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Mass of Christian Burial with full military honors was celebrated on
Wednesday, Feb. 27
at St. James Roman Catholic Church of North Creek, New York, with Father George
Fleming, pastor, officiating.
Before his death, in talking to his son Michael, Marsh spoke of passing on in a metaphor. He likened it to passing
through the sally port at the Academy and being greeted by the "man in the red sash".
Well done Marsh.
Be thou at peace.
The thoughts and prayers of the Class go out to Marsh's wife Audrey and their children Michael and Aileen. The family
suggests remembrances be made to the American Heart Association.
The Harrington family can be
reached at son Michael's email address:
meharrington@attbi.com.
Remembrances:
Class Memorial Pages\F-2 Marsh Harrington.pdf
At 0700 we left the BOQ at Ft Bragg and drove to Pope Air Force base. Marshall and I were booked on a space available flight
to Mitchell Field on Long Island. We were assigned as third lieutenants to the 82d Airborne in August, 1959. The plane took
off at 0830 with us aboard. The sky was an iridescent blue that increased the intensity of the sea color below us. The white
caps of the waves added a lacy border to the beach as we flew up the coast.
We landed at Mitchell at 1415 where Marsh and I parted company. I left for Manhattan on the Long Island Line. Marsh had only
a few miles to go to reach Audrey’s home. I don’t know how long he and Audrey had been dating. I do know he was determined
to get to Long Island.
We met at Union Station Sunday morning at 1000. Audrey had come with him. She had a smile that never left her face. The
train departed for Washington at 1020. I boarded the train as they said good-bye behind a pillar.
It took several hours to reach DC. We slept. It was after mid-day as we sought a ride to an obscure road junction in the
Manassas battlefield south of Washington. The executive officer of Marsh’s infantry company was to pick us up at 1600. He was
late. We waited and fretted for an hour and a half wondering what we would do if we didn’t connect. At 1730 his Corvette
pulled to the shoulder at our intersection. We stuffed ourselves into the convertible and headed south. We arrived at Bragg
sometime after midnight.
The reveille run Monday morning was a trial of endurance. My body screamed at me. I never questioned whether the trip was
worth the effort. To my knowledge, neither did Marsh.
Nearly forty-five years later, Marsh has left us on another trip. I can see him waiting at an obscure road junction. I
know that he’s waiting for a ride to return to Audrey.
Jim Goldstine
Marsh was THE avid skier. We attended Red Cross first aid courses together to qualify us to be on the American Ski
Patrol. He and Major Moffett ( I wish I could find Maj Moffett to thank him) organized helicopter and bus trips to various
ski areas in New York and Vermont. I still have an 8x10 photo of our group in front of an H-34 helicopter ready to go to
Mt Snow Vermont. Life was so good.
Marsh's later life denied him the joy of skiing. But in heaven, the skiing will always
be perfect. Happy trails, Marsh. We Love you Audrie. Hope to see you soon.
Charlie and NanSea Welsh
Marsh was the best skier I have ever known. He could rise up on the tips of his long skis and pivot 180 degrees
then drop down and continue in the new direction! He tried his best to teach me but to no avail. I still can't do
that on skis and I live just 12 miles from the slopes.
On one of our many ski trips while stationed at Ft. Carson, I locked the keys in the car. I found out that another
of Marsh'a skills was the ability to open locked cars without using keys.
We spent many pleasant hours together as Lts. and I look forward to meeting him again on the ski slopes in Paradise.
Gunnar Carlson
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