August 7, 2015 --
Marines from Marine Barracks Washington,
D.C. laid to rest one of their own at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans
Cemetery in Suffolk, Va., Aug. 6, 2015.
Mike Boffo, a Marine veteran who served
at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. from 2009 to 2012 succumbed to Acute
Lymphoblastic Leukemia on Aug. 2, 2015.
Boffo joined the Marine Corps out of
high-school at the age of 17. He was an infantryman and while at Marine Barracks,
he served with the Marine Corps Color Guard, Company A and the battalion operations
section.
According to gofundme.com, the proudest
accomplishments during his time in the Marine Corps were while serving at
Marine Barracks Washington D.C., 8th & I, with the Ceremonial [color]
Guard.
Working closely with the Boffo family, Sgt.
Major Joseph Gray, the Barracks sergeant major, and Master Sgt. Leonard Spain,
the Marine Corps Funeral Director, enlisted the support of more than 80
Barracks Marines who volunteered to provide funeral support for their brother
in arms. These Marines represented units
throughout the Barracks to include A Co.; the Commandant’s Color Guard; Body
Bearers from B Co.; a ceremonial bugler from the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps; a
rifle detail from 3rd platoon, B Co.; and Marines from Headquarters and
Services Company.
“We are supporting the family of one our own and
their memories of Mike,” said Gray. “The Marines of the Barracks will look back
years from now and know they were able to make a difference... without being
tasked or required.”
The funeral included honors from a final 21-gun
salute and Taps played by Sgt. Benjamin Aird, ceremonial bugler, Marine Drum
and Bugle Corps. Boffo’s body was
carried to his final resting place by B Co.’s, world famous Body Bearers, whose
slogan simply states, “The last to let you down.”
“He was a brother to the Corps and a
brother to the Barracks,” said Sgt. Tyler Holly, platoon sergeant, B Co. “We
were doing something for him that he’s done for so many.”
After Buffo’s family was presented with the
national colors, for his honorable and faithful service to his country and to
the Marine Corps, his mother was presented with the 21 expended shell casings that
were fired during honors.
"Mike was a fighter, all the way to the end," said Gray. "The Marines of Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. honored him with their steadfast loyalty, discipline, and absolute ceremonial excellence today. In my 25 years of service, I could not have been any prouder or more humbled by a group of Marines, than I was today."