Tribute to a Marine

The day was Tuesday, December 2, 2008.

Taylor Garrison Sanford was at the Recruiter's office bound for
MCRD in California to endure three months of rigorous
US Marine Corps Basic Training.

We believe the seeds to join the military were planted in his heart, and that of his brother, the Christmas of 1991. Their dad had bought them camouflage hats and toy Desert Storm camouflage hand-guns that were very real looking including cocking motions with sound effects.
They played with these for years.

Little did we know that one day they would both wear
'real desert camo' and carry 'real guns'! 

Garrison was a boy of six and his brother eight years old when they began to tell us they were going to go into the US Army. As they grow older and we moved across the country to the Mid-west, neither of them wavered from their calling into the military...however, neither boy went into the Army. 

And guns went from toys to the 'real thing'.

In November of 2006, our family (except for Joshua; he had joined the US Air Force in March and was stationed in South Korea) went to visit the grandparents in Virginia. Gramma and Papa told us of 

The National Museum of the Marine Corps that had just opened outside the Quantico, VA Marine Corps Base. We took a day to go see it.

www.usmcmuseum.com

11/25/2006

While sitting in this room we watch an amazing film regarding the Marine Corps. By the end of that film, God had convinced Garrison....he was born to be a Marine!

We then toured the rest of the museum.  

In June the following year, we returned to tour the museum again. And as last time, Gramma, Papa, Aunt Pam and her children Jordan and Travis, joined us for the excursion to Quantico, VA. 

6/18/2007

This former Gunny put Garr through the paces of chin-ups.

He used to be a Drill Instructor at Parris Island... 

...and explained to Garrison what he could expect at Boot Camp.

As the Lord would have it...

Garrison was able to help this brother become a Marine too.

Within eight months...Garrison would be wearing this uniform! 

On November 12, 2008...

Garrison officially signed to become a US Marine.

Then on Saturday, November 29th, we had a big party at church to celebrate Garrison's high school graduation and shipping off into the Marine Corps.

Dad emceed the event...

One of the highlights of the evening was when these four ladies

(Jessica, Melinda, Melissa, and Tiffany) preformed the 'Going Away Song' written just for Garrison. 

You can watch it here. 

Some men who have been, and continue to be,

influential in Garr's life said a few words...

Deacon Daniel Ryken 

(who became Melinda's father-in-law 2 1/2 years later)

Pastor James McDonald

(who became his father-in-law 4 years later!)

Mr. Don Lusk,

his homeschool choir director. 

Next, Dad presented him with his diploma.

He had graduated long before and been working for

Kuaffman Apartments, but never received the certificate.  

Then men were invited to come forward and pray for Garrison.

They beseeched the God of heaven to keep him safe and

to keep him faithful as a witness of Christ in the Military. 

(Those prayers were answered!!) 

Next, Dad and Mom presented Garrison with a Bible to take into the Corps with him. That Bible became very precious to him, not only for reading God's Word, but because it is where he keep the pictures of his family; reminding him of how much he was loved and prayed for. 

**We learned later that God highly blessed Garrison...he arrived Thursday instead of the Monday for Basic Training in-processing week; therefore it was rushed. So the pictures he had secured in his Bible before leaving home were not discovered and confiscated as is typically done with new recruits!!**

Dad prayed for Garrison and blessed him in his calling to serve the Lord in the United States Marine Corps. 

The celebration continued with dancing...

English Country style!

Friends then...brother-in-laws now. 

Friends then...family now!

The news came...
he was leaving sooner rather than later.

Garrison had gone to MEP's in St. Louis on Sunday, November 30th. He was to be processed and sworn in on December 1st. He called that morning and said they wanted him to ship out the next day...the NEXT DAY??!!

Jennifer was visiting us from Italy. She was Skyping Josh, who was stationed in the Middle East on deployment, when Garrison called with this news. He told her to go tell me, "This is what Garr had been waiting all his life to do. It is what he is called to. It will be OK. Let him go." So through tears and a proud but breaking heart, I gave my mother's blessing. His father had already given his blessing as Garrison called him first at work.

Recruit Sanford leaves for Basic Training, Tuesday, December 2, 2008
to arrive at MCRD late at night on Wednesday, December 3rd.

He called that night, but we did not get to the phone fast enough. It was a blessing. He could only say what was on the paper. So by leaving a message we were able to hear his voice over and over while we waited for any other contact from him.

