Phantom Blooper
05-15-06, 08:31 PM
I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
I served my Country and my Corps with honor.
I am proud of my service.
My family is proud of my service.
I have served my Country since its birth and in every conflict since. In times of peace I walked sentry doing my duty, guarding our liberties.
I had many different jobs as a Marine, from desk jockey to Harrier pilot; I moved Marines and I moved equipment; I built things and I blew them up; I observed things, I reported things, I ordered things and I fed Marines. But no matter what my job was, I was always a basic infantryman – a Marine.
I have many jobs now, as a civilian. No, not as a civilian, for I can never be a civilian again. I am a Marine Veteran.
I am a bookkeeper, baker, truck driver, security guard, politician, salesman, carpenter, caregiver, whatever… name a job and I have done it.
I am black. I am white. I am every “color” human life has taken. My heritage is from every nation on this Earth. I am Marine Corps Green.
I am tall. I am short. I am skinny, and fat. I have long hair and short hair, or no hair at all.
I practice every religion, or no religion.
I am a democrat, republican, libertarian and even apolitical. Politics didn’t matter then; I did what I was told to do, and I did it well. Politics don’t matter now, because I will support the men and women of my Corps no matter what – they are doing what they have been told to do. They are Marines.
I support my Marine brothers and sisters, regardless of whether or not I approve of the mission – without hesitation. And I support our fellow comrades in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and all branches of reserves and National Guard. We all served.
I agree to disagree with those who are Marine Corps challenged. Sometimes I even disagree with other Marines, but I hope to do so with honor and respect.
Honor and Respect… I will honor them because they have earned it; I will respect them because they deserve it.
My family, by virtue of my Marine title, is a special breed. In fact many have said it is harder to be a Marine’s spouse or family member – I understand.
My Marine Brothers and Sisters have families, and I will honor and respect them also. They, too, are part of my Marine Family; they, too, have suffered.
They have endured so much over the years… they have suffered loss; loss of life, loss of my company, loss of so many things. They have suffered my pain, and have experienced their own.
I will respect and honor them also, just as I would expect another Marine to honor and respect my family.
And I will carry this respect to my brothers and sisters of different arms, but especially to my Navy Family, who could not have survived without us, and we without them.
This is my pledge to you, my family – you can expect this of me. And in return, I demand no less.
Two words describe me today – Marine Veteran. But without two other words, honor and respect, I am nothing.
Semper Fidelis! :evilgrin: :marine:
I served my Country and my Corps with honor.
I am proud of my service.
My family is proud of my service.
I have served my Country since its birth and in every conflict since. In times of peace I walked sentry doing my duty, guarding our liberties.
I had many different jobs as a Marine, from desk jockey to Harrier pilot; I moved Marines and I moved equipment; I built things and I blew them up; I observed things, I reported things, I ordered things and I fed Marines. But no matter what my job was, I was always a basic infantryman – a Marine.
I have many jobs now, as a civilian. No, not as a civilian, for I can never be a civilian again. I am a Marine Veteran.
I am a bookkeeper, baker, truck driver, security guard, politician, salesman, carpenter, caregiver, whatever… name a job and I have done it.
I am black. I am white. I am every “color” human life has taken. My heritage is from every nation on this Earth. I am Marine Corps Green.
I am tall. I am short. I am skinny, and fat. I have long hair and short hair, or no hair at all.
I practice every religion, or no religion.
I am a democrat, republican, libertarian and even apolitical. Politics didn’t matter then; I did what I was told to do, and I did it well. Politics don’t matter now, because I will support the men and women of my Corps no matter what – they are doing what they have been told to do. They are Marines.
I support my Marine brothers and sisters, regardless of whether or not I approve of the mission – without hesitation. And I support our fellow comrades in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and all branches of reserves and National Guard. We all served.
I agree to disagree with those who are Marine Corps challenged. Sometimes I even disagree with other Marines, but I hope to do so with honor and respect.
Honor and Respect… I will honor them because they have earned it; I will respect them because they deserve it.
My family, by virtue of my Marine title, is a special breed. In fact many have said it is harder to be a Marine’s spouse or family member – I understand.
My Marine Brothers and Sisters have families, and I will honor and respect them also. They, too, are part of my Marine Family; they, too, have suffered.
They have endured so much over the years… they have suffered loss; loss of life, loss of my company, loss of so many things. They have suffered my pain, and have experienced their own.
I will respect and honor them also, just as I would expect another Marine to honor and respect my family.
And I will carry this respect to my brothers and sisters of different arms, but especially to my Navy Family, who could not have survived without us, and we without them.
This is my pledge to you, my family – you can expect this of me. And in return, I demand no less.
Two words describe me today – Marine Veteran. But without two other words, honor and respect, I am nothing.
Semper Fidelis! :evilgrin: :marine: