This is outstanding! I am former Navy and I consider all those in all branches of the military to be brethren, past or present. However, even though we sailors and the Marines squabbled between ourselves, we always sided with each other against others, so I guess I have a special feeling for them and fellow sailors. I say to Marines, and this one in particular, Semper Fi. Does the old heart good to hear about this. I just wish I had seen it. Like Dave S, I probably would have cried, too. I, like Dave, have gotten older (52) and sentimental also.
A little different matter, but kind of the same. I work corners (rescue) for sports car racing and in Feb. 1991, when the Gulf War was going on and we were in Daytona for the 24 hour race, when they sang the Star Spangled Banner, it kind of had the feeling you get by reading the above story about the Marine. On the parade lap it was really neat, all the drivers had little American flags out the windows of their race cars. It wasn't just American drivers either, it was guys from all over the world proudly displaying the American flag.