Another hero recognized

The Raleigh News & Observer titled it Fallen Lejeune Marine's lifelong dream cut short, but I read about a young man whose dream was realized.

The morning of the day he died, Edwards called his mom. He talked about how dangerous Ramadi had been lately -- his unit had lost four men Friday and Sunday -- and how some of his friends were worried.

She asked how he was feeling.

"He said 'Mom, I'm very at peace,' " she said.

Then he described the ritual he performed before going out on patrol, saying prayers and listening to a CD that a friend had recorded for him -- almost certainly Cajun music, she said. He'd do the ceremony all over again when he got back to camp.

"When he said that he was at peace, I could hear in his voice that he really meant it, that he really was," she said. "He chose to do this, and he knew what he was doing.

"He was an awesome kid, and he was a good son," she said.

Play the Fife lowly...