I Post This For Robbie Mariano - Green Day: Wake Me Up When September Ends

[WillyT]

Stockton family grieves for soldier, 21, killed in blast
Green Day fan was considering career in law enforcement

Meredith May, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, January 8, 2006



<snip>

Ever since a military chaplain visited their Stockton home last week, the Mariano family has been grieving the loss of their son Robbie, an American soldier killed in Iraq. Family members are coping in their own ways. Mom is seeking solace with friends and family. Dad is talking to the media, and younger brother Bobby is blogging about his shock. It's hard for them to believe the jovial 21-year-old skateboarder with a penchant for practical jokes has left the family so soon.

"I see him with his guitar, wearing a Green Day shirt and singing the band's songs for us -- we all thought it was funny," said Robbie's father, Bob Mariano, a 29-year veteran of the Stockton Police Department's patrol unit. "This news has caught the family off guard," he said.

Private First Class Robbie Mariano was killed Thursday outside the southern Iraqi Shiite holy city of Najaf when the Humvee he was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb. A major, captain and two sergeants inside the Humvee were also killed. Mariano was the gunner.

Robbie Mariano sent frequent e-mails home, describing his work going door-to-door with his unit looking for Iraqi insurgents. In one of his last e-mails, he asked his parents for guitar strings so he could play for his unit, and protein powder so he could keep up with them in the weight room.

There were 20 soldiers in his unit, who ate, slept and lifted weights together at "Camp Duke" about 20 miles outside of Najaf. "He was very close with the soldiers in his unit, and this was something he was very passionate about," his father said. "He believed in the Army and felt the mission was the right thing."

<snip>

Link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/08/MNGPDGK92M1.DTL

The way I heard it on the local news, was that Robbie wanted Green Day's 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' played at his funeral if he didn't make it back alive. So I post the video link to the song here (pick video first, then pick player\speed): http://www.greenday.com/greenday.html

If ya haven't seen it... you really should.

:cry:

[senseandsensibility]

1. RIP Robbie

My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. :cry: I also love Green Day, but this young man was too young to have to think about his funeral. What a tragedy.

[Sydnie]

2. Way too young ...

:cry:

[upi402]

3. i hate republicans

sorry Robbie
i do all i can
:patriot:

[LibertyorDeath]

4. Green Day are completely utterly and totally Anti-War

Especially this one which is not a War but an invasion occupation.

This fine young man died for the greed of Corporate America represented by Halliburton and Cheney.

RIP...

[OneBlueSky]

5. okay . . . I can admit it when I'm wrong . . .

when I first heard Green Day (maybe ten or more years ago) I dismissed them as just another bad Nirvana wannabe (of which there are thousands) . . . and since then I've never taken the time to catch up on what they're now doing, or how they've grown . . .

this "new" CD (I think is already about two years old) is really quite remarkable . . . as is that song and that video . . . never thought I'd be saying this, but I'm actually thinking about buying a Green Day CD . . .

yeah, I admit it . . . I was wrong about them . . . they're making some really good music . . .

my sincere condolances to the Mariano family . . . what a tragedy that this young life was wasted by BushCo for no discernable national security reason whatsoever . . .

[WillyT]

6. I Had Similar Musical Misgivings... Am HUGE Fan Now !!!

Thank you for your honesty!

:yourock: