Memorial Ceremony for Eric

Special Thanks to Gordon Topper for putting together this service. We look forward to meeting you and the other men who fought beside our soldier.

CAPTAIN ERIC D. “D-RING” TERHUNE


PLAQUE DEDICATION CEREMONY


1100
1 NOVEMBER 2008


MT SOLEDAD VETERAN’S MEMORIAL
LA JOLLA
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA



Introduction:
• Mr. Bruce Bailey, USAF, JAG, RET Mt Soledad Veteran’s Memorial Representative
• Opening Prayer: Chaplain CDR Freidberg
• Raising of the flag (please stand for colors)
Presentation of pins to family members
• Please proceed to the 4th level landing for a brief background on the Memorial Park
Reading and unveiling of the Plaque
• Poem “Tribute to a Marine”
• Guest Speakers:
o Paul Terhune
o Captain Gordon L. “Goose” Topper
Flag lowering to Half Mast & TAPS
• Poem “Salute to a Veteran”
Flag Folding and presentation
Closing Remarks: Thank you all for coming. Everyone is welcome to join Eric’s family at the Rock Bottom Restaurant in La Jolla immediately following. Special thanks to Eric’s family, all Eric’s friends in attendance, the volunteers at Mt Soledad, especially Joanie Miyashiro-Brennan, Bruce Bailey, The Patriot Guard and Legacy Motorcycle Clubs. Thank you.

SEMPER FIDELIS



The Marine’s hymn
From the halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.
Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From the dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.
Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And have never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.



A Special plaque will be placed on Mt. Soledad in honor of Eric.

Eric the Red

My six year old daughter Emmy at dinner tonight asked if I still have friends from school.  After clarifying with her, I understood what she was asking.  She has friends in her elementary school and she wants to know if she'll always be friends with these people and she is asking me if I still have friends from those days.  I named some friends of mine that I still have and then I told her about Eric and told her that he died this summer.  

Funny thing about six year olds.  She felt no need to ask why he died.  She related it to something she learned about in school recently -- she said, "His name is like Leif Ericson."  She has learned about him in school recently.  My daughter related Eric to a viking.  My friend would have liked this, I think... and laughed a good laugh.  "Yeah," I said, "He's more like Eric the Red because he had red hair."  She then replied, "Eric the Red was Leif's father."  The discussion was over from her standpoint.

But it made me think about Eric loving viking stories, books, and movies growing up.  He still liked them at 34.  When I think of him in his childhood he is always Eric the Red, adventurer, make-believe sailor and soldier -- definitely a bit of the old viking spirit and a foreshadowing of his life as a marine.