A Colorful Christmas
Marine Corps News
01/06/2003
Story by Cpl. Douglass P. Gilhooly, 4thMEB(AT)
KABUL, Afghanistan(December 25, 2003) -- The night falls into day, as the sun cascades over the vast quantity of snowcapped mountains. A normal day to most locals, but a very special day to many others, Christmas morning had arrived. The sound of the bugle echoes through the mountains and from post to post throughout the grounds of the United States Embassy here. It is 7:55 a.m. and it is time to celebrate our country's freedom. Three Marines stand tall at the top of the stairs of the Embassy, waiting to conduct morning colors.
"My pulse must have been beating twice as fast then normal," said Cpl. Jerome A. Glover, combat engineer, Bravo Co., 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Temporary Assignment Duty to the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Antiterrorism). "It was a privilege and an honor to be the Marine in charge of colors on Christmas Day," said the Summerville, S. C., native. Glover has been here for nearly a month and has paraded the colors numerous times, but said he felt most proud this time. "It brings the reality of freedom back into my bones," said Glover.
This is Glover's third missed Christmas in four years. He served Christmas 1999 as a guard in an armory at Camp Geiger, N.C., spent the jolly holiday in Japan in 2000 and now here in 2002. "It doesn't bother me," he said, "I know I have a job to do, and I am proud to serve America, whatever day it happens to be."
Lance Cpl. John E. Blue, small computer specialist/wide area network specialist, Charlie Co., 8th Communications Battalion, TAD to the 4th MEB (AT), also, concurred with Glover. "It makes me feel the U.S. government and people trust me to be here and that makes me extremely proud to serve and assist the backbone of the Marine Corps in this element of war," said the Carthage, N.C., native. A three-year veteran in the Corps, this is Blue's third Christmas away as well. Blue said he felt morose at first, but having the chance to fly colors on such a special day uplifted him. "We have to remember we are here so the people back home can celebrate their holidays," said Blue. The time had come, they vigilantly, walked to the pole and stood heads high, chests out, ready to perform their task at hand. The Star-Spangled Banner began to play; the men snapped their hand salutes in unison. "It was really weird, when I was saluting the Old Glory, I got shivers down my spine," said Blue. "I was so proud to be an American at that moment." He said he feels a great sense of purpose serving here. "We're all on one big team, and I am proud to be on that team."
The third man standing tall, flying colors on the cold Christmas morning was Lance Cpl. Douglas R. Kloepfer, small computer specialist/wide area network specialist, Charlie Co., 8th Comm. also serving TAD to 4th MEB (AT). "I was glad to be a part of the colors ceremony on Christmas Day because religion is one of the foundations of America, and we are celebrating our freedom in another world on a religious holiday," said Kloepfer. "What could be any better then that?"
The three Marines agreed that this Christmas will be especially memorable, because of what they were here for, the call of freedom.
"It makes me feel great to be part of Operation Enduring Freedom, especially during the holidays, knowing I am helping to continue America's freedom," said Kloepfer, a Haslett, Mich., native.
Glover had these final thoughts on freedom and running colors on such a special day. "Sometimes I feel the Embassy is not known about, or we are forgotten, but when I held the flag in my hands on Christmas day, I knew we were here for a great purpose," he said. "We are here representing the U.S., and nothing is going to stop us."
As the sun began to settle and the day had gone away, these three warriors knew one thing, a new sense of freedom and the American way.
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