I met Col. Guarino’s wife while he was a POW and then met him right after he was released. He was one of the finest men I have ever met.
Also met Col. John Finlay and Col. Vern Ligon, both released POWs, who became my husband’s COs right after their release. It was a privilege to hear some of their experiences while in captivity.
I treasure the memory of these Patriots.
I attended Col Larry Guarino’s memorial service yesterday. The crowd of hundreds of mourners overwhelmed this large facility, the Life Event Center at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge, FL. Fortunately we arrived early enough to get a seat. All four sons were in the reception line and Evelyn was seated inside the main room surrounded by female family members. Evy was remarkably her normal cheerful, gracious self. The service was opened by the commanders of two local VFW posts and the leader of a vet cycle riders group. The first remembrance was given by Larry’s closest soul-mate during their captivity in north VN who stressed the positive aspects of Larry’s leadership qualities as the ranking officer of the POWs at the various “Zoos” and “Hanoi Hiltons” where they were moved to and from (I did not catch his name, regrettably). The four sons plus two grandchildren gave wonderful family remembrances followed by a nice photo slide-show composed by Evy over the years. The “High Flight” poem was recited by another of the adult grandchildren followed by a prayer by another. Then exterior doors were opened to view a rifle firing party with a bugler who played taps by a VFW honor guard. It was a wonderful tribute to a truly remarkable man and a personal honor for me to have known him, though only briefly and slightly.
A reception was announced but by this time we had to leave. My brother, a retired USAFR LtC, is a neighbor of Larry and Evy at their retirement community - that is how I became acquainted with them over the past couple years. By now it is a fairly open secret that Col. Guarino will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
FReegards,
Otter
When my uncle died, I had the privilege of meeting a Pearl Harbor survivor at his memorial. I told him it was truly an honor.