Red, White & Blue

I’m feeling very patriotic today.  Reason why you wonder?  Because today I had the opportunity to talk to an active duty Marine.

We were installing a display case in a Marine Recruitment Office in Hillsboro, Ohio.  The young sergeant in charge had to hang out while Pete and I did our thing.   It took us 2 hours to hang the display and it seemed to me that the sergeant needed company.  So I started asking him about his job. 

I learned that he has been a Marine 8 years.  He has had a tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and now he has a 3 year tour recruiting new Marines in southern and southeastern Ohio.  He told us how he targets young men in high school, either juniors or seniors and specifically those with no plans for life after high school.  He also hangs out at McDonald’s or the local pool hall, anywhere that young men are going nowhere fast. 

It seems to me that the region of southern Ohio, in the farmland country, that the pickin’s are probably pretty good.  The area is depressed economically and it appears that every other farm has a ‘For Sale’ sign on it…a continuing sign of our times.  He spoke with pride of the trades he has learned in his 8 years as a Marine and also spoke genuinely of how much he enjoys helping young recruits plan a future for themselves.  He was so personable, so genuine, so proud…sort of like the poster child for the Marines. 

On the drive home I thought about the young men and women’s whose lives he is touching.  I thought about the sacrifices they all make for me and my family and all of us.  I thought about all the different types of experiences they have if they are deployed into conflict torn countries…and then I said a silent prayer…please God, keep them safe.

Right then I wanted to turn around and go back to that office and thank him.  For what he has done and what he continues to do.  I didn’t.  But I should have.

Enough said.