How does a son say goodbye to his father? While this is a profoundly painful question to ponder, in this instance, the answer is really very simple – by honoring my father’s request to be buried and celebrated as a great Marine. Posted on 07/06/2009 5:53:21 PM PDT by Starman417
Editors Note - This is reposted from RangerUp (with permission) and was written by Lex McMahon, son of Ed McMahon, pictured below receiving his father's flag
How does a son say goodbye to his father? While this is a profoundly painful question to ponder, in this instance, the answer is really very simple – by honoring my father’s request to be buried and celebrated as a great Marine.
To Ed’s millions of fans around the world, he was an entertainment icon who’s brilliant and colorful career spanned some 70 years and included work as a bingo caller in a traveling carnival – yes, that’s right, Ed spoke Carnie. Ed also worked in radio, theater, movies, and of course television. Ed was the quintessential pitchman - selling everything from the famous Morris Metric Slicer to Budweiser Beer and even some of Mr. Carson’s jokes that didn’t always work as planned. In Ed’s words: “jokesters joke, actors act, entertainers entertain”. Ed was a consummate entertainer.
However, those who knew Ed best knew that while he loved being an entertainer, he truly loved being a Marine.
Ed’s Marine Corps career began during World War II and lasted 23 years. At the end of it all, Ed was promoted to Colonel – he considered this to be one of the greatest accomplishments of his life; amazing when you consider the body of his work.
Over the years, Ed told me that he wanted to be remembered as: “a good entertainer, but a great Marine!” Considering Ed was an entertainment giant, this speaks volumes in regards to his love of the Marine Corps, with its inherent brotherhood and Corps values of respect, honor, and integrity – the defining elements of Ed’s character.
A few of the notable highlights of Ed’s service in and life-long involvement with the United States Marine Corps include:
(Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net ...
worth noting too, that Ed got his start on the
Atlantic City boardwalk, hawking stuff, like
Billy Mays. Two great guys.
Great to read about Ed’s service. Thanks!
ampu
RIP, Colonel McMahon. Great entertainer, great Marine, great American.
Been missing Johnny and Ed for years.
RIP, Mr. McMahon.
Thanks for the photo.
It’s so nice that people like you take the time
to post photos of someone who really earns the praise
from the people who benefited from their services.
Go Marines! We love you all!
(Present ARMS)
RIP Col McMahon. Your Nation thanks you for a job well done, sir. Semper fi.
(Order ARMS)
Wow. I did not know all of those things about Ed McMahon! What a modest, unassuming man. They need to be doing a one hour memorial special on him on FOX, rather than on Creepy Jackson.
/johnny
Between him and Karl Malden, we are very quickly losing the last of the Greatest.
Colonel McMahon. Great entertainer, great Marine, great American.RIP,
Semper fi.
I remember belly laughing at some strange TV show where they pulled pranks on celebrities.
Ed’s limosine was stoped by security when leaving his studio lot.
They searched the Caddilac and with a great show of mock gravity found dozens of rolls of studio toilet paper in the trunk.
McMoron was caught soooo flatfooted, he was so incredibly Stupid and cowardly!
He immediately turned upon of the Chauffer, accusing him of being the mastermind of this pathetic theft.
What a small, miserable, yes man, untallented, frightened Putz he proved himseff to be.
And I am sure he could have refused to let that sting be aired,
But he valued money more than self.
LOL!
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