I Can Only Imagine...

It was just like a scene out of the movie. It was raining outside, and all the lights were off. You could barely see the hundreds of cadets lined up on the apron. Everyone was scilent and still. Taps was played, then amazing grace, then the 21 gun salute...then we sang the Alma Matter. Everything ran perfactly, except for the fact that I was so choked up that I couldn't sing very well.... I was reminded of this song after attending a vigil in honor of one of my peers, who was killed last wednessday. It is a tradition to do this whenever someone in the Corps dies and it is very powerful. Tony is looking at the face of Jesus right now...I can only imagine...I didn't know him, I don't even know if he is saved and I was brought to tears. I guess because this ceremony reminded me of one I attended when I was a sophmore in high school. One of my good friends was killed in a training accident, he was a marine. I didn't cry for him at all until the 21 gun salute. It was like all 21 rounds were being fired into my chest, it was almost too much to bear. Someone was feeling like that for Tony, maybe his mom, his sister, his father, or his girl friend...I don't know but I was feeling everyone of those rounds echo in my bones. One of the most painful feelings I had ever experienced. And the sad this is I and many others will have to experience it many more times.