|
||
|
||
|
|
I called this to my Son's attention, how upset his sister was over these young men who had no one to greet them, no one's arms to melt into, no one to take a gander of what a fine specimen they had become.
He beckoned them to come over, then introduced them to our family. We all talked awhile but I could see the sorrow in their eyes. We offered to buy them something to eat or drink and come sit with our family, but they only declined. Then the two of them paired up and walked around for the short time that was left.
He later told us their stories, one of them, the parents were alcoholics and they just lost their home because the father lost his job and hasn't been able to snap out of a drinking binge and all the money he earned during boot camp was going to help his mom out.
And the other kids parents, sadly lived just an hours drive away and just couldn't pull themselves away.
We had settled on the lawn and as my Son was re-acquainting himself with his Girlfriend and my Daughters were playing on the green.
I sat along side my daughter Natalie who was 11 (the one who cried for these lonely young men). And tried to make sense to her, this crash course in life she just had. She still had her eyes on the two and worried deep in her heart for them for the rest of the evening as did I.
This incident is probably in my book, one of the saddest things I have ever seen. These boys were made tough by boot camp , broken down and built back up into tough men. But their hearts were easy to read, they were flat out broken in half. and so were ours.
I taught Natalie that day, the best thing we could do at this point is to offer up a prayer in their behalf, that they will find someone to love them and fill the void they felt this night. And that God with his infinite wisdom will compensate them in their life ahead.
So please pay attention to the recruits wandering alone.
They may look OK on the outside but deep inside they need someone to care about all they have accomplished, and all they had worked for.
I understand this is not always the case of some that are alone, some have family that come later to the graduation and not the dinners, and Some just can't afford the trip or can't get time off of work.
But some recruits don't have any family and others have family's that just don't care. So please take an extra look around for any one alone while your visiting your new Marine.
There is nothing sadder than a soldier returning home from a battle with no one to greet him, be it a battle of the world or of the spirit.
Previous page >
Who were these young men? > Page 1,
2
