By Christina Lopez
Salisbury Post
With the American flag waving at half staff in the background, Lance Cpl. Carrie Brown of Salisbury celebrated Memorial Day differently than most 19-year-olds.
Standing tall at the Memorial Day ceremony at the National Cemetery Annex in her dress blue U. S. Marine Corps uniform, Brown gathered with her mother and fellow Marines to pay tribute to her boyfriend, Lance Cpl. Nathan Elrod of Salisbury, who was killed in Iraq in October at the age of 21.
“I’m here to honor all fallen soldiers past and present, to give thanks and salute all those who’ve served,” she said.
Brown wants people to remember who Elrod was as a person as well as a Marine, and she wants others to acknowledge Memorial Day for the soldiers who have given their lives and continue to give their lives to fight for our country.
“Remember their life and all the good times,” she said. “It’s sad that they’re gone but it’s important to celebrate the good that they’ve done.”
Brown left home last Oct. 16 to join the Marine Corps.
“Your whole perspective in life changes once you’ve joined the service,” she said.
“It’s the little things in life that you can’t tear away from the most, like having a car and being in your own bed. I miss the freedom to do whatever I please and be able to go out with friends and drive a car whenever I want.
“I was ready to get out of Salisbury when I joined, but now I can’t tear away from my mom when it’s time to leave.”
While Brown misses those simple freedoms in life, it is those same freedoms she joined the service to protect for fellow Americans.
“One day people will realize what they have, and be glad that they can listen to whatever music they want to, go to school, get an education, and wear whatever clothes they like to wear,” Brown said.
“They can be glad they get to see their family, friends and loved ones whenever they want to, and see familiar faces everyday.
“We are the ones who are sacrificing our family, our friends and loved ones so that they have the right to be free.”
She said it felt good to be home, and that she’s been spending time with family and friends. And she is proud of the course she has chosen.
“Being a United States Marine means to me, that I have honor, courage and commitment, and that is something not many people can say,” she said.
When asked about her fondest memories of Elrod, Brown said, “There are so many really good memories. I remember the beach trips, Nathan teaching me to play the guitar, driving in the car, playing with Zeus, the dog, and sitting up late at night talking about anything and everything.”
After finishing electrician school, Brown plans to go overseas.