Club Members and Guests:
At another time, I will have a few words to say regarding last week's Turkey Trot I also suggest you check the archive (clock below) to read last week's blog post (if you have not already read it.). We begin our winter racing season on Saturday, with the Belle Haven Half-Marathon.
News I received this morning transcends all of this. By now, many of you know of the death of Marine Cpl. Nicholas P. Rapavi, 22, Springfield, Va. Nicholas was the son of Dr. Paul Rapavi, and of Cathy Rapavi-Burnley. Paul Rapavi is one of the mainstays of our Club. A frequent competitor, as well as a frequent volunteer, Paul also is well-known for his kind and generous spirit, traits which he obviously passed on to his son.
News reports say that Nicholas fulfilled a life-long dream by entering the Marine Corps. They also say that he died a truly heroic death, ordering his squad to stay back while he investigated a suspicious-looking gate. He was shot, "and died surrounded by his Marine brothers," according to the Washington Post.
Nicholas Rapavi chose to serve, and made the ultimate sacrifice as a result. We know that his family is proud of their son, and we share in that feeling. But we cannot know the depth of pain and loss they now suffer; for this, we can give only our support and our prayers. I know that Paul and the rest of Nicholas's family will appreciate this in their hour of mourning.
ERG
