Marines and Family honor fallen comrade

Photo By Sgt. Carson Gramley | Marines, sailors and family members of deceased Sgt. Brandon J. Bizzarro attend a memorial service in his honor at the Blinder Memorial Chapel aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif,. Sept. 16, 2014. The service honored the life and service of a Marine who is said to have greatly impacted the lives of many of his family, friends, and fellow Marines.  

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

09.16.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. Carson Gramley 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Family members and friends, along with Marines and sailors from Company C, 9th Communications Battalion, bid farewell to Sgt. Brandon J. Bizzarro during a memorial service at Blinder Memorial Chapel aboard Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 16, 2014. Bizzarro was involved in a hit-and-run collision while riding his motorcycle in Oceanside, taking his life Aug. 28.

It was a packed house at the service. Several Marines from Company C had nothing but good things to say on Bizzarro’s behalf.

Bizzarro’s platoon commander, 1st Lt. Lucas George told the Marines something he learned from his time with Bizzarro.

“Take time to pause, enjoy the small moments in life,” George said. “Whatever you may be stressing about, or frustrated from, try to do what he would have done. Wear a smile, be calm, collect yourself and enjoy the moment.”

More than once, Marines mentioned the ability Bizzarro’s smile had to brighten their day.

A fellow motorcyclist and friend of Bizzarro spoke about the lessons he learned from him and how much he trusted his friend. Sgt. Nathan Sullivan, a radio operator in Company C, then told a story about his first time on a motorcycle in heavy traffic and how Bizzarro got him through it.

“He was in front of me; he led the way. He was going to take care of me the whole way, like he took care of everyone else,” Sullivan said.

Aside from the pain of losing a friend, everyone who spoke at the memorial had a similar outlook on the coming months and years. They encouraged each other to seek comfort from their fellow Marines and live their lives in memory of their lost friend.

“One of the hardest things we do as Marines is mourn the loss of one of our own, and I assure you it never gets easier, especially for the passing of a young Marine with so much potential,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Simmons, 9th Communications Battalion commander. “As I told our battalion of Marines a few weeks ago, together we’ll get through this.”

• Date Taken: 09.16.2014
• Date Posted: 09.16.2014 19:00
• Story ID: 142361
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US