Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardmen, Seabees and Patriots -

 

One of our adopted units, 3rd Bn, 1st Marines, the "Thundering Third", has planted the Four Flags that flew at Ground Zero in December,  onto the soil of Fallujah, Iraq.  Marines from India, Kilo and Lima companies are shown in the accompanying photos, sent to us by Col Willy Buhl, CO of 3/1.  I have forwarded these photos to Lt. Mary Ellen Ferris and Lt. Joe Randazzo of the NYPD, who arranged for this chain of events.  To think that Mt. Diablo Detachment was honored by having our picture taken with these flags on 18 December, and to ship them to the Colonel a week later to make the connection between the NYPD/NY Port Authority PD and the Marines, is very special to me. 

 

Another key person in the exchange is MSGT John Mitchell, USMC (Ret.), (Chosin Survivor, Korean War) and friend I made in 2000 at the first reunion of my Boot Camp Platoon at Parris Island (Plt 208 - 1959).  John is Mary Ellen's cousin and because of that connection, we were contacted and asked to find a unit to which the Flags should be sent.  Col Buhl's 3rd Bn, 1st Marines was a natural since he kept us constantly updated with situation reports and acknowledged our shipments several times.  Not only that, he is from Los Gatos, CA - a homeboy, so to speak.  Another connection for me is his Kilo Company Commander, Captain Tim Jent, a lad from Sparta, New Jersey - great memories of Lake Mohawk. 

 

If it weren't for the fact that our Detachment started shipping boxes after the death and in honor of Lance Corporal Kyle Crowley - San Ramon, California - we would never have been involved in what I consider a historic, symbolic event.  Our shipments are the reason we were contacted in the first place.  And, all of our beloved Contributors are a part of this too. All of those who sent donations and all of those who brought us goods to ship are connected to the planting of those Flags.  When you look at those tough, young Marines planting those Flags, pat yourselves on the back, would you?  Be proud that you helped the NYPD and the NYPAPD honor our Marines and all troops by helping with Project Marine Care.  In turn, these pictures and a video of these Flags flying will help those Police Departments honor the 60 people they lost on 9-11. 

 

I hope you feel as touched as I do.  If this helps raise the morale of those Marines and those Police Officers one iota, then we have done our job.

John

Adjutant - Mt. Diablo Det. 942

Marine Corps League

p.s. Besides the American Flag, the other three flags are the NYPD (with green stripe), the NY Port Authority Flag (multi-colored) and the World Trade Center Flag (Twin Towers) - that Flag was designed by the NY Port Authority Police Dept. and they are responsible for Ground Zero.