Over on Pennsylvania Avenue last Friday, two morally bankrupt, truly lost souls spent their time lying about and tearing each other down as they fought for the spotlight.
At the same time, a few blocks away on North Capitol Street, an amazing thing was happening.
Over 700 people gathered as a community to lift each other up and celebrate the truth of Cullen Crowley, and the Crowley and Nilson family.
Cullen was an Annapolis graduate, a Marine, and a casualty of a savage cancer that took his life at age 25. Seven hundred people from every corner of the country and every walk of life, some were bold-faced names, others just bold souls from Montana to Maspeth.
Some were diplomats, some family from Ireland, some were rich and some not-so-rich, but they all shared equally in the wealth of grace accumulated and shared by his life, his battles, and his family.
Deeply moved by @jrpsaki’s tribute to Cullen on last night’s @PsakiBriefing. Like Kenzie and Liam, Cullen grew up surrounded by staff and colleagues — and he considered them family. Because they are.
Jen, he was so proud of everything you've accomplished. pic.twitter.com/5XSNPAw3zl
— Joe Crowley (@JoeCrowleyNY) May 28, 2025
By every account, Cullen was heroic, driven by two critical principles: others come first and never, never, never give up. Cullen was incredibly tough, but in the old school sense, not the current one, which is just a substitution for mean and loud bullying.
He was kind, decent, funny, resolute, and loyal. These values were inherited and strengthened by following the examples of those closest to him.
As his mother and father, Kasey and Joe, and his siblings, Kenzie and Liam, remembered Cullen, the entire community attending was united in the authentic, unconditional love expressed.
They were united in the experience of celebrating decency and truth, of celebrating service to our country and our traditions-a much-too-rare occasion in D.C. and, unfortunately, in too many of our communities. For that, we owe a huge debt of gratitude. Everyone left there stronger, saner, and richer.
Cullen will rest at Arlington National Cemetery, a place reserved for those who have served. He will be accompanied by family, fellow Marines and Navy officers, and the service will have the proper U.S. Military protocol.
However, the greatest service that Cullen provided transcends that.
Cullen’s greatest service was to show us how to live; to demonstrate that in these times, you can put others first and you should never, never, never give up.
