Merry Christmas my Brothers

     Yesterday, Christmas day, marked the third Christmas in a row that my youngest son Cody could not be with us.  Melody and I made the four hour drive to Pensacola to spend the day with Travis, our other son.  It as a great day but understandably, our Christmas glass was but half full.

     Cody is a proud United States Marine corporal.  Seems like the summer before last we watched him pitch his first baseball game. He was eight years old. He was a good baseball player, we treasure the memories of the countless games in the hot summer sun. It just seemed that, even though they got taller every year, they would always be our kids. There would always be another game, another dusty uniform stuck to a sweaty kid on the ride home from a game.

     Where does time go?  We all say that old cliche’ or think it when we have said it too many times. Nevertheless it is true. The truth of it has a certain sting to it. Yesterday is, indeed, gone forever. Thank God for memories.

     Two of Cody’s close boyhood friends are Marines as well.  All are overseas and away from family at Christmas. And these boys all volunteered to make these sacrifices.  They and thousands of others are all out there now, scattered like leaves in an autumn wind, all over this world.  They stand ready and willing to make any sacrifice to protect you, me and our American way of life. 

     I am in no way slighting members or former members of  another branch of our armed forces.  But to me, Marines are just special. I love Marines. I am not alone.

The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!

Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States, 1945 

    I have all these biases, in part, because I too wore that uniform.  So did my little brother Toby, as did Melody’s brother, Don. Marines are all forged in the same furnace.  We share an everlasting kinship. So I have the distinct pleasure of calling Cody not only son, but also brother. I am so proud of you Cody; you too Drew and Ryan. Semper Fi my brothers. God Bless Marines everywhere!!!

Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don’t have that problem.

Ronald Reagan, President of the United States; 1985