Below is a column published on a local newspaper that will tear
your heart apart and is indicative why we are they Few and The Proud in
the eyes of the American people.

El Paso, TX - Carlsbad, NM
Wednesday, 24 May - At about 1100 a hearse and a few family members appear
on the tarmac at El Paso International Airport. Quietly and from nowhere
rows of veterans began to appear and surround the family. With the family
was the familiar dress blue uniform of a Marine. A Marine from N Battery,
5th Bn, 14th Mar, El Paso, TX. Beside him the red jacket of a member of
Marine Corps League Detachment, Carlsbad, NM. A lone casket appeared at
the door of the aircraft and is gently lowered. Someone called "Present
Arms" and all present saluted smartly. Lance Corporal Andres Garcia,
United States Marine Corps, MIA 15 May 1975 was coming home.
At about 1130 hours a motorcade formed behind the white GMC Suburban that
would head the procession and transport LCpl Garcia home. A 160 mile trek
from El Paso, TX to Carlsbad, NM. Car after car closed in behind the
Suburban. As they pulled out of the cargo area, an escort of El Paso
Police led the way, joined by Texas State Police and the U. S. Border
Patrol, all with emergency lights flashing. Still more vehicles joined the
procession. Every car flying a small U S Flag or Marine Corps Colors from
their antenna.
One hundred thirty miles to the Texas - New Mexico state line. The convoy
began to slow to a near walk. All Texas police escorts proceeded to the
head of the line and pulled off the highway. One by one, the troopers
exited their vehicles and saluted as the convoy continued on into New
Mexico. Now joined by New Mexico State Troopers, U. S. Forestry Service,
U. S. Border Patrol, the city of Carlsbad Police and many more cars for
the final 30 miles.
Arriving in Carlsbad, traveling through this town of about 25,000 traffic
stopped, drivers pulled off the city streets, children and parents along
the route stopped and placed their hand over their heart. Old men and
young men removed their hats.
Friday, 26 May At about 1845 MCL Dept of New Mexico, and MCL Carlsbad Det.
posted Colors. At 1900 the service began.
Throughout the service, many people stood to say a few words about "Andy".
Some were family, cousins, and brothers. Many went to school with him. Several
teenagers stood and told how they had been named after Andres.
A boot camp buddy of LCpl Garcia's had flown in from Seattle. They were in
BLT 2/9 together and in the same rescue team. That fatal team when LCpl
Garcia's helo was shot down and he became an MIA. As he left the diaz, he
paused beside the flag draped casket. Deliberately and slowly he removed
the MIA bracelet he'd been wearing for 25 years.
MCL red jackets dot one corner of the chapel. Among them is a young19 year
old Marine Lance Corporal in dress blues. LCpl Sanchez, a reserve of
Amarillo, Texas. Did he know the Garcia family? Was he a relative? "No. I
didn't know him. I saw it in the paper and just came because he's a
Marine".
MCL NM Commandant Jimenez presented Mrs. Garcia with a highly polished
cedar box containing a leather bound bible, engraved in gold with "Lance
Corporal Andres Garcia, USMC"
Saturday, 27 May - The Marine Honor Guard from N 5/14 El Paso arrive at
the 1st Baptist Church in Carlsbad. Commanded by Capt W. Gates with
1stSgt Balczo. Inside the Church are some 400 people plus. There is an
overflow outside the church and it is standing room only for the hour long
service. As the Marine Honor Guard forms, and Marine Pall bearers escort
the casket outside, the temperature nears 100 degrees. The motorcade
weaves through town away from the main highway. People come to their doors
and stand. A Mother and her daughter stand at the corner. The little girl
has her hand over her heart as her ice cream cone melts in her left hand.
Little children playing under a shade tree stop riding their bicycles and
stand silently. One boy snaps a salute.
There is a traffic jam at the cemetery. There are so many in attendance
that cars begin to double park along the road.
A lone Marine stands at attention at the foot of the grave as the family
and hearse arrives. The Honor Guard pall bearers quietly execute every
move with deliberate precision as the gently handle the flag draped
casket. A lane is formed from curbside to graveside by an estimated 15
different Color Guards of veteran’s organizations from all over the state.
As the pallbearers depart only the Captain and 1st Sgt remain by the
casket.
The clergy speaks with quiet firmness for a few minutes, and then pauses.
Someone in the crowd goes down from the heat, paramedics are at hand. The
Capt and 1stSgt stir and your attention is centered again. They raise the
flag from the casket. In the background you hear a few short words, but
you're intent on watching the flag.
BANG! The first volley, by the time you recover, BANG, the second volley.
Now you're ready, BANG, the third volley. You have it under control now.
TAA TA TAAA (taa ta taaa) That first note from the echo bugler!
Damn! I've been to too many of these things, but that tear still came and
there was no stopping it!
The flag is folded for a last time. The Captain faces Mrs. Garcia and makes
the solemn presentation.
15 May 1975 to 27 May 2000, more than twenty five years, Lance Corporal
Andres Garcia has come home.
Semper Fi - Marine!
_________________________________________________________
Semper Fi
"Simply doing more faster fails to get at the chronic causes, the
underlying reason for the pain. It's doing nothing to really solve the
chronic pain that comes from not putting first things first."
(First Things First (pg. 42) by Stephen R. Covey, & A. Roger and Rebecca
R. Merrill)