File type: Text File (.txt) [Download]
-----------------------------------------
Taps for the Camp

---

Leo the Patriotic Lion here again; this is somewhat of a flashback, because soon we will be highlighting the events of the birthday celebrations of my Spanish counterpart, Leoncio the Conquering Lion.  But for now, bear with me, and listen to the beats of my drum.

Recently the administration and I got in touch with an active lion soldier, Captain Lewis Jorgenson, serving our country as a U.S. Marine.  His family had picked up $400,000 from a settlement related to the contaminated water controversy surrounding Camp Lejeune, which is located in Jacksonville, North Carolina.  The whole problem began in 1953 and lasted all the way to 1987.  This isn't right.  Our military is the greatest in the world.  There's no reason for it to be mismanaged like this.  Yet it was, and many had died or suffered because of it.  In the case of Captain Jorgenson, his brother, also a Marine, had died as a result of this contamination.

In my reply letter, I said, "It is our pleasure to give back to those who protect us.  I do wish we had spotted it sooner, but there is no reason for any water like that to be contaminated, soldier or civilian.  I thank you and your brother for your service, and I extend my sympathy on behalf of the Zanicchi Administration to you and the family."

If you're not familiar with the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, what it does is provide monetary relief for those injured by expose to the base and its toxic water by 30 days of "living," "working" or "otherwise" being exposed to the danger, if the 30-pay period fell anywhere in between 1953 and 1987.  This includes in-utero exposure, but that's too gross to discuss in public.  However, that is included, and it did happen at least once.  The monetary relief can vary, but thanks to the fact Cripto's unlimited wealth had funded the nation in so many ways, we were able to give the correct amount as judged by the judges for each family.  And because Lewis's brother, Emilo, had died, as well as the fact some of his ancestors were hurt by the problem, the family got a total of $400,000 to divide between them.

---

Today, we met with the soldier, his wife, and his seven cubs (five males and two females).  His offspring's ages ranged from 23 down to 18, and his two girls were 16 and 15, respectively.  The 23-year-old lion was also active military, but his branch was the Air Force.  The middle cub (age 21) was serving in the Space Force, so no doubt he was honored to meet Shadow Hunter.  (NOTE: The lionesses in the family all had sandals on their feet in addition to clothes they wore, but the males all stood barefoot.  I only point that out because I habitually pad, or go barefoot, just as Tom the Patriotic Tiger, my VP, does, and they thought that it might possibly look awkward if they weren't padding.  However, it wasn't awkward.  They could have done whatever they wanted.)

I recognized Jorgenson from the fact he also played in the President's Own, the U.S. Marine Band, and so naturally when we met the family, I had the U.S. Lion Corps Band with me standing tall and proud in their green uniforms with the red, white, and blue pants (and black shoes when needed, but all the lions were padding here).  As we exchanged salutes, the band was playing the Marines Hymn.  When all was silent, we finally got the chance to talk, although we first walked over to the gravesite where Emilo was buried.  Because of how we can magically summon our instruments, Mechayote and I summoned our field drums (rope-tensioned snare drums), muffled them, and beat the number of drum rolls accordingly, commanding everyone else present to attention.  Then we all gave the military salute as Tom played "Taps" on his bugle.

After we lowered arms and ordered ourselves to stand at ease, Cpt. Jorgenson said to me, "Thank you, Mr. President.  This kind gesture you've done here shows you really are the patriotic lion."

"I do my best," I said, "and I am sorry for your loss.  I hope the $400,000 will be put to good use."

"Indeed it will; we can use it to invest in the college education for my two daughters here."

"Good.  They are our future leaders."

As we marched in step back to the base with only the drums beating the Four Flams cadence (including the fact Mechayote and I were beating our drums, and Judge Marcus, the U.S. Attorney General, was marching with a bass drum), Zax Arctic spoke up and said, "In my opinion, I would recommend closing down Camp Lejeune and cleaning the place up. In other words, completely demolish and clean up that place. The world is changing, military forces around the world want to improve their defenses, yet they look up to us in how we improve our defenses. There's more demand for guns than armored vehicles as well."  Zachary Chandler nodded to confirm this.

"I think the odds are that we will close down Camp Lejeune and replace it with just clean nature," I replied.  "The bill we passed into law was about providing monetary relief to those that were affected.  Jorgenson here reported that his family got $400,000 out of the deal, for example."

"I am still baffled by the fact there was contaminated water in the first place," the Commander (Super C) spoke up, "let alone the fact it went from 1953 all the way to 1987 before somebody finally did something about it."

"Our Marines will have to be stationed somewhere else," Boomcat added (himself wearing his Marines dress uniform just as Jorgenson was, and also padding).  "As a former Marine myself, I took this personally."

