David A. McFarland

was very young when my big brother joined the U.S.M.C. and Viet Nam was just starting to ramp up. I remember the argument between Dave and Mom. Dave was going to quit school and join the Marines. Mom put her foot down and told him that he had to graduate from high school even if Mom had to walk him to school and sit next to him at every class until he graduated high school. Dave thought she was kidding and the next day Mom walked him to class holding his hand and sit next to him at every class. David did graduate from high school and then he joined the Marines. He spent two tours in 'Nam I think it was 1966 to 1968 but I might be wrong about the exact dates. Beside our Dad, Dave was my idol. He returned home once his enlistment was up but he had changed. Not to me he still was one of my heroes up to and including today even though he died in 2006. He suffered a major stroke in 2001brought on because of several issues but I think it was Viet Nam and the agent orange issue that killed I don't know how many thousands died while congress kicked the agent orange issue away from helping the GIs! get the medical care they needed. I will swear on a stack of bibles that Viet Nam claimed him just 30 years after he left Viet Nam. I'm glad the Desert Storm GI's didn't have to wait 30 years to get help and once again congress left the GI's hanging in the wind but not as long as the 'Nam folks had to wait. I'm so sad that hes gone but glad that I spent several years around Dave after I was discharged from the USAF. So the memorial is for both my Dad for WWII and Dave for Viet Nam. I'm glad I had time to be with them and I want to add our brother Mike who was in the National Guard and who left us too soon. Mike and I were to much alike as kids growing up we threaten to kill each other within 15 minuets being around each other and the 'joke' continued to the day Mike Died and while I'm at it I also miss my brother Tom and my two sisters who have gone on ahead of me. I started out with 3 brothers and 3 sisters and now I have one sister and I sure would like to have my sister for many more years if possible. I know this is supposed to be for the military folks but I had to mention them because they all help me making it to 63.