April 29,2008

The site has been down for a couple of months but is back up till the end of October 2008 There are two folks that order DVD and they will be on there way by the middle of May. Please forgive me for the site going down but I have been through some troubling times. If you need to get a hold of me there is up to date information on the main page Again sorry for the site being down but it up again to honor those we lost- May God Bless all of you

Ed Lamica

June 26. 2005

 It has been sometime since I last reported to everyone. The guest book is back up and running. The link to the Beirut Veterans has been updated and "The Human Side" is know available on DVD but because of the cost of the disks the donation for those will be $10. I will try to keep this web site going till the 25th anniversary. If any groups or Beirut Veterans Chapters have news they would like to have put out please email me or drop me a line. The address in on the main page. I have gotten a few email about Beirut Veterans and will be adding them as time allows . We will try to do a better job of doing updates about the site. God Bless and talk with everyone later

Ed Lamica

The human side of Beirut
October 18, 2003
CYNDI BROWN
JACKSONVILLE DAILY NEWS STAFF

Ed Lamica, like many Americans, went searching for answers after 9-11.

To find them, the retired sailor knew he had to start with Beirut.

"We were the first Americans to face suicide bombers," said Lamica, who was in Beirut from January to June of 1983.

In April of that year, a terrorist driving a van loaded with 2,000 pounds of explosives drove into the American Embassy there. Seventeen Americans, including Marine Cpl. Robert V. McMaugh, were killed.

Six months later, 241 more Americans - most of them Marines from Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station - would die when a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden truck into the barracks where they were sleeping.

The memories came flooding back on Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists flew jetliners into both towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.

"The reality was, they followed us home," said Lamica.

Until that time, Lamica, a Wilmington native, had never visited the Beirut Memorial in Jacksonville. He was haunted, he said, by the men who relieved him in Beirut and died four months later.

"I still saw their faces," he said.

But after 9-11, Lamica's wife, Nancy, insisted he visit the granite wall at Camp Johnson. He attended the 2001 Beirut memorial service.

"I made a promise to myself and the families. We're going to talk about the human side," Lamica said.

It took him two years to fulfill that promise, in the shape of a documentary film called "The Human Side."

He created it for two reasons: to present a historical record and let the families who lost loved ones on 9-11 see how others who had been through something similar had coped. The documentary is airing on Camp Lejeune's LCTV-10 daily through Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Time Warner Cable customers in the Jacksonville can see it daily at 4 p.m.

Lamica, 50, said he wanted to show what happens after what he calls the "visuals" stop.

"You see the caskets lifted off the plane, and people think that's the end," said Lamica. "But that's only the beginning."

To start the documentary project, Lamica had to get in touch with family members and Beirut veterans, but didn't know how to approach those who might not be willing to remember that Oct. 23 day. With the help of Mark Schallow, a retired Marine Corps master sergeant and a graphic designer, Lamica created the Web site www.beirut-documentary.org to let family members come to him on their own. Now the site has become a memorial itself, Lamica said.

Even with plans to make the documentary, Lamica still had no camera and no editing equipment.

"And somehow it all worked out," said Lamica, who was a first class photographers mate in the Navy and holds a bachelor of arts in communications studies from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He also works part time as a videographer for area TV stations.

Lamica said there were times he would have trouble focusing the stories or making each scene flow as he was working on the film. For inspiration, he would drive to the memorial in Jacksonville and just touch the names linked to families he interviewed.

One was Staff Sgt. Charles Martin, who died in the barracks bombing.

"It's been a long time, but still I remember everything that happened," said his widow, Cita Martin, a Jacksonville resident. When she first heard about the blast and her husband's death she thought, "I feel it's the end of me, but I have two kids and I have to be with them."

Martin and her daughter, Charlita Covington, who was 8 years old when she lost her dad, are two of the 22 family members and Beirut veterans featured in the film.

"It really helped me a lot, expressing my feelings," said Martin, who thinks it could also help the families of 9-11.

"Really, it's almost the same, September 11 and Beirut," she said. "I know how they feel. I just opened my heart and talked to them. It's an important thing to have the stories.

"Each individual has different ways to cope with loss," added Martin, who has missed only one Oct. 23 memorial service over the years. "You just have to live every day. It's really hard, but you have to go on with life. It happened. You cannot stop there."

Martin said she's pleased with how the documentary turned out.

"He really did good with the Beirut documentary," said Martin. "It was real important to him."

Lamica said he knew from the start the documentary wouldn't be a groundbreaking record, but he became frustrated when there was no outlet for it. He had trouble pitching it to networks or other sources.

"It's just to show this remarkable story of human spirit and courage," said Lamica. "It's a valuable story these folks have.

"A lot of people poured their hearts out," he added, describing the stories of families and survivors. "The spirit grabs you. It just grabs you.

"It's got a message. It's a very powerful, emotional message of remembering," he added. ""Remember the people that made the sacrifices for this country, the sacrifices that are made in Iraq right now. If we remember, we might not have to go through this again."

Lamica said he hopes viewers take away the courage and the spirit of the people that are on this film.