"You made a wise choice, Leo," Zachary replied to me.  "With a mess like that, leave nothing behind after cleaning it up."

When we arrived back at the camp, we made contact with the authorities that were running it, and they agreed that it should be totally demoed as a punishment for this controversy.  Tom played "Taps" once again, but without the drum rolls, musically confirming the end of Camp Lejeune.  It was sad to see it go, but truth be told, there was no excuse for it there to have been this water problem going on for 34 years.  That's 34 years too many.  That's extremely poor management.  I expect nothing less than the highest of standards for our military, but do note that I do not force this on them.  (People asked me during the fan mail crisis if the military ever made me angry when I did all the bellowing; the answer is that while there were some things that specific people did to make me angry, it was never the military as a whole.  It was always the civilians I was bellowing at because they were not supporting our troops in the Vietnam War.  What a disaster that was, and I blame our loss on the news media.  CNG had punished them for it ever since, but thankfully, Vietnam got what it wanted in the end: total major independence.  Luong and I have had many discussions on this topic, and now that he is their President, he has expressed his gratitude for the American soldiers who served in Vietnam, and he and his military visited Washington, D.C. recently to pay tribute to the memorials of those who died in that war.)

The band then played a march of Jorgenson's choice, and he chose "Semper Fidelis."  He saluted the American flag that was on base during the drum solo that leads to the trio of the march.

---

Several days later, as total demolition on the camp began, the Jorgenson family was invited to tour the White House, beginning with the Oval Office and ending with the music room, which, after the renovations it underwent (and the magic of our superpowers we had), was large enough to hold a full band or orchestra.  The entire band that is "The President's Own" was there to witness everything, since the administration, Congress, and I had learned that Emilo was among the whistleblowers who helped claim victory for justice in the water crisis.  With Judge Marcus beating a loud drum roll on the timpani, or kettledrums, leading to a loud gong crash and a heroic trumpet fanfare, I announced that I was posthumously awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and asked Cpt. Jorgenson to accept it.  He agreed, and we shook hands after saluting one another, after which I gave him the medal in a box.

Because Jorgenson was a drummer in the band, he told me that he credited the fact I beat a drum as his biggest inspiration for taking up drumming himself.  He demonstrated this when a concert snare drum (and pair of sticks) were presented to him, and he stood at the spot of honor next to my conductor's stand, playing a drum solo entitled "Colonial Drummer."  At the end, he and I saluted each other again; saluting in the manner was a habit with me.  The troops took note of how my philosophy held true: if you have time to lead a country, you have time for music.

Jorgenson then returned to his usual spot in the percussion section, and I then turned the snare drum over to Judge Marcus since the music we were to play next didn't have timpani parts.  Tom stood on the other side of me so he could play his trumpet, and C.I.D.F. Commander Thierry J Anderson, the Chief Director of Music for the C.I.D.F., was also playing his trombone.  (I consider him part of my administration, although just an honorary member, because he is a frequent guest to the White House when the C.I.D.F. needs to relay information to me, me being a G-52.)  The rest of the family just relaxed and listened to the music, although we decided to play "Taps" again upon hearing about the demolition.  Since we were using concert percussion here and not military field percussion, the drummers just turned the snares off and played the drum roll that way, for a haunting tom-tom kind of timbre.  The drummers then kept the snares off so we could honor the troops who paid the ultimate price with a Sousa march entitled "The Honored Dead."

Afterwards, the drummers turned the snares back on so we could play "Wildcat March."  "People jokingly ask me if Wildcat City is the reason," I said as we prepared to play it, "but I understand it actually references the alma mater song of Northwestern University."

"That's correct," said Cpt. Jorgenson, "and it was written by our very own, SSG Parker Gaims."  Gaims stood up briefly so we could give him a round of applause.  Then we played the march.

A few more marches followed; we concluded with the playing of the Marines Hymn once more.  "I never tire of hearing that," Boomcat thought to himself.  "It makes me so proud to be associated with this branch, long after my PTSD made me retire from it."

---

When the family returned home, they caught sight of the demolition work.  By the time it was totally gone, new grass and trees were being planted to ensure it was nothing but nature, although it was to be kept as a nature preserve so the wildlife would not die.  As a result, there were no tourists allowed on the preserve itself, although they were allowed to take pictures with their cameras and smartphones.  Jorgenson's oldest son took photos, then sent them to me and the Commander via the G-52 app when all was said and done.

Meanwhile, Judge Marcus rehearsed another timpani solo for the payroll, since they had listed him as a part-timer.  Upon retiring from politics, he would be a full-time member.

---

If you were affected by this toxic water issue at Camp Lejeune, there may be compensation coming your way, depending on what the judges decide, so pay attention.  Promise me you'll also put the money to good use if you do get something, will you?

Good night, America.

---

THE END