As I was leaving Wal-Mart this past Sunday, the greeter nodded his head and commented that he really like my sweatshirt.   I happened to be wearing my Christmas present from Zach – a grey hooded sweatshirt with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor logo and the quote “Pain is weakness leaving the Body”.

I smiled and told him it was a gift from my son who had just graduated from Boot camp and was currently in SOI at Camp Pendleton California.   He went on to say he was a Marine as well and wanted to know how my son liked the Crucible!    I stopped and shook his hand to thank him for his service as he further explained he was medically discharged years ago after a 60ft fall from the repel tower.  He broke his left foot in 6 places and suffered severe stress fractures in both legs and his pelvis.  He knew he was injured from the fall, but being a 19 year old marine just out of boot camp, he was trained to be tough.  He continued to push through the pain and even performed PT with his squad after the accident.  Once inspection time came and he was down to his skivvies with nothing to cover up the obvious damage he was sent directly to sick bay for a very long and difficult recovery.  He walks with a limp is able to go to the VA for any medical assistance.  He is very appreciative of the veterans and their service to our country.

He also told me that the Crucible did not exist when he was in boot camp.  I did a little research on Marine Corps History and found that the grueling fifty-four hour field exercise was introduced in 1996. This gentleman said he was discharged in 1968.  We talked a few minutes more about the corps, his MOS and the wonderful family support available today.  I wished him well and went about my way.

As I was driving home, I started thinking to myself about how I have taken veterans and active military for granted over the years.  Even though I customarily think of my grandpa and uncles on November 11^th, their sacrifice and commitment hadn’t really sunk in until this Christmas as I listened to my Grandpa reflect on a Christmas Day during the war as he hunkered down in a bunker on the front line….cold, covered in mud and in the line of fire.    That’s about all he would say, I hung on his words, just waiting for more information.  It’s probably the most he has ever said to me about his time in the service.   It’s very emotional to think how differently things might have been in our lives had Grandpa not survived that terrible war………….or if each of my Uncles had not made it out of Vietnam……..or how different our world might have been if we did not have the many men and women in the service defending our freedoms and way of life.

Injury, disability and death are the grim reality of being in the military and being at war.

I’m confident Zach is being trained by the best and because of that training will be able to handle each situation that comes his way.    The core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment are instilled in each young man as they complete the extensive and rigorous training of becoming a United States Marine.   As I continue to read and educate myself on the corps I can see the characteristics that quite possibly were calling to Zach…….hearing stories of integrity, brotherhood & teamwork as well as reading articles, like this one, that said…..

“There is a special aura surrounding the word “Marine”.  It means something different than a soldier, a cut above, and more can be expected from this person.  Pride and cockiness are the trademarks of Marines, the strongest brotherhood in the world.  To serve in the Marine Corps is to serve in an organization that that demands and delivers excellence beyond all others.  Service in the Marines leaves a lasting impression up on the innermost being of everyone who is privileged enough to serve.  “Once a Marine, Always a Marine.”  To dispute this is to invite a brawl.”   Author Unknown

As proud as I am of my Marine, this mom feels a special kinship to all the Mom’s & Dad’s out there who have a son or a daughter in any branch of the military

Maya Angelou summed it up pretty well when she said………………

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”