"I just hope that spirit stays as it has here," said Lamica, "and that's the answer it gave me: That we're human. So, yeah, I got my answers."

Copies of "The Human Spirit" are $8, which covers the cost of the tape and shipping and handling.

-30-

April 18th, 2003

Dear Friends and Supporters,

It is hard to believe that 20 years ago today an event would change our country future in the present as well as the future of the whole planet. As a 30-year-old sailor, I knew I was documenting history in the making. I did not know it would play the role it did 20 years later. After meeting so many great people in doing the documentary that it has, let Nancy and me grow in such way that we now know that that life is short and too beautiful to waste. We live each day with the spirit of the fine people we have met during the making of this film. We are proud that we did the film; it may not be perfect but it is from our hearts. For you that we interviewed please sent us an e-mail and let us know if you would like a DVD or VHS copy of the film. For you that are waiting to buy a copy, I’m still having problems coming up with a cost to charge for the film but will have the cost soon. Keep checking this Web site.

I would like to thank Charles Hall and Congressmen Walter B. Jones for the work to get a bill passed supporting the call for a U.S. postage stamp in honor of the peacekeepers and all that served in Beirut. The bill is in the government reform committee and if more people do not write this committee the bill HR-45 will die as well as the hopes of many mothers that fought for this stamp. I call on my fellow Beirut Veterans to take a stand, start making calls to every member of the Congress and the Senate to get this bill back on it feet and passed. In light of the bill being sent to that committee, I’m having my Congressmen getting a copy of the documentary to the First Lady in the White House. If the film makes it to the White House and is viewed by her, I have asked the First Lady to help us to get this stamp made. If any of you know of someone who is in the media, please ask them to do a story on the fight for the stamp. We have only two weeks to get the word out to the rest of America that our brothers deserve a stamp in their honor. Please support Charles’ fight to get this stamp through and let's honor the mothers that have tried to get this stamp done by supporting them by putting the pressure on the U.S. Postal Service and the Citizen Stamp Advisory Committee to do the right thing.

The film is still sitting at HBO, and I'm waiting to hear from them and we should also be hearing from the Silverdoc Film Festival sometime in May. We will let you know if we make it. We are still trying to get someone to show it nationally with no luck. We will keep trying to make that happen.

God Bless all who 20 years ago were affected by the events of the first Americans to face suicide bombers on 18 April 1983. Our hearts and minds are with you this day of remembering.

Ed and Nancy Lamica
The Beirut Documentary

January 8th, 2003

Dear Friends,

A lot has happened since our last newsletter, so much I do not know were to begin. During the week of Thanksgiving, Nancy and me made a 2,700-mile road trip from North Carolina to Franklin, Tenn., and interviewed Colonel Tim Geragthy. He and his wife are really great people. From there it was across Tennessee into and through Virginia on our way to Staten Island, N.Y., to interview John Chipura's young brother Gerard, a New York City fireman. He is one hell of an American as is the whole Chipura family. Then we were off for Albany, N.Y., before all that snow was dumped on them. I put Nancy on a train for some time with her mother in western New York. She has given up so much this year but has believed in me and this project, so a little time with her mother was good. With the help of a college classmate using his video editing and transfer facility we worked for three days late into the night doing the final editing of the documentary. We left Albany on Thanksgiving morning, and traveled to Rochester and had a great dinner with in-laws. Took my mother-in-law to home in southwest New York on Thursday night. Friday evening we drove to Washington, D.C., and stayed the night and drove back to North Carolina the next day. We spent Sunday taking off the road burn from our buttons. Also, we have a new personal e-mail address which is edlamica@earthlink.net.

The documentary is done but I have to purchase the rights to two of the photos in the documentary before I can do anything with the film. First, I have to get a license ($300) to be able to use the cover of Time Magazine from October 31, 1983 and get a license ($300 to $400) for using the photograph itself from AP. All other material is covered copyright-wise from the pool footage of the embassy to the footage from AFRTS of the barracks.

Nancy and me are proud that we have not asked anyone for donations, until now. We have traveled more than 8,000 miles interviewing 22 people for the documentary. We have close to $40,000 invested in the film of our own money.

What I'm about to ask hurts me to no end.

You ~ the Beirut families that have given so much. I'm asking you to donate a dollar or two to help pay for the use of those two photo's and help with the marketing cost of this film. I was hoping to make some money from this film but with my fellow American military families preparing and headed to war. Now, all Nancy and I want is for the American people to see the courage and American Spirit (THE HUMAN SIDE) of the Beirut Family. When I get over this hurdle the documentary will be ready to make copies for everyone to have. I’m working out the details of best way to handling request for copies. I do not have the funds to give them away for free but I'm working with my college classmate on keeping the cost down per copy on DVD and VHS. I will let you all know what we come up with as far as a price. I have been trying to get someone form the media to do a story on the project hoping that it will catch the eye of the networks and they will run this documentary. Folks, Nancy and me have done our best to show the human side of dealing, living with this type of terrorism and the pain that goes with it. We hope that it will help people who are searching for answers and bring some peace to their souls. My classmate, after looking at the film weeks later told me, “When I thinking about your film, I see it has no ending.” I explained to him the reason for that is because we must remember the cost paid by many for the freedoms we have in this country.

