When I first wrote the essay below, it was just after the Sandy Hook School shooting.  On that horrible tragic day, a US Marine made news by standing guard out side a local school.   It just seemed like the perfect example of a Marine protecting children and our country.

Whenever there is a mass shooting, there is always an argument about if this is the right time to talk about gun control.   I thought I would share this now just to let us all think about the debate between constitutional rights and safety without the shadow of tragedy hanging over us.   It just seems that if smart people could sit down and talk calmly, we as a country could figure things out.

Anyway, I wanted to use the picture of the Marine in front of the school, but it turns out that image is owned by the Associated Press, and they wanted a lot of money for it, so I didn’t use it (look it up, it is a great image)

I started looking for other images of Marines, and after several hours and emails and text messages, I came up with these two images.   One is my wife’s nephew, the other my grandfather.   Taken almost 100 years apart, they show something we should all be grateful for as Americans.

No matter where, and no matter when, there are young men and women who will answer a call, and as little more than children, leave their homes to serve the USA in our armed forces.

And some come back Marines.

And weather they agree with us or not, will stand up to fight for and protect us, because that’s what Marines do.

Give it a read.

Isn’t that just like a Marine?

Something horrible happens that no one understands, and while politicians blame each other and try to get on TV, he does something about it.

While the rest of us where still in shock, he had a plan.

While we were all trying to make sense of it, he put on his uniform.

While we were worrying about if it could happen near us, he was lacing his boots.

While we were wringing our hands and wondering what to do next, he did something.

He went to a school and stood a post.

No weapon, they’re not allowed. But this is a United States Marine; I’ll take that over any threat,

Any day.

What can he do? Unarmed, against another crazed mad man with an assault rifle?

They’ll just shoot him and then bust into the school anyway.

Maybe.

I’m not a betting man, but I think I’d put my money that the bad guy ends up getting beat to death with his gun.

At the very least the bad guy will think twice, and that might be all it takes.

Maybe he shouldn’t do it, maybe it makes us look like an occupied country, maybe it’s against the rules.

But he stood there.

And if all he does, in standing guard, it to remind little kids that there are good guys, and they will stand up for you, he’s done enough.

Isn’t that just like a Marine.