THE WALL OF FACES

I knew Gary from high school, we grew up together in Bethel, Connecticut. I can remember seeing Gary in his Marine dress uniform walking around Greenwood Ave., Before he shipped out. We had talked about the marines and the military. I was going into the USAF the next year after graduation. I wanted to know everything, that he had done. He told me, he had done the right thing going into the marines and was proud, to be a Marine. I remember the day I was told about Gary losing his life in Viet Nam. It was a day before my 18th birthday. It was in a country that was so very far from Bethel, Connecticut. It did not seem possible that some day I would visit the same country as Gary. In July of 1999 I visited the Putman square under the statue of the WWI Doughboy there is a brick on the walkway to the statue with the veterans who served in the wars. As I stood by the brick with Gary's name on it. I drifted back to the time when Gary so proudly marched down Greenwood Ave. in his uniform. As proud as a Marine could be.

Gary was a good brother and loving son. He was the 2nd of 8 children and the first son. He volunteered for the Marine Corps because he wanted to protect his country and because he was proud to be an American. He intrest included basketball, baseball, football, and track. He is truly missed by his friends and family.