We are changing the Web site around a little, and have removed the invitation and submission page. We will be adding an information page for the events of the upcoming 20th Memorial Service and things that will be going on in Jacksonville that week. And finally, a page for the 9/11 Memorial Flag that so many people worked on. When you visit the Web site you will see just how beautiful the flag is because of the good camera work of our webmaster.

In closing there so many people I need to thank for the help with this project but you all know how thankful and grateful that our paths have crossed and how blessed Nancy and me are to have met and received your e-mails of support. But I will not rest until this film is seen by all American people. I pray I have honored you folks and that of the brave souls, my fellow Americans, lost to terrorism.

God Bless Everyone,
Ed and Nancy Lamica

If you want to help us with this film, please mail all donations to:

The Beirut Documentary
P.O. Box 155
Castle Hayne, NC 28429

October 19th, 2002

Dear Friends,

No words I could put here would do justice to this day or the experiences we felt then or now. But, we are doing one thing right by remembering our fallen brothers, sisters, and friends. May God take you by the hand and hold it close to his heart on Wednesday. This should not be a sad time because we celebrate their lives, not mourn them. Many may have forgotten us but the courage and the American spirit we show is a beacon for others to be guided and help through these trouble times in our history. May our example show the world how terrorism does not weaken us ~ it makes us stronger.

I want to thank all of you that have sent me e-mails and signed our Guest Book. As I stated in the beginning of this project, there was no story without you. If you are at the memorial service this Wednesday, please introduce yourself to my wife and me. We would love to meet you. For those that are unable to make it to this year’s service, I want to thank you for enriching my life with your words, support, and stories.

At the beginning of the project on my computer monitor at work I attached 3x5-inch index card with these words on it, “This project is bigger than you; have the wisdom to do it right.”

I believe I have done that with this project. I believe I have done that, but that will be judged by others. One thing is clear it could not have been done without your help. I will close for now and l hope to see many of you on Wednesday, October 23rd. If not, God bless all of you.

With respect,
Ed Lamica

We will be entering this film in the Sundance™ Film Festival. If selected for the festival, this will bring to light the courage and the American Spirit I saw almost a year ago ~ the first time I got the courage to attend the Beirut Memorial service at the “second wall,” in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

With respect,
Ed Lamica
Beirut Veteran

July 8th, 2002

Dear Friends,

As this Nation celebrated this country’s 226 years of independence, I have to stop to remember the many lives it has took to keep this nation what it is ~ the land of the brave and the home of the free. I think of the collective spirit of these American heroes that gave the supreme gift of their lives to this country and tears come to my eyes, with the hope that someday this will be Independence Day for all of mankind. May God Bless this great Nation with all the good and bad it has. I will always say, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America; and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” because this pledge is all I know and would not have it in any other way, form, or language. This pledge and our flag as been paid for in full by those that give their lives for us and those that are in Harm’s Way now.

The documentary is going well, I will be in San Diego this weekend, if you are from this area and would like to get up with me when I'm there call me at the number on this website. The following week I will be in Austin, Texas interviewing people for the documentary, and the same applies if you would like to meet with me in Austin. I will be doing an interview here at home on Wednesday this week. We have added a page to the site it is called “The Heroes Page.” It’s a place where families that want to post a picture and a biography of their lost loved one can do so, to share with us and the visitors to the Web site. In the past three months more than 1,200 people from 27 countries have visited the site. Talking about the Web site, if you get a chance, please send an email to our Webmaster thanking him for the fine work he is doing with this site.

I hope your Fourth of July was a good and a safe one. As you see the next two or three weeks are going to be busy. If you have called the our phone number and you got the answering machine, we are most likely at work, on the road filming. So if you get the answering machine, please leave us your number. We want to hear from everybody. Please stay in touch and call us with any questions you might have.

May God Bless You All!

With respect,
Ed Lamica

April 18th, 2002

Dear Friends,

April 18th, 2002 at 1 p.m. marked the 19th Anniversary of the first Americans to face a suicide bomber with the attack on the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon killing 17 Americans. Please join me in a minute of silent prayer at 1 p.m. to honor and remember those brave women and men who lost their lives that day. Please pray for those families whose pain is sharpened this day each year. May God Bless each and everyone of them. Many of us still remember this day each year with a silent prayer to those 17 Americans.

I have spent a better part of a month asking the national media to do a story about the anniversary of this event with no luck. We will see if it is even mentioned on the news at all. For the documentary, it is going well. We have interviewed two people and have another one set up for the 26th of April in Washington, D.C. We are waiting on the word about a new computer to edit the documentary.

A special thanks to retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant Mark A. Schallow who has taken over the duties of Webmaster for this site and has set up a guest book for those to drop us a line. Thanks to Mark, more people are seeing the Web site and remembering. I hope you will keep coming to this site and I have contacted several people by e-mail and would like to hear from you by e-mail or by a phone call.

God Bless You All!

Ed Lamica