Only A Few Marines are Born Each Year
Only A Few Marines are Born Each Year
From Samantha Speaks Blog
I once knew a Marine who, while a senior in high school, and in defense of a younger family member, had engaged in a fist fight with a rather nasty bully and beaten the offender very badly. Now this young man, who desired to serve his country in the Marines, was facing felony charges and instead of the promise of a bright future the possibility of prison clouded his hope.
Knowing that this young man's unbridled passion to protect his family could be directed away from anger, and developed into positive skills to serve not only his country, but the young man himself, his Marine recruiter went before the judge and vouched for the hopeful young man. Having been a Marine himself, the judge turned the fate of the young man over to the recruiter and instead of dooming him to a life born of prison he bestowed the gift a future Marine on the United States of America.
Marines come from all walks of life. They are the children of Marines, the child no one wanted, the jock from high school, the college graduate, the nail biter with low self-esteem, and many, many more personalities. I like to say that each year only a few Marines are born, and somehow when they grow up they find their way to the Corps. Whether they enlist or are commissioned, their Drill Instructors, and OCS and Basic School Instructors take the raw materials these young people were born with and carefully forge it into the character of a Marine. If one is not born with the raw materials no amount of training can ever turn them into a Marine.
Our Marines are precious and rare and embody the true spirit of the United States of America. They are our front line defenders and each one, from the newly forged Private to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, would gladly and expertly offer their lives in defense of freedom and liberty. In return for their valiant gift they ask for nothing except to exercise the rights and freedoms that they fight so hard for. As we go about our days let us not forget who gives us the privilege of living free. Treat our Marines with honor and respect, remember them in your prayers and good wishes, correct those who speak ill of them, give back to those who have given so much, and never waste their precious gift.
God has truly blessed the United States of America with her Marines.
