Semper Fidelis – Latin for always faithful, and the Marine Corps motto. These are more than just words to Marines. It is a way of life. It stands for dedication to our country, fellow Marines, our families and to you. The few, the proud, the Marines, have volunteered to protect you, and to support your rights, your freedoms and even your right to protest their existence.

This is what was seen by young impressionable children, they saw young men and women at their best, they saw people volunteering to become part of a team bigger and better than the individual members, they saw self sacrifice, dedication and pride. They saw Marines.

These people are role models. In a day when professional athletes get paid millions of dollars to play a game, these people have decided to put their life on the line for almost nothing. This is what children saw.

They saw the Marine Corps’ highest ideals: honor, courage, and commitment, the values instilled into every Marine.

The honor to know what is right from what is wrong, the courage to do something about it and the commitment to see the job is done. I fail to see why sparking an interest in children to pursue this type of life is a bad thing, and can’t help but believe that children affected by what they saw were affected in a positive way.

They saw the tools necessary for protecting our way of life. They saw the weapons that are a reality of war. As for seeing these as a glorification of war I disagree. I see it as reassuring. Reassuring to know that these individuals will be there when the time comes, reassuring to know these individuals will fight for your right to disagree. Semper Fidelis.

Brian L. Schuster

Junior

Psychology

United States Marines