Posted on 01/20/2005 11:34:33 AM PST by ckilmer
A little clutch of veterans share a table in a bar, There's a guy off in the corner coaxing tunes from his guitar. They watch the Hudson River as it rolls towards the bend And they talk of Rick Rescorla as a comrade and a friend.
While out across the water, many ocean-miles away Within a Cornish Tavern by a sandy Cornish Bay, Another group are gathered, reminiscing as a clan, And their thoughts are all of Tammy, from the schoolboy to the man.
And every head among them has a picture in its mind Which time and place and memory have captured and consigned, Now the pictures weld together until only one remains, Of a sturdy, selfless hero guiding others from the flames.
It's a picture which unites them in their glory and their grief, More eloquent than eulogies, confirming their belief That theirs had been a privilege to saunter at his side And in the way he'd lived his life had Rick Rescorla died.
The veterans recalled him in the killing fields of war As a man whose potent presence would inspire and reassure, Just one among his brothers when the skies began to fall, Yet one whom they regarded as a father to them all.
And now their eyes will moisten at the mention of his name And the sources and the substance of the legend he became, When mayhem drove the best of men to crave their mother's love, He'd stand and croon an anthem to the gory gods above.
And on that evil morning, so deceptively serene, Amid another carnage, just as callous and obscene Again he took the mantle of the sainted and the strong To save the lives of others with a blessing and a song.
Between the Hudson River and the sandy shores of Hayle, Though eyes encompass differences of latitude and scale, All hands are linked together in the testament they bear, They are but Rick Rescorlas friends, united by a prayer.
By David Prowse 2001 - WESTERN MORNING NEWS Cornwall UK
THE RICHARD C. RESCORLA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
4 CHERRY LANE - BOX 128
BROOKSIDE, NJ 07926-0128 USA
TEL (973) 543-1059 * EMAIL rescorlamemorial@aol.com
January 6, 2005
My husband, Rick Rescorla, was one of the 3,000 Americans murdered by terrorists on 9/11/01. Rick was Vice President of Security for Morgan-Stanley/Dean-Witter, the largest tenant in the World Trade Center. His heroic actions on the day of the attack, along with his extraordinary foresight and preparation, saved the lives of 2,700 people. His story has been told on television and radio - in newspapers and magazines - and in the book Heart Of A Soldier, by Pulitzer Prize winner James B. Stewart. Rick is also on the cover of another book, We Were Soldiers Once... And Young, written by General Hal Moore and Joseph Galloway. You see, 9-11 was not the first time Rick had distinguished himself. 9-11 was just the last heroic chapter of his heroic life.
I am so very proud to have had him in my life. I want so to have his legacy live on. Two years ago Rick's friends and I decided to establish The Richard C. Rescorla Memorial Foundation in Rick's memory, to keep present the magnitude of Rick's life and to promote the virtues Rick lived by duty, honor, courage, and patriotism. This is a non-profit foundation. All contributions will be tax deductible.
Our first project is to erect a life-size bronze statue of Rick at the new National Infantry Museum to be built at Ft. Benning, Georgia. We have commissioned a prominent sculptor, Edward Hlavka, to create this work. The bronze will take a year to cast and will cost approximately $100,000. We have already raised a third of the monies. We need the rest, and are appealing to all those who would like to see a true American hero have this honor. Your contribution would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Susan Rescorla
ALOHA, Ronnie Ping!
Ping.
Wow. Quite a story about an amazing man.
Truly a man's man.
Wonderful post. Thanks so much for the information.
Best regards
Sergio
Reading this book now. It's fabulous.
bump
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If you would like to see Freerepublic 'RICK RESCORLA' and "WE WERE SOLDIERS" Threads that I have bookmarked...
Hit: 'ALOHA RONNIE' here
...then..
Hit: 'Links' on my Freeper Home Page
Starting, perhaps, with reading the thread near the end of this List titled:
..'The bravest man I ever knew'
And then...
...see where RICK RESCORLA walked in Vietnam:
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set1.htm
(1st Photo)
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HAL G. MOORE: The Legacy and Lessons of an American Warrior
http://www.armchairgeneral.com/page_left_column.php?content=show_curr_issue_0904a
http://www.war-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14752&page=1
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Previous Thread...
911 Remembered: RICK RESCORLA was a Soldier
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/978534/posts
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GARRY OWEN, Sir
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Never Forget!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
PS I haven't seen the movie. But I understand that it is very good. I don't watch movies about Nam. I don't need any refresher courses. :-]
Yep, Padre was with 3-5 in '67.
Big set!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
BTW I heard the music. Excellent! I just don't go to Nam movies, it took me 5 years to get my act together after I got back.
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