Remember When We Were Young And Brave?

A couple days ago, I was looking through some pictures from my Marine Corps days. Jeez did I look like a kid. That's when it hit me: our nation is protected by a bunch of men that look like kids.

What really got me thinking about it was watching some ESPN highlights during lunch. Have you ever noticed that even college football players look like men? They're huge and a lot of them are only 18! That's what I thought I'd find when I went into the Corps, but the opposite is true.

Most of us are of average height and average build. The guys that look like "The Swede" in Heartbreak Ridge wouldn't be able to stay within weight standards.

So what's that special gift? If a kid can't bench 500-lbs or kill a man by crushing his skull with his bare hands, what makes a hero?

It's heart. It's courage. It's grit. It's loyalty. It's kindness.

The United States military is comprised 99.99% with normal kids doing extraordinary things. Whoever says this country is dying only needs to look at them. They are the shining example of what Americans should be.  Brothers 'til the end.

So today, as you're going about your day, trying to ignore the crappy news, thinking about what to eat for dinner, remember those baby-faced men who are out there on the front lines defending our freedom. I don't know about you, but I'd take a scrappy kid from the Louisiana bayou over a NFL wide-out any day.

I may have a couple drinks for them tonight.

Who's with me?

Semper Fidelis,
CGC

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photo credit: United States Marine Corps Official Page via photopin cc