Young Marines Program Gives Hope

Yesterday, Dan and I attended graduation ceremonies for the Upstate Young Marines Class of 0910. Three of our grandchildren were a part of that group. Their Saturday basic training exercises began in November. Even though this training was rigorous in the classroom and on the field, they eagerly awaited each training Saturday.

You would expect the program to include mental, moral, and physical development but that was only the beginning. They were learning the meaning of respect for the history and traditions of the United States and the U.S. Marine Corps. This respect extended to parents, teachers, and those in charge of them as well.

Before graduation, they had to pass a written test, endurance runs, and an obstacle course. Important to me, they were learning to listen closely to instructions and that attention to every word, or lack thereof, would result in either success or failure.

Upon officially becoming Young Marines, they recited this pledge:

From this day forward, I sincerely promise to set an example for all youth to follow. I shall never do anything to bring disgrace or dishonor upon my God, my country, its flag, my parents, myself, or the Young Marines. These I will honor and respect in a manner that will reflect credit upon them and myself. Semper Fidelis!

I am encouraged that programs like this exist. We often feel that we are alone in believing ideals like honesty, fairness, courage, respect, dependability, attention to duty, love of God, and fidelity to the United States and its institutions are important for the mental, moral, and physical development of our children. The Young Marines program teaches all these things and more. It gives me hope for the future.

If you would like to see photos of this organization at work, go to the Greenville Marine Corps League website. You will find the photos at the following link.

http://greenvillemcl.com/youngmarines.html

SAVE THE (NAVY) SEALS

Most Americans felt vindicated last September when Ahmed Hashim Abed, the mastermind (I refuse to say alleged mastermind) of the cruel and obscene murder of four Blackwater contractors in Fallujah in 2004, was captured by a team of Navy Seals. Yet barely three months later, in December 2009, Special Warfare Operators 2nd Class Matthew McCabe and Jonathan Keefe and Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Julio Huertas were arraigned in military court. The trials are set to begin in April for Huertas and Keefe, and in May for McCabe.

These young men are accused of torturing and/or covering up the torture of the man responsible for having four men shot, burned, their bodies desecrated, then hung from a bridge over the Euphrates River. The evidence of his so-called “torture” is described as a punch in the gut and a bloody lip confirmed only by the word of Abed. Now, they must stand trial to defend themselves. Sadly, they are expected to behave like robots as such terrorists bait and incite them to any—no matter how mild—form of physical response. These terrorists are trained to do this; knowing full well that our military will bow to political correctness instead of defending their own.

We need only to look at the events at Ft. Hood to see the folly of such thinking. Are our highest military leaders so concerned about their own careers that they ignore the intense pressure on those whose lives are in harm's way on a daily basis? These men know first hand how the terrorists treat their captives. Considering what Abed was responsible for, most of us would consider what he “allegedly” received as just a gentle tap.

If you would like to show your support for these men, join me in signing the petition to dismiss this ridiculous trial by going the Human Events website and adding your name. http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=34775