“I’ve been called a Marine ever since I was born,” Daniel Stewart said.

He spoke with carefully measured words so there would be no mistaking what he said.

“If you had to do it all over again, would you join the Marine Corps?” Stewart was asked.

There was no hesitation this time.

“Yes, I would,” he said emphatically. “No doubt about that.”

Stewart was honored at U.S. Marine Corps retirement ceremonies held Friday afternoon at Austin American Legion Post No. 91.

He joined the Marine Corps June 17, 2003. His official retirement date was Feb. 27. In between, he served his country and paid the price.

Stewart, 24, an Austin resident and corporal in the Marine Corps, suffered a traumatic brain injury in August 2005 when an insurgent’s improvised explosive device blew up in a Dumpster along a roadway in Iraq, where Stewart’s Humvee vehicle was traveling.

Stewart was struck by shrapnel from the IED blast.

He served 5 years and 8 months in the Marine Corps.

Three years and 7 months were spent recovering from the head injury he sustained when he was 21 years old.

Stewart spent 13 months in the Veterans Administration Medical Center Hospital in Minneapolis.

Ironically, the IED explosion occurred only one month after he arrived in Iraq for his third tour of combat duty.

Stewart’s home at 1504 Second Ave. N.W. received an “extreme makeover” last October to make it completely handicapped accessible for the veteran. The project was paid from a Wounded Warrior Project grant through the U.S. Marine Corps and another grant from the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.

“It was a great honor to be selected to do a project of this caliber for him,” said Craig Jackel of Jackel Construction. “Once we got involved and did the first phase, we saw there was a need for a second phase of work to be done.

“That’s when I approached all my sub-contractors and materials suppliers and we all came together and decided what we were going to donate,” he said.

Major Norm Hecimovich was master of ceremonies for the retirement ceremonies Friday afternoon.

Stewart was presented with certificates of appreciation from former President George W. Bush and the USMC. He also received an American flag.

Sandra Easley, an aunt who is Stewart’s personal care attendant, received a certificate of appreciation for her support of the veteran. Easley also received a gift of flowers.

Jeff Austin, Austin First Ward City Council member, presented Stewart with a letter from Mayor Tom Stiehm and a key to the city of Austin.

Hecimovich presented Stewart with a “Quilt of Valor” tied by women of the First Congregational Church of Austin and given to wounded veterans across the nation. It was the first Quilt of Valor given an Austin veteran, according to Hecimovich.

When the formalities were concluded, Stewart addressed the Legion Post crowd, saying he appreciated everyone’s kind words and gestures of support. “I want to say thanks so much to everybody for not giving up on me” he said, before listing the Marine Corps, his aunt, Easley, and his family, financial donors and Jackel Construction.

“They’ve given me a better quality of life and a better way of life,” he said.

He also praised the VA Medical Center for his therapy, “So that I could come back to Austin and be an active, working member of the community.”

A contingent of Minnesota Patriot Guard veterans visiting Austin Friday for a funeral also attended the retirement ceremonies and a pair presented the flags, during the function.

Ken Delano and Gary Miller had the honor of presenting the flag.

“This was long overdue,” Delano said of the attention Stewart received from the Wounded Warrior Project of the USMC. “It brings a tear to my eye to think about it.”

Easley said her nephew’s retirement “brings tears to my eyes, but I’m still very proud of him.”

Stewart’s combat injuries are visible, but Easley said there is more to the man than meets the eye.

“He’s a very determined individual, who doesn’t let things get in his way,” she said of the disabled veteran.

“He wants to accomplish whatever he sets out to do,” she said.

Stewart waited patiently for the long line of guests to make their way to where he accepted handshakes and hugs.

“It feels pretty good,” he said, during a break. “I’m glad to finally be out of the hospital and come back to Austin.”