Semper Fi: Though I never got to utter these words while in a dress uniform,
and while I cannot rightly say them to you as your "brother", I will affirm
that the words mean more to me than simply their being just a verbal effort
to connect with you. My father and mother taught me to live and die by these
words. I know without any doubt that of all the things I will never be able
to fully share with people like you and Top Kibler, our common devotion to
"Semper Fidelis" is the one bond that I can link to. I will live by it for
as long as I walk the earth, I have taught my children to march to its
cadence, and I hold you in the highest regard for the way you have obviously
done the same.
In closing, please allow me to present to you "my award." It is the first
cyber award I have ever created. You are the very first recipient of it. I
hope in some small way it says to you that when they finally blow Taps over
you, an old redneck boy, the son of a Marine, somewhere down in Georgia will
stand at attention with a tear in his eye and salute. For he does the same
even today.
Respectfully Yours,
David Decker
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