Skydiving to Salute – Iwo Jima Marines

A Fitting Sendoff for a Beloved Man: Col. Richard H. Sargent

A little over a month ago, on July 14, surrounded by friends, Colonel Dick Sargent shut his eyes to his happy world and entered a new celestial journey.

On August 14, old friends, and new friends––young men just entering the world of business, commerce, and the battlefields––came with their wives and mothers to honor him and share experiences with their friend and colleague, and share some moving stories. Over two hundred friends and family attending Dick’s Celebration of his life were buzzing amid the burgeoning, adjoining rooms of the Rolling Hills Country Club’s standing-room-only crowd.

With the greatest courage I could gather, I hugged and welcomed folks I had only heard of over the twenty-three years of our marriage. I was delighted to see so many USMMA graduates, who had flown in from all over the country to pay their respects: Ben Hayes, Tyler Marshburn, J.C. Henderson, Patricia Ormond, Cory Simoneaux, Marie Morrow, Kyle Dietz, and Kurt Mast who were accompanied by USMMA Academy Regional Admissions Director, Commander Keith Watson.

Under the direction of long-time friend, Rodney Hayes, his son Ben Hayes and Tyler Marshburn followed Dick’s wishes to bury his headstone and cast his cremains on a nearby high mountain––an arduous task hauling the hundred-pound stone even for these most fit youths. Facilitating the location of the site, Maj. Glenn Van Arsdale provided valuable latitude and longitude advice. Many visitors drove from all over the state to attend, and Jim and Charlotte Dixon, parents of USMMA senior, Gunnar Dixon, drove in from Tennessee in their RV retirement home to participate in the Celebration.

Speakers honored the broad spectrum of Dick’s life: Politics: Kathryn Isenberger, whose loyalty and high energy Dick admired; Lakewood Foothills Rotary in-coming president: William F. Graff, J.D., friend and our family attorney; USMC Memorial Foundation: USMC Sgt. Paula Sarlls ’67-‘71, who spoke of Dick’s valued friendship and financial support for the Memorial; Old and New Friends: Sgt. Lou Schroeder, Career Army Officer and long-time friend; Denver Rose Society: Ellen Nielson, Master Rosarian and Dick’s respected rose mentor; Golden Community Center: Early Morning Workout with Friends: Dr. Paul Winkler, full of fun and brilliant conversation; Quiet Birdmen, QBs, fellow aviators whom he admired: Captain Spencer Mamber, former Air Force Instructor, Pilot, and Good Fellow; Civil Air Patrol: Lt. Col. Mike Daniels, CAP, Colorado Wing Director of Public Affairs and Public Information Officer with whom Dick served as a valued crew member––Search and Rescue pilot–––for several years. As Dick had no sons of his own, he valued time with stellar young men, like Maj. Glenn Van Arsdale, USMC, Ret., who spoke of his appreciation, friendship, and mentoring from a respected senior. Both Glenn and Dick were graduates of the United States Naval Academy. Glenn, Class of 1993, and Dick Class of 1957.

Flowers from the Quiet Birdmen and Neidiger Tucker Bruner stood on easels in Dick’s honor, alongside his sword, his dress blue jacket, white cover, and gloves. And moist poignant was a petite, white nosegay thrust into my hands by a sweet lady waiting in line.

The celebration grew serious and came to order when the squad of young women cadets from Civil Air Patrol, presented the colors, followed by the United States Marines, who would later fire a three-gun salute.

At the closing, when the US Marine Corps. unit later retreated the colors by unfolding, unfurling, and refolding the American flag, seen through the clerestory windows, two bald eagles passed above. This startling event occurred just before presenting the flag to me and culminating with the mournful bugle clarion of Taps, the “Song of Remembrance,” honoring a great patriot and a much beloved man who had attained honor, distinction, and lasting friendships in his active eighty-seven years. Across business, civilian, and military service devotees, Col. Dick Sargent actively participated in a full life. He was, indeed, “the master of his fate and the captain of his soul.”

Many thanks to CEO John Givens, Master of Ceremonies, whose membership at Rolling Hills Country Club provided the beautiful venue. Thanks to USMMA parent, Diana Ormond, and my editor, Judith Delorca––close friends both––and my sons, Kent and Todd Campbell and their wives Kathy and Stephany, for their hospitality. Thanks to the Ormond sisters, Lt. Diana and Lt. Patricia, USN, Ret., for making individual boutonniere roses. Many thanks to Lt. Patricia Ormond and her fiancé, Jeffery Letchworth, for their valuable help in my home later, and to Nobuko Simoneaux for her special gift of gourmet food in the first week of my transition. Heartfelt thanks, too, to Jim and Charlotte Dixon, both retired Maines, for their assistance in helping with household tasks. The goodness of friends is overwhelming.

Thank you all,
Tricia

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