WREATHS COUPLE WILL HONOR 2,000 REMEMBERING THE FALLEN
John McColley brought 515 Christmas wreaths to Quantico National Cemetery last Christmas Day to put on graves of soldiers in Section 10, where his son is buried.. FILE/SUZANNE CARR ROSSI/THE FREE LANCE-STAR
- FILE/SUZANNE CARR ROSSI/THE FREE LANCE-STAR
Family of fallen Marine plans to decorate 2,000 graves of veterans at Quantico National Cemetery
Date published: 11/26/2007
By CATHY DYSON
The parents of a Marine who died last year are trying to channel their grief into positive energy.
John and Susan McColley created the Sgt. Mac Foundation to honor their 23-year-old son, Eric, who died in the global war on terrorism. He was killed in February 2006 when his helicopter crashed in Africa.
The Eagle Scout had just finished his first five-year stint and planned to make the Corps a career.
On Saturday, the McColleys will be thinking about Eric--and how hard he worked to earn his flight wings--when they put a wreath on his grave at Quantico National Cemetery.
They'll do the same for 2,000 other veterans buried there.
"It's still very difficult for us at times," John McColley said, "but we feel fortunate that this gives us something to do."
The couple, who recently moved from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, decorated about 500 tombstones last year.
Since then, they've established a nonprofit foundation. For their first formal project--being part of the National Wreath Project--they asked American Legion posts in the region to help support the effort.
The McColleys needed $13,000 to buy 2,000 wreaths and bows, which Giant Food sold at cost. Each wreath costs $6.50.
The McColleys still need about $1,500.
The couple is hoping volunteers will come out on Saturday, about 10 a.m., and help distribute the wreaths.
Maureen North of Spotsylvania County wouldn't miss it. She visits the grave site of her husband, Richard, about twice a week.
She met the McColleys last December. She got chills when she saw row after row of green wreaths and red bows, set against the stark white granite stones.
"I'm telling you, it looked absolutely beautiful," she said. "It was just breathtaking."
The McColleys hope to do more wreaths each year, but they won't limit their efforts to decorating.
Their next project is to get care packages to deployed Marines. Then, they want to organize day trips for those wounded.
In the future, they plan to help veterans get the medical and financial assistance they need.
All the money donated to the foundation goes toward veteran programs, the McColleys said. No one draws a salary.
John McColley, a Marine for two years, believes Eric would approve of the foundation, even though he might be a little embarrassed by the attention.
"He was never one to toot his own horn or anything," his father said, "but he was always willing to help other people."
dadster & hokis(posted by
, Nov. 27, 2007 7:14 am)
I was going to try and explain about the big hole in the
ground that once was a great place to visit or even look at
(I grew up in NY) but I am afraid it will fall on deaf ears.
There is and has been a war on terror and I thank God (yes
God- can we still say that) that there are those willing to
fight. Good responses firt, nas and lin. This young man
should and will be honored by those who care about his
sacrifice as well as the sacrifice of so many others and their
families. Nice going Dyson.
Dadster(posted by
lininnc
, Nov. 26, 2007 8:46 pm)
How cruel. No matter what your views are on the war, this fallen soldier obviously believed in what he was doing as the article stated the he had finished a 5 year stint and had decided to make it his career. He, as well has his parents, deserve respect and dignity. What ever the author called the war, this was no place for your political rantings. This was a story of parents handling grief and their pride in their son. They probably approved the wording.
Typical Response from dimwits....(posted by
freedomfirst
, Nov. 26, 2007 8:38 pm)
Dad3 and hokysteph obviously have all the facts regarding the alleged.global war on terror. It makes me sleep better at night to know that you 2 have all the FACTS. Ahem, did you 2 ever hear of Rome? The mightiest Country the world had ever seen? What happened when they did away with the Roman legions and left defense and offense to the conquered Barbarians while the Romans sat around discussing which Christian screamed the loudest when the lion bit his head off? Hehe...watch your back...I won't....
Well said dadster...(posted by
hokisteph5
, Nov. 26, 2007 10:32 am)
That "global war on terrorism" line jumped out at me too. I didn't realize that was the latest spin, but I commend the McColleys for trying to make something positive out of their loss.
