
As you know, there were (24) names on our 361 Memoral we unveiled at the reunion in Reno. Little did any of us imagine, that one of our new members, Chris Alaniz, who shared himself with us, would be included in that Memorial, less than a year later. I'm adding all (4) crewmember's names. Chris and the others will always be with us. May God Bless you all.
Semper Fi,
Brian
popasmoke@bak.rr.com
Gentlemen / Ladies / Marines,
Sending this to the sponsors, the 361 email list, and some of those HMH-361 Marines deployed in Iraq. Attended the 361 Memorial Service today. Roger Herman and I were there, along with Ron Hatton, and several other vets. Will try to give you a sense of the ceremony.
It was blustery and raining. Low clouds scudding over the base and Chapel. When Roger and I arrived, we were invited by Maj Gilden to meet with the families. We did so in one of the study rooms adjacent to the Chapel. We met with Chris Alaniz' wife, mother, sister, and other friends, Lyle Gordon's wife and father, SSgt. Kimbles mother and sister, and LCpl Hernandez' mother and father. What to say? We extended our heartfelt condolences and grief, and told them of the 361 "family" they were now in. We told them of all of you and that your hearts and prayers were with them. It was touching, poignent, and I felt helpless and at a loss for words.
The Chapel is large. Seats approx. 350. Every seat was filled, and both side aisles were three deep with those standing. Easily 450+ in attendance. The organist was playing Ave Maria as we awaited the service to begin. On the dias were flower arrangements, from the wives, MAG-16, The Association, and 361 vets.
Opening remarks were made by LtCol Arruda, with a tribute to the flight crew. Eulogies were given by friends of each of the families. A Chaplain provided several prayers during the service, as well as a "memorial message", the jist of which tried to make sense of the concept of why bad things happen to good people! Such incidents are part and parcel of the warrior class I guess. Still doesn't make it any easier to digest.
They then "Called the Roll" reading the names of all those, flight crew and Charlie Company, that died that day, punctuating each name read, by the tolling of a bell. Somber, each bell stroke was like a forlorn exclamation of loss.
Following the Benediction, Bag pipes played the Marine Corps Hymm, followed by a rifle volly, then Taps, echoed by a second bugle. I cried, as did most of those there. Brothers lost, but never to be forgotten. It was a beautiful service, we sent them on their way to Valhalla in true Marine Corp fashion.
As you know, there were (24) names on our 361 Memoral we unveiled at the reunion in Reno. Little did any of us imagine, that one of our new members, Chris Alaniz, who shared himself with us, would be included in that Memorial, less than a year later. I'm adding all (4) crewmember's names. Chris and the others will always be with us. May God Bless you all.
Semper Fi,
Brian