The letters start going back and forth a few weeks later. But our first glimpse of him, alive and well, was two months later on February 13, 2009. That is when they posted the recruits on the MCRD website. 

Here he is...top row...2nd in on the left!

He was the only one with a smile in the entire platoon.

When Garrison was issued his uniform, the Lord gave him a special gift. His cover (hat) had a 'cross' with the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor!

At the beginning of his shipping out, 3 months seemed forever; but the time finally came for his graduation from Basic Training. Meme and Granddad helped to fly our whole family out to San Diego, CA for the ceremony.

As we walked to the parade deck early that first morning, we could see Recruits practicing.

As we got right behind them, we saw the banner number and knew Garrison was there.

He gave us a quick wave and a smile; then back to his serious Recruit face.

Standing so tall and proud.

At one point they were practicing their final dismissal which included a turn to face us. We would wave like crazy each time across the parade deck to him. He told us later that other Marines were asking who that family of wavers belonged to and he said, "Me."

Soon they left the parade deck to go prepare for the ceremonies. 

It all began 2 hours later with...The Moto Run! A 4 mile Motivational Run.

They lined up right in front of us. It was awesome!

The mascot...Devil Dog. 

Then off they went for that 4 mile run. It would be 2 more hours before they lined up again at another spot.

After they had formed up again, Dad called, "Garrison!" in a lull of the clapping. Garr looked to be fighting back tears. He had not heard that voice or name in 3 months!

This had been Garrison's 'Home sweet Home' for three months:

2nd floor, left hand side.

The time had come....

We went to the bleachers to wait for the ceremonies to begin.

It was impressive...seeing so many men moving in

near perfect cadence and formation.

After a ceremony of sorts, the Recruits were dismissed. 

We got to hug our Marine! 

I did not want to let go of him, but all the others wanted a turn;

so alas, I had to share.

Just look at that smile as he hugs his dad!

Papa and Gramma drove from VA to CA for this amazing event.

Time for lunch.

We all packed into the van and went to the buffet at Bayveiw Rest on Base. 

Garrison ate like we had never seen before, two huge plates of food as well as two king-size snickers. We ended up sitting by the Drill Instructors (DI's), poor guy. We were just trying to find a large table with a view of the water.

Afterward, we went out to meet his DI's. Staff Sergeant Kyphart (first one on left) is the one who gave him his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor while the hymn 'It is well' played over the intercom. He had been in Iraq; been to VA and seen the Marine Corps Museum which God used to call Garrison's heart to the Marines; had been shot twice; and had tattoos all up his arms and on his hips as two revolvers! He was the "DI from hell" who became Garrison's favorite!

All too soon Garrison had to go back to his barracks. But the next day...was graduation!!!

Our Marine!

Hopes to be a Marine 6/18/2007

IS a Marine 2/27/2008

Some from the Hector and Davis families,

from our sister church in California,

came down to join us for the graduation and celebration!!

(The tall man just to Garr's right is married to Garr's wife's sister, Tiffany.)

Garrison was ready to get off the Base,

so we loaded our vans and headed to get some food.

It was also Garrison's 20th Birthday and he wanted to eat....PIZZA!!

After running around town a bit, we finally found some take-out

and went to Gramma and Papa's hotel to have our party.

Time for the birthday 'cakes' and to blow out the candles.

It was still early so we went to the beach. 

One father very happy to be with his son.

A Marine basking in the love of family

and his graduation from Basic Training.

It was getting late and no one was really hungry...

but you cannot go to California and not eat at an In and Out restaurant!!

Safely back in Illinois, heading home from O'hare Airport.

William McDonald was thrilled to see Garrison; so was Emma.

Old and dear friends sharing stories of the trip to get Garrison.

Pastor had Pvt. Sanford read the scriptures during Worship.

He is reading from the Bible we gave him before he left

and he used it his entire four years in the Corps!

For the fellowship lunch, which we have after church every Sunday,

Garrison changed into some more comfortable clothes.

He changed back into his uniform for a picture with his Pastor...

and now father-in-law!!

But he also know that his Granddad and Meme

were waiting at home to see him!

Three generations of Sanfords.

Dinner at our family favorite celebrating restaurant...

Famous Dave's!

And then back home for some 'Sanford Dominoes'.

Who knew? God did!

All to soon it was time to send him back to California.

This time he was going to Camp Pendleton for MCT weapons training. 

At MCT, Camp Pendleton, CA.

From the West Coast to the East Coast,

the training continues....

Tribute to a Marine - Part II