A lone Marine will lift to his mouth a bugle of noble metal, causing to ripple through the air of New York’s lower Hudson Valley the haunting tones of Taps. On Saturday with full military honors, in Frederick W. Loescher Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Robert Hewett will be laid to rest.
On June 12, a utility worker found his skeletal remains behind the 7-Eleven Shopping Center in Montebello. Hewett, 57 years old, had lived in a nearby woods for 15 years. Homeless.
It was his honorable service in Vietnam that inked the title veteran onto his resume. When he returned from the battlefields, something had gone awry; he faded into obscurity and had taken to the thickets.
There is no record of his having contact with the Rockland Veterans Office. Jerry Donnellsen, agency director, said he had filed no papers nor had he asked for assistance.
But there will be an honor guard at his funeral, and he will be buried with respect and with decoration. For his “brothers” have learned of his military service, and of his death, and are planning his rites. Coordinated by the Marine Corps League’s Rockland County Detachment, a group of 340 Marine veterans living in Rockland and northern New Jersey have taken responsibility for the funeral of Robert Hewett.
“One of our strong convictions of the Marine Corps is that ‘no man left behind,’ and we take care of our own,” said Marino, league commander, yesterday. “We’re bringing him home. We’re upholding our creed.”
Rockland County and the League of Marines are joining together to pay for all funeral and burial costs of Robert Hewett.
On Saturday, drifting over New York’s lower Hudson Valley will be the distinctive tone of taps. A valiant group of United States Marines have pledged to see that no man is left behind, and that their brother is taken home. An honor guard will stand.
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My devotional blog is here.
22 replies on “Honor Ensured”
I second Shawnna’s opinion.
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*sigh* Well, Helen, I didn’t see that one coming. Okay, yes we are one church. There are however many denominations and buildings which operate under many different beliefs. My use of the word “church” refered to this multitude of beliefs even among the same denomination, but I think you knew that already.
By the way, I think you are the only one still holding on to the Wright controversy. I know. It’s intentional. 😉
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Helen, I also think some folks highjack this blog with a contentious and quarrelsome spirit. But then again, thats just my opinion. I Love You!
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Helen, Im not very political and I don’t claim to understand all of it. One thing that I do understand is Obama who sat under Mr Wright’s “preaching” has publicly denounced his leadership and his belief’s.So should we listen?should we give him honor? Isay NO.
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I am sorry Helen, I love you and appreciate your burden and commitment to all who have been mistreated by society. But at times I feel you argue just for the sake of arguing. I dont mean this as a rebuke or as judgment of your character, just a observation. I will continue to visit your blog, and will continue to pray for you. Your brother, Dean
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Oh my WORD!!!! Helen…..You have GOT to be KIDDING!! Surely an intelligent woman such as yourself is not once again turning a deeply touching post into personal agenda’s! Please, oh please, give us a break!!!!
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Ditto Juno!!!!!!!JB
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Helen, how can one honor his leadership or have respect when Jeremiah Wright encourages racism and uses profanity in chruch?
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Sis. Buxton – This is a heart-wrenching post and makes me feel proud of the Marines who are so caring.
Helen – I believe I have love for Jeremiah Wright and would want to help him if he was in dire need. I do not, however, need to agree with his seemingly hatred of whites and America to extend God’s love to him. Personally, I think he needs to seek repentance for his offensive, hateful remarks. Not everyone who claims to be a prophet is one.
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Kathy, I’m not exactly sure what Stumble is, except that I think it may be like Digg.
Anyway, I’ve got to close down my computer–got a lesson to teach at the library, then after that we are driving to our home in Crestline tonight. Will get in there around midnight.
I’ll check back in the morning.
Thanks for being here.
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So sad Shirley! I stumbled this, the word needs to get out there!
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Well, are we listening to Wright? Do we honor his leadership? Or have we called him names and not even tried to understand?
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Helen,Would you please explain how the “white church” has trampled Jeremiah Wright? Thanks Mike
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Okay, Jay. So how many churches do you say there are? I thought there was one. That’s why I said that about Jeremiah Wright. I think he belongs to the same church as I do – the one that contains all believers – and therefore, should be treated as a prophet, which he is, not criticized, which he has been. I thought as Christians we ought to love him and listen to what he has to say. O silly me. Church people pick whom they love by the doctrine to which they adhere not because of Jesus. The church has trampled on Wright. The white church.
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I think the healthy chruch treates its wounded. The unhealthy church, and there are many, shoots its wounded. A good way to see a healthy church is how they treat their fallen brothers and sisters.
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God bless these men….
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RE: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another.”
And what about Jeremiah Wright? Where, o where, is that love?
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Hi, Mervi–
I have heard it said that “the church is the only army that tramples its fallen”…or something to that effect. But I don’t believe that to be the case.
For all my life I’ve been around church people, and while I’m sure there are exceptions, I have seen loving, kind, caring, protecting, thoughtful actions extended one to the other.
It’s an important subject, an issue that Jesus spoke to, saying,
“One of our strong convictions of the Marine Corps is that ‘no man left behind,’ and we take care of our own,” said Marino, league commander, yesterday. “We’re bringing him home. We’re upholding our creed.”
I have heard this creed from many Marines, including my youngest brother. The Marines take care of their own without regard.
I have had the pelage of being a part of more that one Marine funeral. I have always thought that the Marine dress blue is the sharpest uniform! Yet in comparison the sound of taps by that one lone bulgier is a sad sound to me.
Question:
Does the Christian army have the same commitment to our comrades?
Mervi
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This is so right.
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Hi, Mike–
When I saw this account, I knew I wanted to write about it, for it undergirds my thinking that despite numerous negative actions in our world, there are countless persons with elevated moral standards.
Indeed, God bless those caring and gallant Marines.
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God Bless those marines for upholding their honor duty and integrity to a fellow brother in arms. May he rest in peace.
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