Walter Valentine speaks at his retirement ceremony at the Pacific Views event center on Feb. 14. Val has been serving the Marine Corps for 64 years, first on active duty climbing through the enlisted ranks and then on the civilian side helping Marines and sailors transition back into the civilian world. Val closed with “To the love of my life, I couldn’t have done it without you, your love and your support. You brought up six wonderful children while I was gone to war, maneuvers and TAD. I’m going to miss going up to my office, looking out the window and seeing people come to work, seeing the sun rise and listening to colors. That truly will be missed. People ask what I will be doing now, well I will let time take its course, walk my one mile a day and if it comes down to it, I will fire my gardeners and take over the yard.” Valentine retired on Camp Pendleton as a Sergeant Major in 1973 and then spent the next four decades with Marine Corps Community Services retiring Feb. 14, 2014.