MCRD Grad day

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego is where boys become men. This is not a place for the faint of heart, and will punish the weak who think they will survive. I, myself have graduated from this place of hell, but today was my cousin’s time to shine. Seeing him march on that same parade deck for the last time overwhelmed me with a sense of pride and satisfaction, and at the same time worried me that he would be thrown into the field of battle before he is ready. When the ceremonies concluded the new Marines were finally dismissed and could now search for their families among the thousands that were in attendance. After giving my congrats and expressing my pride to the emotionally drained young man that was standing in front of me, I asked him to introduce me to his platoon. He introduced me to a black family from Colorado, a white family from Arizona and a Native American family from Palm Springs. These men all volunteered and are willing to give their lives to protect the country they live in. This shows me how far our country has come since the civil war, where blacks were forced to fight and Indians were kicked off the land that we were fighting for. God Bless America!