A 'retired' Marine pilot and runner turned newbie triathlete sharing the journey

Last week I attended a Marine’s promotion from Lance Corporal to Corporal. I find that as a retired Marine witnessing these events helps keep me charged up and helps remind me why I work the day job.

Promotions follow a fairly established ritual. There are usually some opening remarks from the promoting officer, then it’s “attention to orders” as the promotion order is read. Then the old insignia comes off the collar, usually removed by a loved one or fellow Marine, the new insignia goes on, there’s applause all around, and finally the newly promoted makes some remarks. This promotion deviated a bit from the usual script.

After his new insignia was on, one of his relatives came forward to read something. “This is a story from your grandfather”, she began. The story was written some years ago. Some time later his grandfather died but wanted this story to be read at the appropriate time. The story began with grandfather watching two bald eagles locked in combat over a lake on the reservation. One eagle got the best of the other and the vanquished fell into the lake, dead. Grandfather got in his canoe and paddled out to fetch the eagle. He brought it back to shore and saw the the eagle had been banded. He reported what happened to his tribal elders and called the game warden who came to pick up the eagle.

After being identified appropriate paperwork filed, the eagle was returned to the reservation and given back to grandfather as was the custom. Some of the eagle’s white tail feathers were streaked with the eagle’s blood. Dried and faded but still visible, grandfather, himself a former Marine, decided what to do with one of these feathers with the blood stripe.

He saved the feather for some years until one of his grandsons was 13 or 14 years old. He gave the blood stripe feather to the boy and said “you don’t know what this means but some day you will.”

When a Marine gets promoted to the rank of Corporal he is now a non-commissioned officer, or NCO. He assumes greater responsibilities and may be placed in charge of other Marines. It is a significant step. What is also significant with the promotion is a change to the uniform. A red stripe, or blood stripe, symbolic of former Marines’ loss of blood in battle, is added to the seam of the dress blue trouser as a reminder and symbol of that sacrifice.

When the relative had finished reading grandfather’s story, another relative produced a red felt bag and removed from it the same feather, and again gave it to the young man, now a Corporal of Marines. After another round of heartfelt applause and hugs from his relatives, the Marine related his side of the story. He said he remembered his grandfather giving him the feather and not having any idea of the significance except that he knew his grandfather was a Marine. He also had uncles who were in the Marines. He shared that he didn’t think joining the Corps was is path until after a year in college. When he was home on summer break he saw his uncles, talked about the Marine Corps, and eventually decided it was his path. And now, speaking quietly to the group he closed by thanking us all for attending.

Semper Fi, Marine.

If you like vodka and haven’t tried this give it a shot. You’re in for a treat.