Always Faithful

by Carole Moore

Sgt. Rick Blankenship was a U.S. Marine and the only man Debby had ever loved. The two married as soon as she graduated from high school in the Army town of Fayetteville , N.C., and settled into the transient military lifestyle. Eventually, Rick was stationed at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in Jacksonville, N.C. , not far from their home town.

          The year was 1983 and the Middle East boiled over with conflict. Soon Rick's unit received orders to take part in a peacekeeping mission in Beirut, Lebanon.

          Rick packed his bags, kissed his young wife and two-year-old son and settled into the Marine Barracks in Beirut . Personal computers weren't part of the landscape yet, so Rick and Debby kept in touch with frequent letters. Then, on Sept. 17, 1983, on the occasion of their fifth wedding anniversary, Rick called home. They talked for an hour. It was the last time the two would speak.

          On Oct. 23, 1983, Debby and her mother were on an annual out-of-town shopping trip when they heard the news that the barracks was targeted by a suicide bombing. Certain Rick was away from the barracks on a training exercise, Debby didn't worry. But her confidence was premature,  before the day was out she was notified that Rick, along with more than 240 others, had died in the terrible bomb blast.

          Debby was devastated. Pulling up stakes, she moved and kept on moving, always searching for something to take away the pain of losing her only love. Finally, she settled in Nashville.

          Debby wasn't looking for love the night she met Eric Horner. A friend insisted she accompany him to a small club where Eric, the band director for country singer Lee Greenwood, played with a small group. But she couldn't help finding the tall, good-looking man with the mesmerizing voice and lightening fast guitar compelling.

          The two began dating. Then, on Sept. 11, 2001, the World Trade Center collapsed as Debby sat and watched, transfixed. All she could think of was how much the incident reminded her of the bombing that cost her Marine husband's life.

          Debby pulled up photos of the Beirut bombing on the Internet and showed them to Eric, who realized for the first time just how deeply Debby still felt her loss. Inspired by Debby, he retired to his home studio, where he  penned and recorded a patriotic song entitled, "We Will Stand."

          On Oct. 23, 2001 , Eric, an accomplished country and gospel performer, sang at the annual memorial service honoring the men who died in Beirut . But he wanted to do more. When the Horners returned home to Nashville , he started working on another song, dedicated to Rick and the rest of the men who died in Beirut .

          Called "Always Faithful," it takes its name from the Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis. One line reads:

"It takes a heart of courage, a hero through and through, a patriot, a soldier, the proud and the few, Semper Fi."

          Eric gave free use of the song for fundraising purposes to the foundation that supports the Beirut Memorial, built in Jacksonville entirely from community donations. The following year, Debby watched as Eric  stood beneath the towering statue of a Marine in combat gear, elevated on a platform before a wall carved with the names of the men who died at the hands of terrorists in Beirut, and sang a song dedicated to the first man his wife ever loved.

          Did Eric feel strange paying tribute to Rick? Not at all, says Eric.

          " This is a guy who laid down his life for his country," Eric said. "He's a hero."