In Memoriam

Iraq casualty's sister 'Faithful'
17-year-old wants to be a Marine, too

By Jennifer Edwards
Enquirer staff writer

EVENDALE - The death of Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Dyer, 19, isn't dissuading his sister, Sarah, from following in his footprints and becoming a Marine.

She had already decided to join the military. When the 17-year-old Princeton High School student learned of her brother's death, she said, she was in the process of applying for appointments to the U.S. Naval Academy or the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Now his death has made her more determined than ever to become a Marine to honor her brother.

"As a sister of Marine Lance Corporal Christopher Dyer, I still hold my ambitions to join the Marine Corps," she wrote Saturday on The Enquirer's online message board. "I have written a poem for my brother."

She ends the poem with "Semper Fi," the Marine Corps motto. (The Latin phrase "Semper Fidelis" means "Always Faithful.")

Dear Dear Brother

You have gone home,

To your Father, your Savior,

Your Kingdom is come.

Dear Dear Brother,

You fought bravely as a knight,

You are a Devil Dog with the fearsest bite.

Dear Dear Brother

We miss you so,

Your father, mother, sisters.

All your friends and Joe.

Dear Dear Brother

We will see you again,

After triumphs, and troubles, and all of our pain.

Dear dear brother,

Stay Tough on high.

We will remember you.

SEMPER FI