Oklahoma City, April 1995.

Two United States Marines were among the 168 people killed by the terrorist bomb that destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The Federal Emergency Management Agency deployed teams of firemen and police officers from New York City to help search the rubble for survivors and recover the dead. Several of these volunteers were Marine Reservists or Former Marines. 

Police officer Michael Curtin, a Marine First Sergeant in the Reserves, discovered a body pinned in the wreckage wearing the blue trousers with the distinctive "blood stripe" of a Marine. He knew he had found the missing remains of Captain Randolph Guzman, Executive Officer of the recruiting station. Curtin asked permission to retrieve Captain Guzman's body - dangerous, laborious work.

He found three other former Marines to lend a hand. Manny Hernandez, another police officer, said, "It was something I had to do. I had a squad in Nam, and whenever we lost a Marine, he was never left behind. We take care of our own."

The Marines worked five hours with electric jackhammers to free the Captain's remains. Someone provided a body bag. Hernandez knelt and closed the dead Marine's eyes - "For the Glory of God," he said, "And the Glory of the Corps."

The word somehow passed around the site that the Marines were bringing out one of their own. An Air Force Officer provided an American flag. Officer Curtin draped it over the body, and the men worked their way clear of the building with their burden. Curtin was stunned at what he saw outside. "It was completely quiet. Cranes stopped, rescuers stopped, people lined the street. Everyone was watching in silence as we brought Our Marine out." The workers formed a corridor, removed their hard hats, bowed their heads. The Veterans in the crowd saluted, tears in eyes. Said Officer Hernandez, swept with emotion, " We are a Band of Brothers." Captain Guzman was in good, ever faithful hands. Semper Fidelis.

No matter what you do, you will always be a Marine. Watch out for each other and always remember who you are and what you have become,,,

A Marine for the rest of your life.