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September 16, 2004
Forever Proud
As sons and daughters deploy to other lands, parents wait at home, knowing that there is little to do but hope and pray that our children will stay safe and strong. And we wonder whether the commanders who lead them into battle can possibly understand the warring emotions of fierce pride and absolute fear that we go through as the news reports come back from half way round the world. Each time there is a reported death, we have to remind ourselves to breathe again. We grieve with parents who we will never meet, knowing that it could just as easily be our own precious son or daughter. And yet, we know that our children are exactly where they have chosen to be and are protecting and defending us - a role reversal that many of us are not quite ready to relinquish willingly.
We scour internet sites and news sources, looking for references to where our children are sent. And we wonder about the commanding officers who have the power to send our children into harms way. Here is a message from 1/7 SgtMaj Gary Weiser that sheds light on the character of men who make the USMC a career.
As the Marines of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines once again deploy into harms way I would like to let you know how much your support, prayers, and thoughts give your Marines the courage and resolve to carry out this next mission. Your Marines have stepped forward to add to the great heritage of our country.For the past 228 years of the independence and freedom that we as Americans have enjoyed, at times throughout our history, many of our young citizens have stepped forward to protect and defend those same freedoms. A freedom of such great there is no price that can be placed upon it. Even as some of your young Marines do not even yet fully understand the value of the concept they are willing to protect, the willing do so and in time they truly will understand the importance and value of their actions.
While we enjoy our way of life here in the United States of America many others around the globe can only dream of it, and have known only repression. During the last two years we have helped to liberate over 50 million people in Afghanistan and Iraq. The war in Iraq took only a few weeks.
Since that time, American men and women with the help of multiple other forces from around the world have remained in Iraq to secure the freedom for the Iraqi people and to ensure that they can build the foundations of their new government and way of life. Most of the Iraqi people are extremely grateful for what we have accomplished so far. The job is not yet finished and like the time it took to establish our own government, theirs will also require time and many growing pains.
Your Marines will face danger from the few in Iraq who wish to control the country for their own purposes and also from those that wish to destroy our own civilization here at home. They come from many areas to attack the freedoms that we have brought to Iraq and to attempt to kill the Americans who are there and the will of all you back here at home, but we must never lose our resolve.
In the words of our President, The Honorable Mr. Bush, “Freedom is not America’s gift to the world, it is God’s gift to mankind”. The efforts of your Marines in this War on Terrorism are truly in concert with the efforts and sacrifices that we as Americans have put forth throughout our history. You can be forever proud of your Marine, and your support while he is away will bolster his courage and purpose of mission. I thank you for your thoughts, prayers and continued support.
Last year, when 1/7 Marines returned to 29 Palms from their first deployment to Iraq, I met SgtMaj Weiser briefly when I stopped him to ask directions to the redeployment site. A few weeks later, he stepped into the role of top enlisted Marine for 1/7. Reading his words above helps me to understand why my son and his brother Marines have a great deal of trust and respect for him. And the words, "forever proud", are an apt description of parental feelings about not just their but all Marines.
Posted by Deb at September 16, 2004 02:31 PM
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Comments
I have spent several hours today just passing information sources (to include your site) to friends who are getting ready for or are newly deployed in support of OIF2.
I never realized until now how much I rely on sites like Marine Corps Moms, Blackfive and the Command Post for better, more up to date information.
That speaks volumes about how badly most US news networks do their jobs (my biggest pet peeve...soldiers are soldiers and Marines are Marines...please, it makes a difference..get it right!!!) and how well informed I am from non- traditional news sources such as the ones I listed above.
Thank you, Marine Corps Moms!!! You ladies are wonderful. Forever proud mother of son soon to go to boot camp (Oct. 25) and equally proud wife of Marine even sooner to return home.
Semper Gumby
Carrie Costantini
Posted by: Carrie at September 16, 2004 04:43 PM
please allow me to join this great group. my son is a lcpl in the corps!!!
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