It's been a couple of months ago but I thought it might be fitting to post here:
http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/boy-made-honorary-marine-before-death (http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/boy-made-honorary-marine-before-death)
Elisabeth Rentschler
FLORA, Ind. (WLFI) - 12-year-old Cody Green has always admired the strength and courage of the marines. At 12:35 Saturday afternoon, it was the Marines admiring the strength and courage of Cody.
Cody had leukemia since he was 22 months old, but beat the disease three times. Although he was cancer-free, the chemotherapy lowered his immune system and Saturday afternoon, he died from a fungus that attacked his brain. Members of the Marines decided to step in and do something.
"They decided Cody, with the strength and honor and courage he showed through the whole thing, he should be a Marine," said Cody's father David Snowberger.
Cody was given Marine navigator wings and was made an honorary member of the United States Marine Corps. For one Marine, that wasn't enough, so he did even more.
"The night before Cody passed, he stood guard at Cody's door at the hospital all night long for eight hours straight," said Snowberger.
Cody was a fifth grader at Carroll Elementary School and, if you asked anyone, could only be described in one way.
"He was a comedian all the time," said Snowberger. "I mean, nothing was ever negative. He was just always happy, always worried about everybody else."
That's why it made it so tough for Carroll Elementary Assistant Principal Roy Hufford to make the call to students. This call, he hopes nobody should ever have to make.
"Basically, I just said that it's with a heavy heart that we have to let you know that Cody Green, a fifth grader, has passed away," said Hufford.
On Monday, trees outside Carroll Elementary School were decorated with green ribbons, Cody's favorite color. Students also wrote messages on green balloons and then released them in Cody's honor.
Although there were tears, there was also laughter, as everyone took the day to celebrate the life of Cody Green.
Honorary or not: Semper Fi, brother. This young man sounds like he embodied the core value courage as a daily part of his life. Good on those Marines for recognizing that in his final days.
Should also serve as a reminder as to how fragile and precious life is, especially those of children. Condolences to the family.
Semper FI
Wow. It's this kind of story that makes you realize how selfish you really are. Semper FI!
Semper Fi for sure.
Every now and then I read articles like this and it gets a little humid in the room. I am always amazed at the personal courage and determination that these kids possess. They should truly be admired for their values and strength.
This reminded me of another story from last year: http://youtu.be/33ASQhDvfGs (http://youtu.be/33ASQhDvfGs)
I got goosebumps reading this.
I'm no Marine, but if I were I'd give these guys a hearty Hoorah for this one.