This was a wonderful piece. Beautifully written and so powerful on so many levels - immigration, assimilation, war, family, honoring memories, and honoring the ultimate sacrifice so many have made. Thank you.
Joe, I don't know you, but if I ever meet you, I'm buying you a drink. God bless you for writing such a beautiful article about a great American. You sir, are a gem for telling this story. Emilio and his generation saved the world. It is because of them, we are free. Great to see his grandnephew, Jason Barbosa, joined the Marine Corps. God bless America, Semper Fi!
As a Marine (former), I'm honored to call Emilio Barbosa a brother Marine. It is people like him, that gave their last measure, that make this country great. I wish that more people would remember the reason for Veterans' Day and especially Memorial Day. They are days to honor all who served (Veterans' Day) and the heroes who gave their country everything (Memorial Day). This is also a lesson for immigrants today. "Their most fervent desire was to join the melting pot, to be as American as they could possibly be". This is the way back to what this country should be. Thank You Joe, for bringing this to everyone's attention!!!
The plaque seen round the world, for a heroic Marine. What touched me most was his family and his brothers fortitude to create a memorial for him. Thank you for researching and writing this wonderful article.
From Washington Heights, originally, and everyday I past the WWI memorial going to and from grade school and there was also a plaque and a flag post now since destroyed.... at least the flag post has been.....you may know this place opposite the hospital.
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth a war, is much worse. When a people are used as mere human instruments for firing cannon or thrusting bayonets, in the service and for the selfish purposes of a master, such war degrades a people. A war to protect other human beings against tyrannical injustice; a war to give victory to their own ideas of right and good, and which is their own war, carried on for an honest purpose by their free choice, — is often the means of their regeneration. A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. As long as justice and injustice have not terminated their ever-renewing fight for ascendancy in the affairs of mankind, human beings must be willing, when need is, to do battle for the one against the other." John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy.
My kids and I spent Friday morning putting flags on graves marked honoring veterans. We do it every year, sometimes at different cemeteries. We observe the names that come from every corner of the earth. We see the ranks and jobs, usually on the stones marking a life cut short while in that service. We observe the gaps between listed birth and death and think of the young people who died in battle, and the grandfathers who likely got to meet their babies and grand babies and who died in a peace that they helped preserve.
Thank you for sharing this and taking the time to do the research on Emilio. Giving life and meaning to men and women who serve can inspire hope in all of us. I took the time to read some of the letters from my father sent to my mother during his time serving in the US Army as a medic in England. Reading through the censored letters, i can only imagine what he saw, heard, felt...he never spoke of it.
May we know peace in this lifetime by recognizing every person we encounter, in any situation as a fellow human, living and breathing. Many blessings to you and yours.
This is jornalism at it's very best. Magnifiying a small, obscure plaque to an American Hero reflecting all the best qualities that have served our counrty so well.. We would do well to remember them: courage, sacrifice, assimilation, family. Patton had one thing right; "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rahter we should thank God that such men lived". This article imediately brought that quote to mind.
I am sure that I am not the first to make this observation, but it is a mistake to refer to a Marine as a soldier.
There's nothing at all wrong with solders, but any Marine would immediately correct this error.
Great story. So glad you gave it new life.
This was a wonderful piece. Beautifully written and so powerful on so many levels - immigration, assimilation, war, family, honoring memories, and honoring the ultimate sacrifice so many have made. Thank you.
A great American story.
Joe, I don't know you, but if I ever meet you, I'm buying you a drink. God bless you for writing such a beautiful article about a great American. You sir, are a gem for telling this story. Emilio and his generation saved the world. It is because of them, we are free. Great to see his grandnephew, Jason Barbosa, joined the Marine Corps. God bless America, Semper Fi!
Excellent!
As a Marine (former), I'm honored to call Emilio Barbosa a brother Marine. It is people like him, that gave their last measure, that make this country great. I wish that more people would remember the reason for Veterans' Day and especially Memorial Day. They are days to honor all who served (Veterans' Day) and the heroes who gave their country everything (Memorial Day). This is also a lesson for immigrants today. "Their most fervent desire was to join the melting pot, to be as American as they could possibly be". This is the way back to what this country should be. Thank You Joe, for bringing this to everyone's attention!!!
The plaque seen round the world, for a heroic Marine. What touched me most was his family and his brothers fortitude to create a memorial for him. Thank you for researching and writing this wonderful article.
From Washington Heights, originally, and everyday I past the WWI memorial going to and from grade school and there was also a plaque and a flag post now since destroyed.... at least the flag post has been.....you may know this place opposite the hospital.
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth a war, is much worse. When a people are used as mere human instruments for firing cannon or thrusting bayonets, in the service and for the selfish purposes of a master, such war degrades a people. A war to protect other human beings against tyrannical injustice; a war to give victory to their own ideas of right and good, and which is their own war, carried on for an honest purpose by their free choice, — is often the means of their regeneration. A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. As long as justice and injustice have not terminated their ever-renewing fight for ascendancy in the affairs of mankind, human beings must be willing, when need is, to do battle for the one against the other." John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy.
Thank you for this beautiful story.
My kids and I spent Friday morning putting flags on graves marked honoring veterans. We do it every year, sometimes at different cemeteries. We observe the names that come from every corner of the earth. We see the ranks and jobs, usually on the stones marking a life cut short while in that service. We observe the gaps between listed birth and death and think of the young people who died in battle, and the grandfathers who likely got to meet their babies and grand babies and who died in a peace that they helped preserve.
It’s an honor and a privilege.
Thank you for sharing this and taking the time to do the research on Emilio. Giving life and meaning to men and women who serve can inspire hope in all of us. I took the time to read some of the letters from my father sent to my mother during his time serving in the US Army as a medic in England. Reading through the censored letters, i can only imagine what he saw, heard, felt...he never spoke of it.
May we know peace in this lifetime by recognizing every person we encounter, in any situation as a fellow human, living and breathing. Many blessings to you and yours.
Just a lovely story. Thank you.
Thank you for such a beautiful piece. What a wonderful tribute to Emilio Barbosa and his family.
This made me bawl like a baby. What a moving tribute, from his service to the memories of the whole family.
This is jornalism at it's very best. Magnifiying a small, obscure plaque to an American Hero reflecting all the best qualities that have served our counrty so well.. We would do well to remember them: courage, sacrifice, assimilation, family. Patton had one thing right; "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rahter we should thank God that such men lived". This article imediately brought that quote to mind.