Cleveland Remembers

Tonight my father and I attended the memorial service at the IX Center for the Marines killed last week in Iraq. It was a moving ceremony. Everyone young and old came out to celebrate the lives of these great men.

We stood next to a World War II veteran at the ceremony. Between my father, the veteran, and myself, there were three generations of Clevelanders. We all had come out to show our respect for the newest generation of American heroes.

The most emotional part of the ceremony for me occurred when Rear Admiral Duret Smith of the Marine Reserves spoke directly to the children of the fallen Marines:

Kids, I'm going to tell you something that your moms and grandparents already know. Your dads are true American heroes.

Another gripping part of the service was the portion where the names and faces of the fallen Marines flashed on the giant screens. Looking into their faces, it really hit home. The Marines looked as if they could be just another kid living down the hall in my dorm. These Marines had so much of life ahead of them. It's really such a tragedy.

It's a sad time to be a Clevelander, but it's an important time to come together as a community. I was pleased with the turnout at the ceremony. I'd estimate that over 15,000 people showed up to pay their respect. With the ceremony broadcast live on Channel 3, many more were able to watch from home.

In case you missed the ceremony, you can watch it online courtesy of WKYC.