(Leatherneck will pay $25 for the Sound Off Letter of the Month.)
I truly enjoyed the “Leatherneck Line” June item on flags flown at the Marine Corps War Memorial as it reminded me of a heartfelt experience from two years ago. My daughter, Staff Sergeant Elizabeth M. Inglese, was then attached to Henderson Hall, Arlington, Va., while assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon. On one occasion, she received weekend duty to help raise flags on the Marine Corps War Memorial.
She told me that the flags were flown in tribute to Marines, and she gave me the name of a then-lance corporal at Henderson Hall who handled the administration of setting up these flag raisings. I connected with this Marine and had in mind to get a flag for an Iwo Jima veteran friend of mine, Mr. Gabriel Vertucci, who was un dergoing treatment for cancer.
When I spoke to the lance corporal, she asked what the Marine’s service was and when I said he was an Iwo Jima veteran she responded quickly with, “No problem, sir.”
I sent a flag to her attention and in about two weeks I received it back with a signed document from the colonel in command at Henderson Hall. We had a young Marine from our hometown present the flag to Gabe and read the document aloud. Sad to say, my friend passed last year.
When I approached his casket to pay my final respects, there next to the head of the casket on a special pedestal was the flag and the document framed for all to see. It was a very emotional moment for me, but in retrospect, I am so happy that we were able to give Gabe a meaningful tribute of his service as a Marine on Iwo Jima.
Thank you for writing that article as it reminds me of a good friend’s honorable service, and also that the Marine Corps War Memorial, as has been noted since its dedication, transcends those individual Marines portrayed in the statuary into all who have earned the title U.S. Marine.
Joseph M. Inglese
Amsterdam, N.Y.
