AUTO DECALS

AUTO DECALS

If you saw my Honda on the road you would notice it for sure although it is the very same model and color that thousands of others drive, my 2005 charcoal grey Civic is very distinctive.   It might be mistaken for a car belonging to a US Marine or perhaps a recruiter.   Actually the recruiter's cars are tame in comparison.

My Honda has window decals on both sides and multiple ones on the rear window.  It also has a license plate frame that says "United States Marines".   There are the circular emblems on the side windows and bumper stickers on the rear windows with the words "Semper Fi" or "Marines" in standard red and yellow.   There are others from Marine Corps organizations that I support such as the Semper Fi Fund.   There is one very small decal that only someone who has served in a particular unit would recognize.   It is a sniper platoon
decal that was designed by the unit that created it.   It was a gift to me several yeas ago from one of their Marines, a good friend who used to serve with my nephew when they were in 3rd Bn/6th Marines and who  is still active duty though  has had many other specialties and duty stations since his days as a sniper with 3/6 back in '06.

As you know, I live not far from Walter Reed.  There are many wounded warriors who are living in the area, off base, but close enough to get to the hospital for rehabilitation and medical appointments.

This story took place over a year ago.   I was on my way to work and waiting at a red light when a big Dodge truck pulled up in the lane next to mine on my right.    I glanced at them and somehow sensed that those were Marines in that truck but I couldn't tell you why....there were no decals, nothing to give me that impression.  There was the driver and a couple in the back seat but I could not see any of them clearly. In my peripheral vision I saw their rear window roll down so I lowered mine on the passenger side.  The young man in the back yelled and asked if I was a sniper!   I was completely surprised as I yelled back that he was the first person to ever identify that decal and he shouted to me that he and the driver of that truck were both snipers!!!  I replied that it was given to me by a friend in appreciation for the care packages I had sent when he was deployed.   I thanked him for his service as the light changed and off we went figuring I would never see them again.  We both headed in the same direction but I turned into the mall to go to work and they did not.

An hour or so later three people walked into my store.  A single man with a slightly younger couple and again I sensed they were Marines but also had a hunch they might be the same ones that had spoken to on the way to work. Knowing how the Lord is constantly connecting people in my life by aligning their paths with mine, of course they were the same three I had met at the light.   I now had the honor of conversing with two wounded warriors/snipers face to face who were in the later stages of recovery at Walter Reed.  They just happened to be with my nephew's old battalion, 3/6, but several years later!   So, what are the odds of making new friends simply by displaying a tiny decal on my car window? Only God can answer that question!
We stayed in touch, they visited the store now and then, but have now moved out of the area and on with their lives as civilians.

Just another little incident that brings the Marine Corps and my life together in a special way that I will always remember.   I am sorry to say that I have lost touch with both of them and I pray that their lives are on track, their recoveries are going smoothly and they are achieving the goals they set for themselves now that they are medically discharged.   I pray that for all of our wounded warriors and their transitions from inpatient to outpatient.   I also pray that we will meet again.