"His last words to me were, 'I'm either coming home the most decorated Marine, or I'm not coming home at all.' My brother died in Vietnam on December 12th, 1971. Just 13 days before his birthday, on Christmas Day.

Every single day, I carry my brother's dog tags in my pocket. His dog tags, a few rosary medals, and the first chip that ever came off the Vietnam Memorial on Spruce Street. They built the Memorial in 1987, and I just personally fell in love with it... and have been taking care of it ever since. In the beginning, it was just something that kept me going... I would be down there 15-16 hours a day. 

My son just retired from the Marine Corps after 22 years, and I'm so damn proud of him. He's named after my brother, Bernard Moran."