I would like to share an experience I had during my career as a Firefighter/Paramedic. I was on duty and our Medic unit was dispatched to a Nursing Home concerning an unresponsive patient. As I entered the room I noticed that it was filled with Marine Corps items, pictures, etc. After checking out the patient who was in the advance stages of Alzheimer's, vital signs were as good as could be expected but he did not respond to any verbal commands or pain stimmulation. I asked the nurses if this was normal for him and they stated it was and that he had been in this state for years. I then ask them what was with all the Marine Corp posters and pictures and they said that the patient had been in the Marine Corps. I then lean down and said Semper Fi into his ear. The patient broke out a grin that surprised the nurses. They said they had never seen him react to anything or anybody, even his family before and they wanted to know what I had said to him. I told them it was the Marine Corps Motto and only a Marine would understand. It is a strong bond that we have as Marines.
Semper Fi
Julio M. Flores
78-84