The photo album beams with the joy of a newlywed couple boundlessly in love.  One picture shows Christopher Bordoni carrying his bride Jesse as her smile stretches wide. Another shows the 20 year old Marine Corporal in his dress blues with her clutching on to him with a hold reserved for young men going off to war.  She had every right to be jubilant. Their future appeared to be limitless. Thank goodness Jesse held her man tight.

Tonight Corporal Bordoni returned home in a flag draped casket.  The Marines flew him to Syracuse's Hancock Airport from Texas where he died nearly three months after being critically wounded in Afghanistan. It's a war that has stretched for more than a decade leaving young widows to weep.

The greater Central New York community embraced the return tonight.  The Patriot Guard Riders escorted the hearse as it left the airport, traveled south on Route 81 and headed for the Bordoni hometown of Ithaca. From time to time you could see Americans lining the route saluting the fallen Marine.

Over the next couple of days family and friends will shed more tears. The mother of the Marine has lost her heroic son.  The young widow is left with the photos of an all too brief time together for her and her Marine, and the memory of those moments where she pressed against his uniform praying he would safely come home.

Any questions or comment please forward them to mattsmemo@CNYcentral.com. I may even use some of your thoughts on NBC 3 News at 5:00, the 10:00 News on CW6 or on CNYcentral.com.

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