Happy Birthday, Marine Baby
Happy birthday, United States Marine Corps. Born Nov. 10, 1775, in Tun’s Tavern, Philadelphia. And happy birthday, Marine baby Colin Joseph Van De Giesen, born today, Nov. 10, at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, just days after his father, Marine Capt. Kyle Van De Giesen, was laid to rest in the Massachusetts National Cemetery at Bourne. A little joy in a family devastated by wartime loss. Boston Herald:
The wife of fallen Marine Capt. Kyle Van De Giesen brought their second child into the world yesterday – a health baby boy – on the United States Marine Corps’ 234th birthday.
“How great is that?” proud grandmother Ruth Ann Van de Giesen said from her daughter-in-law’s hospital room last night. “We’re just very happy that Megan has come through it, that the baby is healthy, everything that Kyle had wanted. We just miss him dearly and we’re just very happy and we feel very blessed.”
Megan Van De Giesen, 28, the widow of Kyle Van De Giesen of North Attleboro, gave birth to a 6-pound, 8-ounce boy named Colin Joseph at 4:55 p.m. yesterday at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, just days after the newborn’s father was buried.
Family from both sides later filled the room. Ruth Ann Van De Giesen told the Herald baby Colin resembles her son’s other child, 18-month-old Avery Grace, but “he’s changing by the minute.”
“He is absolutely perfect,” she said. “He’s got a full head of dark hair and a nice loud voice.”
Van De Giesen, a North Attleboro High School star quarterback and graduate from St. Anselm College was killed Oct. 26 in a midair helicopter collision in Afghanistan. Van De Giesen, who also served two tours of duty in Iraq, was buried Friday in Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.
Nov. 10 is a day for celebration for Marines at home, at sea and even in combat zones. It marks the day in 1775 the Continental Congress passed a resolution forming the Continental Marines, drafted in Tun’s Tavern in Philadelphia.
I hope little Colin will know his nation is grateful for his father’s service and sacrifice. It won’t be easy for two kids growing up without a father, and he’ll have to be big when he’s little. Nice to think that a lot of Marines may step in to do what they can, as they can, because Marines are like that.
Last day of Valour IT coming up. Team Marines are not only leading, they’re off the charts, picking up a little of the load for the others who … aren’t Team Marines. have been leading, but it isn’t over till its over. All proceeds go to buy laptops and specialized equipment and software for war-wounded member of all branches. Give as you can. Donate via Team Marines.
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Posted by Jules Crittenden at 11:21 pm Comments (1) on Tuesday, November 10, 2009
One Response to “Happy Birthday, Marine Baby”
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November 11th, 2009 at 7:08 am
Thank you to all of the veterans and the men and women currently serving in our military.
Woo hoo to the Marines!