Posted on 07/02/2006 7:06:29 PM PDT by stumpy
Lpl. Leon was a "Marine's Marine".
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
"SOMBER SETTING - The parents of Marine Cpl. Christopher David Leon, James and Kathi Leon of Lancaster, receive an American flag from Leon's commanding officer, Lt. Col. Joe Shrader, during graveside services Saturday at Joshua Memorial Park in Lancaster." RON SIDDLE/Valley Press
That is Cpl. Leon (Shame on me, I was a Cpl. too)
Cpl. Christopher David Leon, one of America's finest.
May God bless him and his family.
This young man had arranged to send flowers to his mom every month while he was deployed.
I read that and I'm not ashamed to say I was teared up.
I went to boot camp 41years and 3 days ago. At the end of the internment, this young man's Bn. Commander thanked the honor guard. I shook his hand and told him I was there to honor my brother corporal, and all the marines I served with in the Nam, whose services I was unable to attend. I told him how proud I was that he gave such honor to one of his Marine's to be there. Needless to say, I did not have dry eyes.
My mistake, it was his fiancee I read of. Thanks for telling me of the flowers to his mom.
Crowd honors fallen AV Marine - Cpl. Leon was a 'Marine's Marine'
By MARISSA WIDDISON
Valley Press - July 2, 2006
LANCASTER - In a ceremony that lined sidewalks with American flags hefted by "Patriot Guard" motorcyclists and stirred heated air with the music of a lone bugle, Cpl. Christopher D. Leon was celebrated Saturday as a true friend and a "Marine's Marine."
The Lancaster High graduate was 20 when he was killed in action June 20 in Iraq.
On Saturday, the chapel of Desert Vineyard Christian Fellowship was filled with nearly a thousand people who cried and laughed when talking about Leon's life.
"There were good times and bad times and everything in between," said David Meade, who grew up with Leon and described a rich collection of shared adventures: paintballing, visiting Sea World, catching a puck hit by Wayne Gretzky.
The audience chuckled as he spoke about a time the mischievous duo accidentally set fire to a desert field and tried to extinguish it with squirt guns before calling the Fire Department.
But emotions took a more sober tone as Meade said he witnessed firsthand Leon's transition into adulthood.
"When Chris talked to me about joining the Marines, he told me he felt it was right and that this was what he was called to do," Meade said.
It was while writing back and forth during boot camp that Meade realized Leon was "the perfect person to be defending our country."
"He was becoming a true soldier," Meade said. "He went to boot camp with the mind of a boy, but he came back a man."
Those who served with Leon used strong adjectives to try paint a picture of his service.
He was brave, they said, confident, kindhearted, strong. He was mature beyond his years, the kind of Marine everybody wanted to be like.
Leon's fiancée, Aimey Vaccaro , read several e-mails from fellow soldiers who worked with Leon in Okinawa and Iraq, where he worked as a radio chief assigned to an élite assault team.
"He was the most dedicated person I have ever met," wrote one fellow soldier who called Leon "Barbarian" because of his physical prowess. Leon played sports in high school and earned a green belt in the Marine martial arts program.
Maj. David Burke recalled hearing Leon's voice every day over the radio. The young man was often the first one at the truck, he said, diligent in preparing for upcoming missions.
"I have no memories of this deployment that do not include Chris," he said. "Know that there is another person who is better for having known him."
Before uniformed officers presented Leon's family with a posthumous Purple Heart on Saturday, Leon's commanding officer in Okinawa, Lt. Col. Joe Shrader, stood behind the microphone and said Leon's life was a true example of honorable sacrifice.
Leon once said he enlisted, volunteering to protect the Constitution of the United States even if it took him to the front lines, so that his friends wouldn't have to.
He was supposed to be gone seven months, returning in time to marry Vaccaro in December. Even though he was 8,000 miles away, Vaccaro said, he still managed to send her flowers once a month.
"I really hope that is a wake-up call," Vaccaro said, focusing on the young faces in the audience. "It's up to you guys to make a difference. Remember what life is about. It's not about parties. It's not about all the other things we get ourselves worked up about."
Not everyone who showed up Saturday knew Leon personally. Limousines carried family members past lines of veterans and patriotic motorcyclists holding American flags. They followed on their big bikes to Joshua Memorial Park, where they once again held the Stars and Stripes in honor of Leon.
Programs for the ceremonies displayed a picture of Leon in battle gear in Iraq. Printed inside was Scripture that more than one person quoted before the day was through:
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
Rifles cracked in full military honors salute, and flags were presented to his parents and his fiancée.
Leon is survived by his parents James and Kathi Leon, who described him as the "greatest blessing possible." He was adopted at birth, and he met his birth mother, Nikki Ruhl, shortly before leaving for Iraq.
Another brave, dedicated Marine and American killed by the Democrat "traitor/treason" Party and the mainstream media. Wake up America!!! We are not standing by the men and women that are protecting us and our families. As long as we let and allow the Democrat Party forces of "hate America" within our country run free to aid and abet our enemies, we will continue to decline and eventually disappear into obscurity and failure!!!
...Leon is survived by his parents James and Kathi Leon, who described him as the "greatest blessing possible"...
Wow. Just in case we might forget what really
matters as we go about our daily tasks...
THe Marine Corps presented a flag to his fiancee also. The Sgt. Major that presented the flag to her was very (I mean looked like 24) young appearing despite 5 hashmarks (and lottsa rows on his chest including the bronze star with "V").
Thanks for the post.
They are very honorable people.
While there, looking at the "young" Marines in the honor guard, I had to think back. I was a twenty year old corporal when I came home from the Nam. Yes it was a sad, but in a way happy event celebrating and remembering this heros' life.
America's finest. Condolences to James, Kathi, Nikki, Aimey, Dave Meade, Dave Burke, Joe Shrader and all of Chris' friends.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.