My Son – A United States Marine

I opened a post three months ago with the following statement. “Serving our country has a whole new meaning today.” And it has a whole new meaning again. On September 7, 2010, my son left for Boot Camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island to begin his journey to becoming a United States Marine. Yesterday at 9AM, Private First Class James William Rosebrock graduated from Parris Island. In a journey of 70 training challenging and often grueling days, he became a United States Marine, and he became a man. He is a responsible, considerate, enthusiastic, motivated and patriotic man, confident in his abilities and secure in his future. It if for sure a journey that not all young men and women can make, but there are a few, and I am humbled and overwhelmingly proud that my son is one of them. So today I take a pause from my reflections on things Civil War, and salute my son and the over 500 other new Marines from Hotel Company, Second Recruit Training Battalion, and Oscar Company, Fourth Recruit Training Battalion who passed in review. (The photo below is of Jim's platoon passing in review in front of us at graduation. He is the tallest Marine in the platoon, the first one in the second row)

As I also said three months ago, being the parent of a service member is an entirely new experience. But I have become more comfortable in that role. I also am so much more aware of the great support that parents, spouses, sons, daughters and friends give their family members in the service. So join me in thanking them for their service as well.

Semper Fidelis. Always Faithful Jimmy.