12-year-old Cody Green had been seriously ill for much of his short life, but his courage impressed the Marines. (Daily Mail)
By: Andrea Ryan
Honor. Courage. Commitment.
These are the core values that define a U.S. Marine. Along with their solemn code of Semper Fidelis, it is what makes elite warriors of the few and the proud and distinguishes them as individuals bonded together by loyalty and enduring greatness.
Cody Green, a young 12 year old boy in Indiana battling leukemia, shared these characteristics and the local Marine Corps recognized them. With the “strength and honor and courage” he showed through his long struggle to be rid of his disease they decided to make the brave, young admirer of the U.S. Marines an honorary Marine, himself.
The Daily Mail has the bittersweet story,
Throughout his short life, young Cody Green had admired the bravery of the U.S. Marines.
But after years spent battling leukaemia, it was the youngster’s courage fighting cancer which inspired his heroes to honour his bravery.
The 12-year-old from Indiana had suffered from the disease throughout his life. First diagnosed just before his second birthday, he had beaten leukaemia three times – but the chemotherapy had reduced his immune system and, last weekend, he died from a fungus which attacked his brain.
And standing guard outside his hospital room that night was a local Marine named Mark Dolfini who was so moved by Cody’s continued cancer battle that he decreed the 12-year-old to be a honorary member of the elite military unit. …
Cody’s repeat cancer battle inspired the local Marines, who thought ‘he’s fought as hard as any marine has and because of that we’re going to honour him’. …
The youngster’s father David Snowberger told local station WLFI: ‘They decided Cody, with the strength and honour and courage he showed through the whole thing, he should be a Marine.’
When Cody’s condition took a turn for the worse on Friday night, his family got in touch with a local Marine who said that he would rush to the hospital to be with the boy during his final hours.
Former Marine Mark Dolfini, 39, who was introduced to Cody through Mr Snowberger, presented the boy with a flag and Marine navigator wings. …
In keeping with the Corps motto of Semper Fidelis, latin for always faithful, the Marine stood post outside of Cody’s door all night, saluting Mrs Green as she went in and out of the room, right up until Cody passed on Saturday.
‘The night before Cody passed, he stood guard at Cody’s door at the hospital all night long for eight hours straight,’ Mr Snowberger said.
Mr Dolfini, who was initially hesitant to go public for fear it would take away from Cody’s story, spoke with MailIOnline, telling how he knew he had to spend the night guarding Cody’s door because it was what he deserved.
Honour guard: Mark Dolfini, 39, a local Marine, was so moved by Cody’s story that he helped make the 12-year-old an honorary Marine before he passed on Saturday due to an infection related to cancer. (Daily Mail)
Dwight Moody once said, “character is what you are in the dark”. May this poignant story be an inspiring reminder that great virtue does exist and may the inner strength of Cody Green live on to carry his family through.
Update: Here is a video from News Channel 18…
