I would like to take his opportunity to thank you for all that you did for our friend and fellow life long rugger, Mark Marseglia.  You gave him comfort and counsel during the darkest moment of his life, while he was searching for his daughter Becky, last week.  Becky is home now and has been laid to rest, but we can't forget all those who supported our dear friend Mark and the Marseglia Family.

Mark and I talked many times in the early part of the week, we all offered to come down to Orlando, but he keep telling us it was covered.  He keep telling me that there was this Referee, a Pat McCollum, who was staying at the motel with him and how they would talk, it gave him focus.  Since he's been home, we would go over the events of the past week, he would continues mentions your words of wisdom and comfort.  You couldn't have been a better friend to him even if you had know him his whole life.  In so many ways I think you did know him as an old buddy.  You were able to do what those of us back home couldn't do for him in Orlando.  Rugby and Life are all about the same things: Possession (Holding on to the ones and the things you love); Going Forward (Even when it hurts more than you can stand); Support (Being there); Pressure (Never giving in); Continuity (Doing all the little things over and over until it works).  I am glad you both shared this common passion

Pat, the entire Hibernian RFC Family owe you debt of gratitude that we could never completely be able to repay.  You are what is good and needed in our sport, and I hope that in some way we will be able to truly be able to show you are appreciation for your selfless acts of compassion.   You are forever in our debt

Pat, I hope that you will be able to pass along these same sentiments to the many others from the Florida Rugby Community that helped out during this time.  I know that both the Men's and the Women's Rugby teams from Orlando pitched in as well.  This was Rugby at it's best when some one in need was at his lowest point.

Chris Castner
Hibernian RFC Coaching Coordinator
"More Than a Game... A Way of Life"

Chris,

February 21^st, 2005

 To Diane Marseglia and her family

 Dear Ma’am:

            Thank you for your kind message of February 16^th, I received it after two days alone at Hawk Mountain reflecting on your daughter and found your words comforting.  Though no words of mine can possible relieve your pain, I take this opportunity to apologize for avoiding you during your daughter’s funeral.  For this I am very sorry: I simply could not find words nor stop my tears long enough to present myself.  Throughout the day I intended to introduce myself and offer consolation, but whenever I set eyes on you I saw your daughter – my friend – and was again paralyzed by grief.  To make amends, I offer a memory of Cadet Marseglia that no one else can offer.

             My proudest moment in working with your daughter took place during her staff training graduation weekend.  This weekend concludes eight intense training weekends and is used to perform a final evaluation of each trainee.  Without exception, each staff candidate must be able to overcome all obstacles on our confidence course.  Throughout the seven preceding training weekends I observed Cadet Marseglia while she faltered on the rope climb, dangled from the monkey bars, and splashed in every water obstacle.  She never complained.  By graduation weekend only one obstacle remained elusive: a seven-foot vertical wall.  Despite an immense heart, your daughter was simply too short to grab the top of the wall to pull herself over.

             After a mile run, calisthenics, and an intense confidence course, Cadet Marseglia stood alone in front of the wall with only my staff and I evaluating.  She ran as fast as she could, jumped as high as she could…and slammed her body into the wall.  She proceeded to repeat the process seven times.  Your daughter stood before us covered in mud and freshly bruised, her hands bleeding as she shook from fatigue, but eh only time she spoke was to refuse assistance.  As her commander I would not allow her to endure further injury and commanded her to stop.  Cadet Marseglia refused even to rest and only agreed to a compromise by my strict order.  I placed a milk crate in front of the wall allowing your daughter to almost reach the top without making the obstacle any less challenging.  She mounted the crate and once again jumped as high as she could: in the flash of an eye she lost her grip.  Before we could catch her, an audible crack was heard resulting from her arm hitting the wooden wall.  As she fell her knee smacked against the crate before a battered Cadet Marseglia landed face-down in a pool of mud.

             Before I could command her to stop – and with tears in her eyes – Cadet Marseglia ran to the crate, stared at the top of the wall, and launched herself upward.  Somehow her hands gripped the top and she pulled herself up.  My staff and I held the back of her legs to prevent her from falling, but it was your daughter that pulled herself up and over.  Climbing down the other side, your daughter gave us a quick glance, turned, and limped back to her squadron to complete the training.  Though she didn’t know it, at that moment Cadet Marseglia earned her yellow scarf and gave hope to a commander that had been doubting his abilities.

            Becky may have told you about the relationship of the staff at Hawk Mountain : we consider ourselves to be a family in every sense of the word.  This has been especially true for me as I was embraced by the Ranger family at a time when I had none of my own.  The Rangers saved my life and made me the person I am today, and so I continue to serve teenagers and provide them with the same opportunity.  While growing up in a broken home in northeast Philadelphia , Hawk Mountain provided me with sanctuary and self-respect.  Several years later the same happened for my sister, Jody, who shared a tent with your daughter and served as her squadron medic in July.  Jody and I wept together throughout last week.

            Cadet Marseglia was a motivated, enthusiastic Ranger and it was an honor to serve her as a commander.  She was loved by both the staff and her teammates and her memory has allowed each of us to display an intimate side not usually visible in our training environment.  Her dearest friends and teammates during staff training were Gabrielle Quatse and Kara Smith: on Tuesday I held both in my arms as they wept on my shoulders.  This weekend both cadets worked under me at our Winter Survival School : though they continue to ache from the loss, Becky’s memory gives them strength just as it has brought all of us so much closer together.  Even now, Becky Marseglia continues to make Hawk Mountain a home to growth and compassion.

            I hope that my words have not upset you; I send them as an extension of my tears and as an accompaniment to my search and rescue patch that rests on Becky’s coffin.  I offer them not as a Ranger but as someone who considers Becky and all Ranger staff cadets to be my family.  Becky will forever be my sister.  If the Marseglia family finds itself in need, I and the Ranger family are forever at your service.

Respectfully,

 Jonathan Blumenfield

 2^nd Lt Jon Blumenfield

United States Air Force Auxiliary (CAP)

Hawk Mountain Ranger School

Staff Training 2004 Sqdn Bravo CO