I just had the honor and privilege of attending a moment of history: the first presentation of a Medal of Honor Flag to the Mom of Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy.  The ceremony was quite simply flawless and intense.  Picture this:  the circular Navy Memorial, surrounded by masts displaying flags from the sea services, a large group of guests in seats facing the honored guests, backed up by the Navy Band with state flags arrayed behind them.  The audience was diverse, with at least 4 Medal of Honor recipients including former SEALs Senator Bob Kerry and Tom Norris, a contingent of about 50 firefighters from New York City firehouse that he became friends with, and teammates, midshipmen, veterans and average Americans, a sight to behold.

The speakers included the CNO, the SECNAV, his local Congressman, and Vice Admiral Joe Maguire, his then skipper at Naval Special Warfare Command.  The most intense and poignant speaker was Michael Murphy’s Dad Daniel.  I wish I could repeat his whole speech but one point stood out for me:  We celebrate the lives of our hero’s who die in this struggle while our enemies celebrate their death.  As he said, who in this struggle is on the correct path?

After the speeches, the Navy Honor Guard surrounded a detail led by A Navy Lieutenant, and brought forward the Medal of Honor Flag to present to Mrs. Murphy.  The Honor Guard had been arrayed on either side of the seated observers, and as the detail marched forward, the Honor Guard come to present Arms with their Springfield Rifles with fixed bayonets.  The two sailors on the detail snapped the flag out, and as they refolded the flag, the Navy Band played “America the Beautiful.”  The officer commanding the detail presented the flag to the CNO, who then presented it to Mrs. Murphy.  This was followed by a song and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.  

After the ceremony, I was able to go to the reception and meet many friends and teammates, but especially chat with the Firefighters from New York City, here’s the previous post on them.  These guys so struck me as being so like special ops guys that the difference was just in the uniform, and of course, the New York accent.  I actually met the webmaster of their site, where I had previously linked and told him how cool it was for him to create the tribute to Lt. Murphy.  Later, the Firefighters went back upstairs to the Navy Memorial to present a plaque to the SEAL Team guys.  There is an incredible and understandable bond between an organization that sends its men and women into burning buildings and a group that sends its men into near impossible circumstances.

As I told the two sailors that folded the flag today, this was history.  The Medal of Honor Flag was only created in 2003, by an Act of Congress.  No sailor had been awarded the Medal of Honor since Vietnam, while a Marine and Army soldier had received one for heroism in Iraq and two Army Special Forces sergeants had received theirs from Somalia, all posthumously.  

Folks, despite what our pathetic New York Times (called New York Slimes tonight by one of the firefighters), this man was a hero and his life and sacrifice must be remembered.  God Bless Lt. Murphy, his family, all our men and women first responders, and all our men and women overseas on the front lines.that jock up every day, and all our men and women in harms way so you and I can live this life.