Sorry if this has been posted, the Search button says otherwise.
Break out the kleenex. Semper Fi to this Marine, and shame on the media for making me go to the UK to find this story.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...night-died.html
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Heartbreaking story of the terminally ill boy, 12, who became a Marine (and had an honour guard at the hospital on the night he died)
Cody Green, had leukaemia three times and died due to related infections
His battle inspired the local Marine Corps, who said Cody 'fought as hard as any marine' during his cancer battle
Cody's mum seriously injured at the fatal Sugarland concert that killed 7 when the stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair last August
Throughout his short life, young Cody Green had admired the bravery of the U.S. Marines.
But after years spent battling leukaemia, it was the youngster's courage fighting cancer which inspired his heroes to honour his bravery.
The 12-year-old from Indiana had suffered from the disease throughout his life. First diagnosed just before his second birthday, he had beaten leukaemia three times - but the chemotherapy had reduced his immune system and, last weekend, he died from a fungus which attacked his brain.
And standing guard outside his hospital room that night was a local Marine named Mark Dolfini who was so moved by Cody's continued cancer battle that he decreed the 12-year-old to be a honorary member of the elite military unit.
'He was very aware of his illness he knew exactly what medications he was on and what time he should have them,' Ms Ford said.
'He knew that by him knowing when he had to take his medications and what they were, his mom had to worry less. He was very worried about anyone leaving sleep over him
His mother Tracy Green certainly had a lot on her mind over the past few months, as Cody had two younger brothers and two older stepbrothers.
On top of that, Ms Green was seriously injured at the Indiana State Fair as the country band Sugarland's stage fell. Seven people were killed, and Ms Green was one of the 58 injured. She had to have 30 staples in her skull and had steel rods and pins placed in her leg.
As she recovered, Cody was characteristically caring, helping his mother wash her hair when she had trouble moving in the months following the August 2011 stage collapse.
'He had a passion for our country and our military and it was more the marines got sparked in Cody and they heard of his battle,' Ms Ford told MailOnline.
The youngster's father David Snowberger told local station WLFI: 'They decided Cody, with the strength and honour and courage he showed through the whole thing, he should be a Marine.'
When Cody's condition took a turn for the worse on Friday night, his family got in touch with a local Marine who said that he would rush to the hospital to be with the boy during his final hours.
Former Marine Mark Dolfini, 39, who was introduced to Cody through Mr Snowberger, presented the boy with a flag and Marine navigator wings.
'Unfortunately, Cody was not awake, he was on a ventilator, but we believe he knew,' Ms Ford said, having been at the hospital at the time of the ceremony.
In keeping with the Corps motto of Semper Fidelis, latin for always faithful, the Marine stood post outside of Cody's door all night, saluting Mrs Green as she went in and out of the room, right up until Cody passed on Saturday.
'The night before Cody passed, he stood guard at Cody's door at the hospital all night long for eight hours straight,' Mr Snowberger said.
Mr Dolfini, who was initially hesitant to go public for fear it would take away from Cody's story, spoke with MailIOnline, telling how he knew he had to spend the night guarding Cody's door because it was what he deserved.
'There was no question that was my calling that night,' he said.
'I didn’t give myself a time constraint and I knew I was going to be there as long as I could be.'
The Marine Corp's website states that the title of 'Honorary Marine' reinforces the special bond between the American people and the Corps by 'recognising individuals in the civilian community who have made extraordinary contributions to the Marine Corps.
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Break out the kleenex. Semper Fi to this Marine, and shame on the media for making me go to the UK to find this story.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...night-died.html
<span style="font-weight: bold">
Heartbreaking story of the terminally ill boy, 12, who became a Marine (and had an honour guard at the hospital on the night he died)
Cody Green, had leukaemia three times and died due to related infections
His battle inspired the local Marine Corps, who said Cody 'fought as hard as any marine' during his cancer battle
Cody's mum seriously injured at the fatal Sugarland concert that killed 7 when the stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair last August
Throughout his short life, young Cody Green had admired the bravery of the U.S. Marines.
But after years spent battling leukaemia, it was the youngster's courage fighting cancer which inspired his heroes to honour his bravery.
The 12-year-old from Indiana had suffered from the disease throughout his life. First diagnosed just before his second birthday, he had beaten leukaemia three times - but the chemotherapy had reduced his immune system and, last weekend, he died from a fungus which attacked his brain.
And standing guard outside his hospital room that night was a local Marine named Mark Dolfini who was so moved by Cody's continued cancer battle that he decreed the 12-year-old to be a honorary member of the elite military unit.
'He was very aware of his illness he knew exactly what medications he was on and what time he should have them,' Ms Ford said.
'He knew that by him knowing when he had to take his medications and what they were, his mom had to worry less. He was very worried about anyone leaving sleep over him
His mother Tracy Green certainly had a lot on her mind over the past few months, as Cody had two younger brothers and two older stepbrothers.
On top of that, Ms Green was seriously injured at the Indiana State Fair as the country band Sugarland's stage fell. Seven people were killed, and Ms Green was one of the 58 injured. She had to have 30 staples in her skull and had steel rods and pins placed in her leg.
As she recovered, Cody was characteristically caring, helping his mother wash her hair when she had trouble moving in the months following the August 2011 stage collapse.
'He had a passion for our country and our military and it was more the marines got sparked in Cody and they heard of his battle,' Ms Ford told MailOnline.
The youngster's father David Snowberger told local station WLFI: 'They decided Cody, with the strength and honour and courage he showed through the whole thing, he should be a Marine.'
When Cody's condition took a turn for the worse on Friday night, his family got in touch with a local Marine who said that he would rush to the hospital to be with the boy during his final hours.
Former Marine Mark Dolfini, 39, who was introduced to Cody through Mr Snowberger, presented the boy with a flag and Marine navigator wings.
'Unfortunately, Cody was not awake, he was on a ventilator, but we believe he knew,' Ms Ford said, having been at the hospital at the time of the ceremony.
In keeping with the Corps motto of Semper Fidelis, latin for always faithful, the Marine stood post outside of Cody's door all night, saluting Mrs Green as she went in and out of the room, right up until Cody passed on Saturday.
'The night before Cody passed, he stood guard at Cody's door at the hospital all night long for eight hours straight,' Mr Snowberger said.
Mr Dolfini, who was initially hesitant to go public for fear it would take away from Cody's story, spoke with MailIOnline, telling how he knew he had to spend the night guarding Cody's door because it was what he deserved.
'There was no question that was my calling that night,' he said.
'I didn’t give myself a time constraint and I knew I was going to be there as long as I could be.'
The Marine Corp's website states that the title of 'Honorary Marine' reinforces the special bond between the American people and the Corps by 'recognising individuals in the civilian community who have made extraordinary contributions to the Marine Corps.
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