Corporal Bob Hookham

Shorewood, IL

I served on Active Duty Marine many years ago (Cpl USMC '81-'85), I did not see any combat, but I feel honored to have been such a small part of who faced and help sculp the history of this world. For 9 1/2 months of my 4 years while on Active Duty, I volunteered to be a member of the Honor Guard Detail while stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point (N Carolina). I was privileged to be the Honor Guard for over 100 retired and 1 Active Duty US Military personnel. Most of the Veterans that we escorted saw combat in either WWII, Korea, or in Vietnam. Our SSgt. put it this way to us: "To most of these people, they are burying their Father, Grandfather, Husband, Brother or even a Son, and may never see or have any other direct contact with the military ever again. We are here to escort their loved one to their final resting spot and render final salutes. We are Marines, we will LOOK like Marines, ACT like Marines, and despite what branch of Military they served in, we WILL treat their deceased, as one of our OWN." During the 9 + months, we would get cards, not just a 'Thank You card', but hand written pages expressing their gratitude and appreciation of how the burial service was conducted, with ALL the respect that they felt that they deserved, that we were Professional and Courteous, leaving them with much pride and admiration of their deceased, and of the future of our military.