Eli and I met at college at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. I was a third classman (Sophomore) and he was a Plebe (Freshman). I had been part of the school's Color Guard team since I was a Plebe and Eli joined the team when he came to the academy. We first got to talking and knowing each other when at practices and morning meetings. We were friends before anything else and eventually friendship blossomed into love.