Do
you think it strange that I met a man on the day of his interment? I began to get a sense of the man at his
mortuary visitation the night before. He
was resplendent in his dress uniform. It
is the way of Marines.
The
next day, the Marine Corps honor guard, spit polished and creased, performed
their duties with a solemnity that honored the passing of a warrior, one of
their own. Seven rifles spoke as one. The
crack of each volley quickly followed with the loading of another rifle round
and then another volley. The American flag, removed from the casket, was folded
with painstaking precision in preparation for the presentation to the widow.
Last
Friday, Gunnery Sergeant Brian Eric Poe, USMC, Ret., was eulogized at his
services held at the Airman’s Chapel, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Later that
day he was laid to rest with full military honors at Miramar National Cemetery.
GySgt
Poe, Eric to the world except for the military that insisted upon using his
first given name of Brian, played the French Horn traveling the world with the
Marine Corps Band for 22 years. He also competed both nationally and
internationally on the Marine Corps shooting team.
I
had the honor of participating as one of the motorcyclists who escorted Gunny
on his last ride. I rode to offer
support for Mala, Eric’s wife. She and I met when we worked together for a
number of years on a route safety motorcycle team for a national breast cancer
walk. Eric fully supported Mala’s participation in this important charity work.
I
was aware that Eric was a former Marine but knew scant more of him. It stands to reason that Eric was a quality
person. After all, Mala chose him as the
love of her life. By all accounts, he
returned her love in spades. At his wake, the descriptions of his love for Mala
and his fellow man were numerous and palpable. The passion, joy and heart
wrenching anguish, whether signed or audibly spoken, engulfed and washed over
the listener compelling recognition of this man’s humanity.
During
the chapel service, Alan Poe delivered a commanding tribute to his brother.
Alan recounted that if you knew Eric in one of the many facets of his life,
there was a good chance that he called you “brother,” a sign of his respect for
you. Eric, it seems, had many extended brothers
and sisters.
In
addition to the Marine Corps Band, Eric played in the Marine Corps Brass Quintet. Trombonist and fellow quintet member GySgt
Adam Pezdek was best friends with Eric. Adam recounted a trip that the brass quintet
took wherein they played a CD by Canadian Brass that included a track entitled,
“Quintet” by Michael Kamen. Adam said that they kept coming back to “Quintet” replaying
the CD selection over and over despite the fact that none of these tough
Marines wanted the others to see that the piece moved him to tears. Eric requested of Adam that “Quintet” be
played at the forthcoming chapel service, and it was performed by Adam and the other
four members of the Marine Corps Brass Quintet.
During
the performance of Eric’s beloved “Quintet,” I was in a highly suggestible
condition. That is my excuse for the
tears that slid down my cheeks. Others were seen dabbing at their eyes. Later
when I confessed to Adam, he said that he had tears too.
I
have a soft spot for our combat warriors and especially one who played a brass musical
instrument. In my youth, I played the
French Horn and the trumpet so I was immediately drawn to Eric. Unfortunately, that was last Friday. I really
wish that I’d met him earlier and had the opportunity to earn his respect and
thereby be called brother by him.
Gunnery
Sergeant Brian Eric Poe was more than an outstanding representative of the
Marine Corps. He was more than a man’s man. He was more than a man of
excellence. He was a faithful, loving husband, talented musician and a brother
to everyone.
I
believe that a statement in the funeral program must be true, “Brian Eric Poe
was an example of the best of America.”
Rest
in peace, Brother! You have loved and been loved in return.
(There
is a link in the body of this blog to a performance of “Quintet” by Canadian
Brass or use this address http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjBT8ElQ7Pw
After
listening to “Quintet” open a second browser and play again the music that Eric
so loved as a background to rereading this blog. Perhaps you too will feel a connection with Eric.)
