CLEARWATER, FL — A decorated veteran attended a neighborhood Memorial Day gathering Monday where he was outperformed, in terms of total speaking time, by a man who came within one recruiter visit of enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 2003.
The veteran, Staff Sergeant (Retired) Dale Huffman, 41, of Clearwater, Florida, who served two tours in Helmand Province with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, arrived at the residence of his neighbor, Craig Fetzer, at approximately 1:15 p.m. He accepted a beer, located the brisket, and did not speak for approximately eleven minutes.
The address began at 1:26 p.m.
Fetzer, 43, a regional sales coordinator who describes himself as having “basically been in the military, mentally,” opened his remarks by noting that Memorial Day is “not just about the day off.” He then provided a brief history of American military engagements from the Civil War through the present day, citing sources he declined to name but described as “stuff I’ve looked into.”
Huffman, who during this period refilled his beer twice and examined the brisket thermometer without comment, was not asked to speak.
“Craig’s very passionate,” said Fetzer’s wife, Renee, who was observed retreating into the garage approximately nine minutes into the address. “He really cares.”
At the 22-minute mark, Fetzer pivoted to his personal connection to military service, explaining that he had driven to a Marine Corps recruiting station in Tampa in March of 2003 with the genuine intention of enlisting, but had ultimately decided against it after a conversation with his mother, a scheduling conflict, and what he described as “just a feeling.” He stated that he has thought about this decision “a lot” and that he “respects the hell” out of the people who made the other choice.
Huffman, when reached for comment, confirmed that the brisket was ready at the 38-minute mark.
“It hit 203. That’s where you want it,” he said. “I didn’t say anything.”
He did not elaborate.
Fetzer concluded his remarks at 1:51 p.m. with a moment of silence that lasted approximately four seconds, followed by a toast that he described as being “for all of them.” Attendees raised their drinks. One child asked what they were toasting. No one answered.
When asked about Huffman’s service record specifically, Fetzer confirmed that he was “aware Dale had done some stuff over there” and expressed genuine admiration. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about,” he said. “Guys like Dale. That’s what today is for.”
Huffman had moved to the cooler.
The brisket was served at 2:04 p.m. and was described by multiple attendees as excellent. Huffman, who trimmed and smoked it over fourteen hours using a method he developed during a deployment to Ramadi in 2007, accepted a compliment from Fetzer, who told him it was “almost as good as the one I did last Fourth of July.”
Huffman confirmed the brisket was good.
“Yeah,” he said. “It came out okay.”
A follow-up address is expected at the Fourth of July gathering. Huffman has not confirmed attendance.
