At a time when it seems like our society is spiraling with out-of-control selfishness, consumed with immediate gratification, self- centeredness, illiberalism and grievance, it can be helpful to remind ourselves that there are plenty of folks around who practice altruism.
Here’s my story on how, during several days in September, two Marines, a queen and some first responders reminded me of the value of having a sense of duty.
On Sept. 9, I stood at the gravesite of Sgt. Major John Henry Quick at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Jennings, Missouri. The occasion was to recognize the 100-year anniversary of this Medal of Honor recipient’s death. Placed at his modest headstone was a bouquet of red, white and blue flowers placed there by a fellow Marine.
Quick was born June 20, 1870, in Charleston, West Virginia. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1892. He served continuously in the Marines aboard naval vessels and ashore in many parts of the world until 1918, when he was placed on the retired list. Quick served during the Spanish-American War in Cuba.