This is why I do what I do!

[OneHour]

I just got back for a very moving tribute to a fallen hero, one of our neighbors, our friend, and hero who lost his life in Afghanistan last week, Marine Lance Cpl Garrett G. He was a cub scout in our Pack in 2000 when I was the Pack's ACM. His body was flown home from Dover to our local airport today at 2:00 pm. Personally escorting his body home is his best friend who is also a marine and one of our eagle scouts.

 

After a small trickling of emails to a flurry of emails within the troops and packs, several of the leaders and I didn't expect much and many to show up since there were hardly any acknowledgement within our troop. I showed up to welcome our fallen hero home today this afternoon. I found to my amazement that there were over 60+ scouts and cub scouts from our troop, our brother troop, and our two brother packs. In addition, there were over several hundreds of people lined up to welcome home a fallen hero!

 

The boys and their parents with hundreds people lined up the airport exit along the highway for a mile, everyone with a United States flag in his/her hand. Lead by roaring of 30 the motorbikes from the South East Texas Patriot Guard , our fallen hero and his family drove past our welcoming and honor lines. My oldest son shout out, "scouts' attention, scouts salute." The orders were passed on down the line by the senior scouts. It brought tears to my eyes (and many others). The scouts all stood in silence with deep respect on their faces, saluting the hearse as it drove past us. They stood tall and as proud as the line of police officers and firemen next to them. They held their salute until the last bike with American flag and a Texas flag left the airport.

 

This is why I love scouting! This is unity! This is brotherhood! This is the right way to pay respect and honor a hero who gave up his life as well as honoring another who is still serving so that we can go on with our lives. This is why I want to teach and influence these young men ... to be a good citizen and leader! I have never been prouder as a scouter!

 

Rest in peace, Garrett, and thank you and your family for your ultimate gift and sacrifice for us!(This message has been edited by OneHour)

[frank10]

You'll have to excuse me, something in my eye.

 

Thoughts and prayers from Waterbury CT.

[OwntheNight]

Thank you for that truly moving story.

Thoughts and prayers from North Texas

[gsdad]

First, I am sorry for your loss.

 

Reading that gave me chills, and made my eyes water.

[OneHour]

... after yesterday ... nothing seems to be more important any more. So what if they don't run the troop the way that they suppose to. So what if they horse around a little. So what if it appears that they don't listen. So what if they want to listen to their iPods in the car on their way to camp. So what if they didn't plan well. So what if they forget their jackets or mess kits. So if they don't make good grades. So what if ...

 

There is so little time left and then they all grow up! There is so little time to sweat the small stuffs!

 

Last night, my wife and I hugged my three boys and told them how much we love them!

 

http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/03/18/fort_bend_sun/news/sws_-_garrett_gamble_317.txt

 

(This message has been edited by OneHour)