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Keeping a father’s promise

by Jonn Lilyea••45

Stars & Stripes tells the story of how the mates of Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar kept his promise to his step-daughter, Octavia Osborne, to attend her graduation after he was killed in Afghanistan earlier this year.

Octavia had heard that some of her dad’s brothers-in-arms planned to attend her graduation ceremony May 25, but the reality of what that meant didn’t really sink in at first.

“It dawned on me here and there that they were going to be there, but it didn’t really hit me until I got to the graduation and saw all those men sitting there in the stands,” she said.

The contingent from the 7th Group included not only the Green Berets in their dress uniforms, but many of their spouses and children as well. When [De Alencar’s widow] Natasha and her mother, Yolanda Thornton, arrived at the stadium, Octavia’s special cheering section was already in place.

“They were saving seats for us!” Natasha said, her voice still filled with amazement at the memory. “I was overwhelmed. Everyone who was there had taken time out of their busy lives because they knew we had that void we were missing. They just wanted to let us know that they had our back.”

Thanks to Frankie for the tip.

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45 thoughts on “Keeping a father’s promise”

    1. And hat’s off to the school for not being a bunch of @$$-hats and trying to block uniforms like some other States.

      For those watching the video – skip to the 1:44:40 mark…

      1. “And hat’s off to the school”.
        This is in Niceville Florida, where the majority of students are either from military families, retired military families, or the families of civilian employees of the Eglin AFB complex of units. Possibly the most military friendly area in the country. Living in this area is not for those who would shun the troops.

  3. A modern day “Band of Brothers”… looking out for those left behind.

    Well done… well done

    Damn allergies kicking up again….

  4. Roger that. You read about stuff like this then read all of the liberal crap and ankle biting comments on some of the blogs and wonder how there can be so many f’d up misguided people in our country.

    1. I chose to believe that the “f’d up misguided people” are just noisier and draw more attention to themselves, but are a significant minority.

      Mr. Rogers’ advice about “looking for the helpers” holds true.

    2. Because the country as a whole, allowed God/Jesus to be taken out of schools, out of the work place, even out of a lot of the military..the very God that blessed and prospered this country from the beginning…now this is the result…how’s it working out for you?

      1. feel free to believe whatever you like, at your home and at your place of faith. Keep it out of politics and public education. Just because one believes in a deity is no guarantee that the person is a good person. god is a title, not a personal name. jesus is a greek name; not Aramaic/Hebrew, or Latin. Christ is also a title, not a personal name. it means “anointed” and also is not an Aramaic name or a Hebrew name. It is a Greek/Latin title (Latin-Chrisum/Greek-Christos) No god blesses anything. Man’s own efforts make him prosper or fail. Not mythology. The greater the separation of Church and State, the purer both will remain.

  9. Well done, Soldiers. Semper Fidelis.

    This is yet another superb example of the closeness of the brotherhood of arms that the Stolen Valor posers will never understand, nor will they ever be allowed to be a part of it in any way.

    It also helps to explain why Stolen Valor enrages real Veterans as much as it does.

    1. “It also helps to explain why Stolen Valor enrages real Veterans as much as it does.”

      Bull’s eye.

    2. I’m not sure that to some extent it doesn’t help define why some of the dickheads DO stolen valor – they desperately want to identify as part of a bond such as this, and know that their pathetic asses never can be – so they lie.

    3. “It also helps to explain why Stolen Valor enrages real Veterans as much as it does.”

      Mick, what you said!

      Damn dusty in here today.

  10. Well done men.
    This is an example of those highest ideals that the majority of US military personnel strive for. An example of the “never leave a man behind” attitude that makes people want to join the military. I’m proud and humbled to be in a military that has men of this caliber in its ranks.

  13. BZ to the Staff Sargent’s brothers in arms,
    damn, it’s getting dusty up here.

  16. Wow. What a truly wonderful thing to have done for their fallen brothers family. Well Done.

  17. Now thats a great way to end the week. Not enough stories like this are brought to light

  20. Too bad some enterprising producer didn’t learn of this in time to video it and make a short TV segment. It would have been inspirational for a nation that understands little of the warrior ethos of those who are fighting this War on Terror on their behalf.

    Well done, 7th Group.

  21. It is fitting that this comes today for me. It represents everything that is good and wholesome and honorable among those who serve and have served.

  22. I live within 6 miles of the 7th SFG(A)0 campus, and within 25 miles of Eglin AFB (Armament test and development, F-15, and more), Hurlburt Field (Combat controllers, Spectre C-130s, SpecOps Aircraft and more), Duke Field, (AF SpecOps), Navy EOD School, Camp Rudder, (6th Rangers Florida Phase Ranger School), and more.

    1. This allows me to see more Military uniforms in a day than most people see in a year. Being interested in “troop support”, my only problem is in choosing which event to attend. At lunch there are usually more uniformed customers in the sub shops than not. I love this place.

  25. Dust, pollen and wet eyes. Damn allergies. Gotta find a tissue so I can at least thumb type correctly (for the third time).

  29. As a Gold Star family member as well as a 30 year veteran, I salute them for going above and beyond in their support of the family. When we lost my Brother in Law in ’09, the Army surprised me with the level of support they showed (and it’s never diminished one bit since then). Thank you to all of them and their families – it means so much more than they will ever find words for.

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