I just heard a story on WNYC about Marine Lance Cpl. Julian T. Brennan, 25, who when a roadside bomb exploded during a combat operation in Afghanistan.
If the war in Afghanistan seems far away, it's not. The family moved to Park Slope in 2003. They learned of their son's death when Marine officials showed up at their Park Slope door. Just like in the movies.
His parents also learned that he'd secretly married his girlfriend, Bettina Beard-Brennan, before he went to Afghanistan, so that if he should die, she would receive widow's benefits. A very loving gesture.
Julian, a handsome Brooklyn youth, was a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and an employee of the Martha Stewart show. As reported by Tom Witt on Your Nabe, Julian, a singer/songwriterm often played at the open mic at Bar
47, 444 7th Avenue,
But it was his grandfather, James Brennan, a Marine who fought in Iwo Jima, who was Julian's hero. And he was the reason Julian wanted to become a marine.
Like many Park Slopers, Julian voted for Barack Obama and called his parents on Inauguration Day from Afghanistan. Here is the announcement that arrived in my inbox from Marty Markowitz:
“Brooklyn extends its deepest condolences to
the family, friends and fellow Marines of Lance Cpl. Julian T. Brennan,
who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation while serving in
Afghanistan. We grieve with
Lance Cpl. Brennan’s loved ones and hope they will be comforted by the
prayers and thoughts of millions of Brooklynites, New Yorkers and
Americans grateful for his valiant service.”
Survivors include
Julian Brennan’s wife, Bettina Beard-Brennan, his father Billy Brennan,
mother Thya Merz, a brother James, and sister Shannon.
Julian will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia next to his grandfather.
julian was a wonderful young man, he was doing what was asked of him, he was my son in laws best friend. they are all hero’s god bless them all! and pray for all of them. they are doing this for us.
I feel really bad for the widow and the family but the guy was on a hero mission in an effort to emulate his deceased grandfather and has apparently followed in his footsteps. Are we all crazy? It seems as every day I read about another dead American in the Iraq or Afghanistan theatre. Is this really worth it? This man and his family are now broken over this nonsense that will never come to an end. We will end up just like the soviets and the British.