It hasn't been an easy couple of weeks around town.

First came news that Marine Cpl Corey Palmer, the brother of two of my boy's close friend, had died in Iraq. I later found out that he had actually died on the plane bringing him back to San Antonio to the Army burn center a week after he actually was injured. Corey was a sharpshooter, and had survived Faluja but was badly burned by a roadside bomb.

Flags are at half staff all over town to honor Corey, but then came news that another Marine, Cpl Rick James, a mchine gunner, had also been killed. James' mother told the local media that he really enjoyed being a Marine.

Monday, a third Seaford resident, Brandon Givens, suffered a compound fracture of his leg while driving a trotting horse at Harrington, one of the local tracks.

I know there are those who might question my inclusion of a civilian in the same post as the two  Marines. Its never pleasant to have two "Gold Star Mothers" created in one week, but all three of these young men were doing something they truly enjoyed, something that I'm told they were very good at, and planned to continue. Brandon is the only one of the three who will now get that chance.

There is something else to consider when the anti-war brigade gets going about the two Seaford Marines killed though.

Three other Seaford area kids, who played ball with my guys, have been killed in auto accidents since they graduated from High School - two in single car crashes that were never truly explained.

I guess my point is that young people die, some in freak auto crashes, some defending their country.

Brandon is recovering nicely, altho he won't be driving trotters for a while.

Corey is going to have a full military funeral this Sunday. He deserves it. Plans for Rick's funeral are still in the works.

I wish I could fit in my Dress Whites - I'd put them on for both young men. I joke about Marines - its a Sailor thing - but when the going gets tough, every Navy guy wants a couple of Marines around. We sailors are just going to have to live without any help from Cpl Corey Palmer and Cpl Rick James.

Fair Winds and Following Seas - Thanks Corey & Rick.