A PROUD SALUTE TO MY OLDEST SON





Sgt. Robert E. Girard

USMC
1968 - 1972 (Active) Born: April 1, 1951


MC Good Conduct Nat.Defense

Meritorious Unit Citation [Note:This ribbon is worn over right pocket ]

Rifle Markman's Medal [ This is worn on left under ribbons ]



Robert joined the Corps in 1968 and took recruit training at Parris Island, S.C..
He then went on to advanced training at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
After Adv. Trn'g Robert was sent to Quantico VA for Computer Science courses.
After the completion of those courses he was shipped overseas to
Camp S.D. Butler, to the Automated Service Center attached to 3rd FSR
where he was assigned supervisory duties at the Automated Services there,
and was promoted to the rank of Sgt. at the age of 19.
Although he wanted combat duty with the rest of his buddies and kept putting
in for it...he was always turned down.
He earned the National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit
Citation and the Marksman Shooting Badge.

After his discharge in 1972 he was active in the Marine Corp
League in Saudi Arabia, where he worked as
a civilian until Kuwait was attacked.
[ Note: Robert is the father of my grandson Christopher pictured below. ]
He, his wife Debbie and my grandson Christopher are all dear to me. Love you all!!!
To read the story of 'Butch' in Saudi, click on button.

MY SON RAYMOND JOSEPH GIRARD

Ray is my 2nd son, born on December 29, 1952.
He is the father of Jais (pictured below).
He lives close by and is a big help to me in many ways.
He also is the one that does some of my graphic work,
for which I am very grateful. Love you hon!!

MY SON RICHARD PAUL GIRARD
"MY LITTLE WANDERER"

This is going to rather difficult for me to write, but he was my son and it needs to be done.

Richard "Ricky" was born on June 20, 1954, at 4:20 AM.. 4 hours and 20 minutes past my birthday.
He weighed in at 8 lbs 9 ozs and was absolutely beautiful.
Blue eyes and loads of blonde hair.
Rick was my 3rd son and like the others, he was born at
Ft. Campbell Army hospital in KY.
His dad was in Japan at the time with the 187th ARCT
so I got a certificate from them and he was called a "RAKKASAN BABY",
it was cute... had a pic of a baby in a diaper and helmet on
coming down to earth by parachute and the announcement of his birth :-)

Well, as it turned out Ricky never really came down to earth.
From the time he entered kindergarten our problems started.
He began to wander from that time on. We took him
throughout the years to many child psychologists but
nothing helped. He continued to 'wander', his older brothers
would take him to school and he'd go in one door and out the other,
I was forever going to school and the courts because of his actions and truancy problems.
I can't count the 'missing child' reports that I filed with the police.

As he got older he turned to 'crime and drugs'.
In 1980, he came to visit me for a few hours and left.
After I left for work (3 to 11 PM shift) he returned to my home and stole
everything I owned... yes, everything that he could get into the van
that he had stolen that day. Neighbors had witnessed
this but thought that I was moving and thought nothing more of it.
I was devastated and heartbroken, and continue to be.
I never saw Rick again after that visit.
My youngest son George was told by a friend of Rick's a few years back,
that he had died of 'drug related aids' in a rehab center
and told him nothing more, not even the state where it happened.

It is my prayer that the Lord has forgiven him
and he is happy and finally at peace ... God rest your soul son.

My little "wanderer, will wander no more."

IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY SON EDDIE



EDWARD GARY GIRARD
BORN: APRIL 28th 1956
DIED: AUGUST 17th 1994
AGE AT DEATH: 38



Eddie was my 4th son. He was born at Ft.Campbell Army Hospital
in Kentucky, as were his four brothers.
He died suddenly of a heart attack due to complications
from a severe Asthma attack.
This computer generated pic of Ed is poor quality
but it was the last one he had taken. The photo
does not due him justice at all.
His death was and is extremely painful for me and more so
because he died alone in his apartment in Calif. where he lived.
Death in itself is always 'sorrowful', but to lose a child,
I believe, is "the hardest to cope with".

"MAY YOU REST IN PEACE MY SON.."
"I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU."


My 5th Son George and his wife Anita



George was born on June 28, 1957,
and is the youngest of my five son's.
He is a former Marine and is presently Vice Commander
of the Amvets in Ipswich, Mass.
Both he and his wife Anita reside in the town of Ipswich
with their son Matthew (pictured below).



My Grand-children



Jais Aaron Girard
Born: Dec. 24, 1985
Jais is the son of Raymond Girard




Christopher Robin Girard
Born: Sept 10, 1987
Christopher is the son of Robert and Debbie Girard