‘Murphys’ always faithful to Marine: Fallen hero was fan of Hub band

[Ian David]

‘Murphys’ always faithful to Marine: Fallen hero was fan of Hub band
By Michele McPhee
Thursday, August 18, 2005 - Updated: 06:49 AM EST

Andrew Farrar's Marine platoon had made a vow that none of them would write ``what if'' letters home from Iraq, convinced that just talking about dying in combat would be a kind of curse.

So his letters home were full of promise instead of dread, with one gushing about a Christmas gift of a CD of his favorite band, Boston's own Dropkick Murphys.

``Thanks Ma. I got your package today. I love (Dropkick Murphys) `The Fields of Athenry.' I swear I want them to play that song on the pipes at my funeral when I die,'' Farrar wrote in his last letter home to Weymouth.

``When Andrew wrote that he meant he wanted bagpipers to play it when he died of old age,'' said his brother, Nate Farrar, 25.

The older brother was just weeks away from coming home when he wrote that letter. He planned to renew his wedding vows to his wife Melissa as their little boys, Tyler, 7, and Liam, 3, watched.

But the next letter from Iraq was from the Marines.

``We regret to inform you that on January 28 Sgt. Andrew Farrar died while serving his country in the Al-Anbar province of Iraq. Words cannot convey our sorrow.''



More:
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=98539

[KarenInMA]

1. Wow. This makes me forgive the DKM for the awful "Tessie".

This is so sweet. Thanks for posting this.

[jackster]

2. Karen....

I don't know much about DKMs or Tessie but I like the tune and don't know any of the words........ what's the problem? (other than my Bush/War lovin' son ADORES them!)

[KarenInMA]

3. Ahh.. you see,

after every Sox game, that song get's played, and it's annoying! I hate that song, and I had to hear it 162 times last year, plus all the 100's of times NESN played it in commercials. It's not so prevelant this year, thank god.

[Loonman]

4. Better than "Sweet Caroline"

Neil Diamond? Puh-leeze!