This was a post sent from family in Scotland.

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Thinking of you and your mum on this your anniversary.

Family, divided by water but united in Grief, we met but for a brief moment in time, long enough that your memory is etched in our hearts so short that we are deeply saddened never to know you better.

May your light continue to shine in all who were honoured to know you, with Love from your family in Scotland

Happy Birthday Gary.

Happy Birthday Gary. It's 7 1/2 years later and it still feels weird to not have Gary here. Granny can help celebrate your birthday with you this year. We have another pet in the house now. Her name is Jade and she's a black short hair cat. She and Sydney aren't the best of friends yet. You are still missed, and always will be.

Gary memorialized as part of Clemson's "Scroll of Honor"

(Rich Merritt here, writing this note to Gary's friends and family as well as to people who are only acquainted to him through this site or to his legacy in the Marine Corps and at Clemson University.)

Last Thursday family and friends of Major Gary Fullerton joined the crowd at Clemson University's Memorial Stadium. The occasion was to participate in Clemson's dedication and memorial service of the "Scroll of Honor" commemorating Clemson alumni who've given the ultimate sacrifice defending the nation and the ideals it represents. Gary was one of 471 honorees. This link will take you to Gary's section of the online part of the memorial.

The Fullertons established a fund at Clemson to provide scholarship assistance to Marine Officer Candidates. Please consider contributing to the fund. (follow the link in the column to the right) The more we give, the more help we can offer to the future leaders of the Marine Corps.

WSPA has a brief video on the origination of the memorial that you can view at this link and the Greenville News reported on the ceremony. Rather than repeat the facts, I've pasted the article here interspersed with our photographic memories of the day.

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CLEMSON — The names of 471 Clemson alumni killed in military service have been set in stone beside Memorial Stadium.

For some family members who came to see the Scroll of Honor unveiled Thursday, it was an emotional moment.

The names carved in stones are set into a tree-encircled grassy mound, and their stories are preserved on a website where each one has a page and people can add pictures, thoughts and memories.

Easily more than 1,000 people, most of them family and friends of Clemson alumni who died in war, came Thursday to honor those who served as the Scroll of Honor was dedicated on a picture-perfect spring day.

“Their bodies are buried in peace, but their names liveth forever,” said retired Col. Ben Scarden, who survived the Bataan Death March and whose life was saved in a prisoner-of-war camp by two Clemson classmates. They never made it home and now their names are inscribed here.

The Scroll of Honor, across the street from the East Gate of Clemson’s Memorial Stadium and Howard’s Rock, is “a permanent reminder of the sacrifices of those Clemson alumni and their families,” said retired U.S. Army Col. Danny Rhodes, who was co-chairman of the project along with retired Brig. Gen. Hap Carr.

“Service and sacrifice to you are not just words. They are reality,” said keynote speaker retired Col. Larkin Spivey, who served in Vietnam, writes books, and lost twin uncles — Clemson alumni who died flying a bomber over Holland together as pilot and co-pilot.

“We understand the full tragedy of war only when we understand that real lives in the present and the future are affected,” Spivey said. “They were real men and women with real families.”

Duane Ryan, student body president, accepted the gift of the memorial from the Clemson Corps to the university on behalf of the student body. It is “a poignant reminder of the responsibilities that accompany being a citizen of a free country,” he said. Students contributed $150,000 to the project, Ryan said.

Of his many “wonderful opportunities to represent my alma mater,” Clemson President James Barker said there have been “none more meaningful than today.”

This “remarkable space” is a “sacred place,” Barker said. It is both “companion and completion” of Clemson’s Memorial Stadium, given its name in 1942, in the midst of world war, to honor alumni who made the ultimate sacrifice.The only sound was a baby’s cry as Clemson ROTC cadets slowly lowered the Stars and Stripes during a memorial service that was part of the dedication, voicing the emotion felt by many, like Taylor, who remembered loved ones.

“It is important that we remember those who gave their lives in service of our country to give us freedom,” Anne Cargill said. “All of those who are honored are real heroes, and it’s important to keep their names immortalized.”

They were immortalized Thursday, with full military ceremony, 21 shots fired in salute by Clemson’s Pershing Rifles, and the lonely bugle playing “Taps.” A woman in a yellow dress wiped her eyes repeatedly but tears wouldn’t stop flowing.

Far beyond the campus, on Capitol Hill, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham made a statement for the congressional record Thursday to mark the event. The Scroll of Honor, he said, is “a testament” to Clemson’s “continued commitment to honoring those who serve our country.”

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We're not kidding, Slim.
We will never forget you!

Birthday Message

Gary, it was your birthday last week and we should have been celebrating. How can we celebrate, when we miss you so much?

The years go by, but time stands still in the depth of the pain left behind by your leaving us.

We will always miss you Gary, this can't change, and can't be fixed, so we go on each day and make it through the best we can.

Love always,

Mum & Dad

Happy Belated Birthday Gary

Since I didn't get on here to say happy birthday on your birthday, I thought I would say it on mine. It's funny, but there are always times when I think "Gary would have liked this". I got the new Star Trek movie for my birthday and I remember first seeing it and thinking "Gary would have liked this". I seem to do this every time I see or experience something you would have liked.

We have a new dog and cat (Sydney & Sam), and as usual I know that you would love Sydney. He's a Cattle Dog, so he think he can herd us where he wants us.

Again, Happy Belated Birthday Gary!!!!

Love,

Phillip

Gary:
It was five years ago this morning when I got the awful news so even though July 21st is the horrible date, I think of the 21st as my last day of ignorant bliss.

A few weeks ago it was the TWENTIETH anniversay of Tiannamen (spelling? who gives a f) Square. I recall how we watched that incident in the hotel the night before going to PLC-Srs and we didn't give a shit about anything in China that's for sure. Twenty years man, can you believe it? Remember that Staff Sergeant Instructor who said to you, "Candidate, you got no lack of discipline!" and like the smart ass you are you said, "Thank you, Sergeant Instructor!"

I talked to your mom Monday night and was in a much better mood after that, strangely enough considering everything. I remember how full of life you were even in your darkest days, always doing stuff and never letting situations get the best of you. You were always in charge of yourself, even when everything around you might have been chaotic. I try to remember that example you set and apply it. It's not easy.

Anyway, not much going on here in New York, except that we have two puppies now and they take all our time. You would love them both, I remember how upset you when my little dachshund Rocky would get the best of your Gomez. Well these littls guys are FIERCE. Too fearless actually, they think Dobermans and Rottweilers are their equals. The girl is a total slut too, she concerns me. Don't see how people have kids I would be a basketcase.

Here are some pics:



















Whatever advance party you're on for the rest of us, I hope you get everything squared away before we get there, don't f it up, okay? Yoo know me, I don't want much, just a beachfront villa and five-star restaurants.

I miss you and it doesn't get any easier. Whatever fool said "Time heals all wounds" never had a real wound, that's for sure.

All our love
Rich

5 years later

Gary,
5 years seems so long ago now but at the same time that day is fresh in my mind (a little after midnight on the 22nd actually for me). It's funny how you can sometimes not remember what you did the day before but some days stay with you for your whole life. We all miss you and time won't change that.