When You Want Someone Who Will Keep Their Word…Send in the Marines!

Members of all branches of Service were invited to man the "Salute to the Military" Booth at Old Shawnee Days this weekend but only two Marines, SSgt. Dan Gilyeat (R) and Sgt. Timithy Kemper (R) braved the 95 degree heat in full dress uniform to greet the public. Old Shawnee Days had a booth at the southeast corner of the Town Hall with a banner for people to sign to thank our servicemen and women and all Veterans. By late Saturday there were very few spaces left to write in. Dan and Tim spent all Friday evening and all of Saturday after the Parade until 7:00 pm in full dress uniform on a very hot, humid weekend.

Dan even took the time to show a young Lady the price some of our Service-people have to pay for our Freedom by showing her his prosthetic leg. The term transformer was heard from a couple of young boys who heard the explanation. It made all of the adults in the crowd know that the torch has been passed. They thought of the Bionic Man.

Thousands of people stopped by to sign the banner, pay their respects and share stories about loved ones who are serving in the war-zones of Iraq and Afghanistan. Some relayed stories of fallen heroes in their families from all branches of Service from WWII, the Korean War, Viet Nam  to the present. They stopped by, they talked, they prayed and more than a few cried but all had a great sense of pride in these memories and in ourService-people.

Daniel Gilyeat is a Medically Retired member of the United States Marine Corps. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.