Thank you, 1st Lt. Shaun Blue, for a life of integrity and service

Do Americans truly appreciate the sacrifice that this marine made on their behalf?

from the April 16, 2008 edition

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There was the other time when a tough sergeant challenged him to a boxing match. Normally, it would be best for a green lieutenant with little to no boxing experience to avoid stepping into the ring against a golden-glove boxer who had beaten everyone in the entire platoon. After continued nagging, Blue knocked out the veteran boxer with his first punch.

On April 5, several lieutenants who had flown in from around the country headed to Munster's Community Veterans Memorial Park. Each of us expressed surprise that Munster's memorial park, filled with lifelike sculptures of soldiers in action, rivaled any monument we've seen in the nation's capital.

At the ceremony, Blue's parents were awarded his well-deserved Bronze Star, one of the military's highest awards. After the presentation, the crowd walked through the park grounds on a red brick path, observing the monuments to wars past. Near the middle of the path, there is now a brick dedicated to Blue. Very close by is another brick dedicated to his grandfather, Marine veteran Cecil T. Blue. I'm certain that Blue's bedrock character was in a large part influenced by his elderly mentor, whom he spoke of often.

A face of character etched in stone

After walking through Memorial Park, we walked over to a beautiful brick pavilion. In the middle of the exhibit is a permanent display of black polished granite that reflects images almost as clearly as a mirror.

Etched into the polished stone is a picture of Blue in his dress blues. As I looked into the granite, I locked eyes with the engraving of Blue and had to pull away because I was hit by a wave of emotions I had never felt before. As I tried to gather my composure, Blue's mother, Debbie, came over and gave me a hug. I felt selfish. I should have been comforting her. She lost her son and here she was comforting me. I saw again where Blue had gotten his most important leadership trait. The entire Blue family has character.

On the way back to the Blue household, another lieutenant and I discussed what a shame it was that Blue had been killed. Our conversation then shifted to how only a small proportion of the American public truly carries the burden of this war.

The other lieutenant commented that while soldiers are risking their lives in Iraq, the majority of Americans are at the mall, oblivious to the sacrifices the military personnel and their families are making on a daily basis. In no time, the atmosphere in the car got very bitter.

Standing ovation at Kilroy's Pub

To lighten the mood, we pulled into Kilroy's Pub & Restaurant in Lansing, Ill., just outside Munster.

Inside, about 30 local patrons stopped talking simultaneously and stared at us. We were, after all, wearing our Marine Corps dress blues. When we tried to buy two beers, several locals fought over who would get to buy us the drinks.

We sat down next to a local who introduced himself as "Sticks." He asked us why we were in town. We told him. Sticks stood up and asked for the bar's attention. He announced the reason for our visit and then everyone in the room stood and gave us a lengthy ovation. They had heard of Blue. We had to practically fight to get out of the bar and back on our way to Blue's parents' house.

During the drive, the other lieutenant and I decided that although the rest of the country might not care, people in the small towns definitely appreciate the military's sacrifice. We decided that the majority of the country is not anti-military. They are just indifferent and largely unaware of the enormous burden that the young men and women in service carry in the name of their freedoms.

Consequences of pulling out of Iraq

Five years after the start of the Iraq war, and a year after Blue's death on April 16, I feel we are obligated to the Iraqi people and the rest of the world to not hastily abandon what we have invested so much in. I truly believe America can be an agent for change. I have often asked myself: If we pull out, what type of future would we be allowing to come about?

Sometimes I feel alone in my reasoning. That day in Munster I did not. That day I was proud to be a marine and proud to be an American.

I like to think that if the streets of heaven are guarded by marines, as the Marines' hymn suggests, that 1st Lieutenant Shaun Blue is now forever walking the lines of the perimeter checking on the marines defending their eternal post.

• Luke Larson served two tours in Iraq as a Marine lieutenant with the Third Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment. He now lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., with his wife, Kristen. They're expecting a child this November. If it's a boy, they plan to name him Blue.

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