Vietnam Veteran Color Guard
Sgt. Grit: The traveling Viet-Nam Wall came to Shelbyville, TN. this fall. The organizer contacted me, as I am the Commandant of the local Marine Corps League Detachment to ask if we could help in the planning for this special event. He inquired if we could present the colors during the special ceremony on 1 November 2008. I replied that we would be proud to do it and told him I could do one better. Our color guard that morning was made up of Viet-Nam Veterans that had “boots in country”!
After we presented the colors and retired the gear, we stood smartly at parade rest off to the side to witness the rest of the program, which included the local high school band, the local National Guard rifle team, echo taps a bagpiper and a helicopter fly-over. Afterwards, numerous people came up to us, shook our hands and thank us for our service, as well as taking many photos. This was quite a different reaction from the one I remember when we landed at MCAS, El Toro where it was strongly suggested that we change out of uniform and put on civilian clothing before we were bussed to LAX to get our flights home. Needless to say, not one Marine changed out of his uniform. I guess after all these years the Wall has finally brought some closure. We may not be as lean or mean, but we are still Marines!
Ed Magee, Commandant
Detachment #1128 Marine Corps League
Former Corporal of Marines
1st Marines – RVN 66-68
P.S. Photo of color guard attached