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26 Marine Heroes Presented With Medal of Honor Flags
American Forces Press Service ^ | Cpl. David Revere, USMC

Posted on 08/04/2006 3:45:58 PM PDT by SandRat

MARINE BARRACKS WASHINGTON, D.C., August 4, 2006 – Twenty-six Marine heroes were honored at a Medal of Honor flag presentation ceremony here yesterday. A crowd of more than 1,000 friends, family members and patriotic spectators watched as Marine Commandant Gen. Michael W. Hagee and Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, presented flags to 16 Medal of Honor recipients and family members of 10 other Medal of Honor recipients.

"On behalf of all Marines, thank you for your service and example for the thousands of Marines that followed you," Hagee told the recipients. "Your legacy is these Marines."

Both houses of Congress approved the concept of the Medal of Honor flag and President George W. Bush signed it into law in October 2002.

The Medal of Honor flag commemorates the sacrifice and blood shed for freedom and emphasizes the Medal of Honor's place as the highest award for valor that can be given to a U.S. military member. The flag's light blue color and white stars match the colors found on the Medal of Honor ribbon.

At the ceremony, each MOH recipient or family member accepted a flag from Hagee. As Vietnam War MOH recipient former Sgt. Maj. Allan J. Kellog Jr. was presented with his flag, the final presentation of the evening, the crowd gave the honorees a standing ovation.

Cpl. Amber T. Chavarria, a Marine Barracks Washington protocol non-commissioned officer who assisted in presenting the flags, said she felt proud just to be in the presence of such heroic individuals. "It's hard to describe how it feels being a part of this," Chavarria said. "These gentlemen did so far above and beyond what they were asked, and they did it in order for me to be able to do my job."

"Being in the presence of these Marines is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Lance Cpl. Sean J. Sorbie, a training NCO, said. "I am proud just to have been a part of it."

The parade ceremony concluded with the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps' playing of the “Marines Hymn” and a pass in review. The pass in review brought the crowd to their feet as nearly 200 Marines of the oldest post in the Corps saluted.

"Nobody does it up like the Marine Corps," said World War II veteran Jack H. Lucas, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions against Japanese forces on Iwo Jima. "To have these young men here in our presence -- it just rejuvenates this old heart of mine. I love the Corps even more knowing that my country is defended by such fine young people."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: 26; flags; heroes; honor; marine; medal; moh; presented; veterans

MEDAL OF HONOR

MEDAL OF HONOR

– U.S. Marine Pfc. Jacklyn H. Lucas shakes hands with the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee while receiving his Medal of Honor ceremonial flag during a ceremony at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., Aug. 3, 2006.

Defense Dept. photo by William D. Moss

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MEDAL OF HONOR

MEDAL OF HONOR

– Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Cpl. Robert E. O'Malley is presented with a Medal of Honor Flag by Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee as Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps John L. Estrada looks on during a parade ceremony at the Marine Barracks, 8th & I Streets, S.E., Washington, D.C., Aug. 3, 2006.

Defense Dept. photo by William D. Moss

Hi-Res Photo

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Lead Photo Archive


1 posted on 08/04/2006 3:46:00 PM PDT by SandRat
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To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...

Honoring Heroes


2 posted on 08/04/2006 3:46:23 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat

The few the proud is so fitting. These are special people and I thank everyone of them.

God bless the Marines.


3 posted on 08/04/2006 3:53:24 PM PDT by Duke Wayne
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To: SandRat

Wonderful. Thanks for posting it.


4 posted on 08/04/2006 3:53:56 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: SandRat

Great post, SandRat - thanks. And thank God we produce men like these.


5 posted on 08/04/2006 3:59:20 PM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3rd Bn. 5th Marines, RVN 1969. St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle!)
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To: SandRat
By the way if you want to know what that old tough bast#rd did. Just DAMN!!!

what possess men to love their brothers enough to do what he did? God Bless this man and God Bless the Marine Corps.

http://www.marines.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa4004c4a8c?OpenDocument

6 posted on 08/04/2006 4:08:50 PM PDT by Dick Vomer (liberals suck......... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.)
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To: SandRat
Cpl O'Malley was a meat eater also...

http://www.marines.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa4005f4ecb?OpenDocument

7 posted on 08/04/2006 4:11:46 PM PDT by Dick Vomer (liberals suck......... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.)
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To: Dick Vomer

Mercy! And he lived and walks? Amazing.


8 posted on 08/04/2006 4:12:15 PM PDT by sine_nomine (Confidential to Bush: protect the borders. The first word in "illegal immigrant" is...?)
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To: Dick Vomer
Here's a live link.
9 posted on 08/04/2006 5:36:17 PM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: SandRat

Very cool.


10 posted on 08/06/2006 1:40:42 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity ("Sharpei diem - Seize the wrinkled dog.")
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