Goodbye “El Toro,” Hello “Great Park”

“A Time To Remember” - A Marine Pilot’s Farewell

I took my last “El Toro” walk, thru the future to be “Great Park”
And it had an aura of a strangely reminiscent mystery: - -
When the thoughts of thousands of my Fellow Marines
That I served with, passed this way during my military history.

As I solemnly walked thru this now closed Marine Air Base,
Sadly, I thought to myself, I’m really going to miss this place.
I have memories here for over thirty long years
And my family and I find it hard, to hold back the tears!

Memories linger everywhere, both on the ground and in the air.
I will always well remember, my jet fighter takeoffs
And performing multiple flyovers in the skies,
In days now gone forever, it’s hard to keep dry eyes!

We made so many friends here all along the way,
Their children played with ours, almost everyday.
We bonded with all of these, courageous and wonderful others,
In the Marine Corps, “you’re family,” and all others are your brothers!

And now, with a very nostalgic and wistful eye,
A roar causes my glance to turn toward the sky
In time to see the last “El Toro” Marine jet,
Leave for “Miramar,” tipping its wings in a final goodbye!

My families proud farewell is now sadly complete,
Our thirty year duty to country now grandly replete,
With a final snappy salute, from the Marine gate sentry,
To my families civilian life, we now make our re-entry.

William Grant Burns, Poet Laureate