The Saluting Marine
There’s an active duty Marine who has become a celebrity of sorts at the annual Rolling Thunder Ride to the Wall in DC. He’s Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers, the Saluting Marine. Since 2002 SSG Chambers has planted himself in the middle of Constitution Avenue in DC and holds a salute as the hundreds of thousands of motorcycles and the veterans mounted atop pass him. He holds the salute for more than three hours.
Tim stopped by TAH when I filmed Rolling Thunder in 2008. I think that was the year that President Bush invited him to breakfast at the White House.
This year, Rolling Thunder paid for his trip to DC from 29 Palms and his family’s trip from Oregon. The local news reports that he had broken his wrist during training, but still held his salute yesterday as the heat took it’s toll on him.
The local Fox 5 News did this report on SSG Chambers this morning;
Marine Honors Military at Rolling Thunder: MyFoxDC.com
Phil Scott at Military.com talked to him yesterday and asked him why he does it;
As I walked away, it struck me that I hadn’t asked the most important question. I turned around and called him, “Sergeant Chambers, why the salute?” His response was effortless and profound, “It’s about the pain. A lot of these heroic guys still hurt and if I can relieve their pain for just one brief moment, then I’ve done my job.”
Category: Support the troops
Over 3 hours? That is quite an accomplishment. Standing on Summerall Field for over 1.5 hours is bad enough, but even during those ceremonies we’d get some exercise (Present Arms, Ceremonial At Ease, etc). Four years doing that took its toll, though, and it’s all I can do to keep from falling out while presenting arms during the National Anthem nowadays. It’s good to know we have men like him out there.
My girlfriend and I just got back from Rolling Thunder. Sgt. Chambers had a hard time of it this year with the heat and several times a man, maybe his father?, came out and helped hold up his elbow. Except for a few, brief water breaks he made it all of the way through. A man from Rolling Thunder or somewhere dressed in black fatiques and a beret came out for the last hour or so and stood a salute next to him for support. This Marine is an inspiration to us all and from all of the salutes and beeps not to mention the roses left in front of him, all of the people there appreciated him and what he does.
Watched the video, guess the guy wasn’t his father but realized that the Marine was in trouble and went out to support him. Glad he did.
I have seen him several times and it’s pretty awesome. Rolling Thunder, too.
OOH-RAH!
And on the other hand, we have the slime who denigrate the service of our active and former troops. This man stands so far above them that he can’t see down that far. HOOAH! Or is it OORAH! for a marine?
FO- it’s Oohrah.
Sgt. Chambers stands and salutes for 3 solid hours in respect for our troops and Obama? He hits the course for the umpteenth time: http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2011/05/30/obama-golfing-memorial-day/
[…] The Saluting Marine […]
God Bless him.
Semper Fi Sarge!
I am out of the Marine Corps now and not retired.
Thank you for your kind words. I sometimes wish you could not see my face or who I am, because it is not about me, it is about what I represent. I was a mascot in highschool and no one knew who I was as I inspired people, kinda liked it better that way. It was just as hot, I always made weight for rastling practice. I am going to put together a fundraiser for kids in schools to garner donations on how long I will hold the salute next year, either by minutes, seconds, hours, or just a straight donation to the school. They will learn to write letters to the congressmen, and adopt a fallen warriors family. They will be sworn in as honorary friends of veterans. The money they garner up will go strictly towards a Memorial Day Celebration that they will put together in their community. I will also shoot for corporate donations sponsoring my salute and the money will go at this point in time I would like to do one of two things first and foremost donate the money towards the wounded warrior project, and pay china back so we will owe them nothing, but more realistic and more needed at this point is the wounded warriors. Please tell me what you think. I believe that any organisation that wants to do a fundraiser on the behalf of my salute as long as it is helping others. I want to thank you for your continued active duty service, every day you are in my thoughts and prayers.
…words fail me.
you know SM, its words like those that make me pity those that will never know the bonds of brotherhood forged in combat. Pity those too scared, and pity those who do not see anything worth fighting for. Keep up the good work Brother.
God bless you, Sgt. Chambers.
Sgt. Chambers, words fail me but for two: Thank You. I really do want to get you in touch with Mark Dolfini, who does Standing for the Fallen events where he stands at attention in his dress blues to raise money to help the wounded at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. He is no longer in the Corps, but like you stands up to do right by those who serve. Thank you again for your service and your continuing service. Semper Fi.
TIM, I RODE TO THE WALL WITH YOU AND RFTW MOTORCYCLE GROUP MAY 14,2012 / MAY 26 1012. I AM WAITING FOR TWO AUTOGRAPHED PHOTOS FROM YOU.
ONE FOR USMC MAJOR SCOTT MAYFIELD AND ONE FOR HIS RETIRED LAPD FATHER, BILL MAYFIELD.
THANK YOU, TIM FOR YOUR SERVICE AND HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR……………..RETIRED LAPD MOTOR OFFICE, JOSEPH GOMEZ
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING STAFF SERGEANT. TIM CHAMBERS THIS PAST SUNDAY AT INK JAMS 3RD ANNUAL INJURED MARINE SEMPER FI FUND BIKE RUN! WHAT AN HONOR IT WAS TO MEET HIM. SPEAKING WITH HIM TOTALY BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES. AS THE MOTHER OF A PURPLE HEART MARINE I UNDERSTAND SACRIFICE, AND UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION TIM HAS TO THE MILITARY AND ITS FAMILIES. GOD BLESS YOU STAFF SERGEANT OUR MEETING WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!!!!