| This is our son Kris. He is the one in the middle. On the left is his friend Jordan, and on the right is Alex, who has since enlisted in the United States Air Force.This picture was taken early in the morning on December 17, 1997. He had been asked to report for the United States Marine Corps a few weeks earlier than he had originally planned. |
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After processing in Sacramento, Kris shipped out to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. He was a member of the 3033th Platoon. His Marine Corps boot camp training was approximately 13 weeks long. He graduated on March 13, 1998. |
| Here I am with our Marine on March 11, 1998. His father and I flew to San Diego for the graduation and family activities. This picture was taken at the Meet The Drill Instructor's Dinner at Bayview. We waited with all the other parents for what seemed an eternity. It was nearly dark when we heard the recruits calling cadence in the distance. After not seeing Kris for nearly three months the wait seem unbearable. It was impossible not to cry, and my mother's heart was swollen with pride. The platoons assembled on the grass and sang the Marine Corps hymn. Finally they were allowed to break formation and find their families. It was an unforgettable moment that is etched forever into my mind. |
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On Thursday, familes and friends of the recruits gathered in the base theater to hear talks by the drill instructors, and watch a film about the United States Marine Corps. Following that program, the recruits took part in a motivational run before being released to spend a few hours of base liberty with their families. |
| We spent the afternoon looking around the base. This picture was taken in the Command Museum. We had lunch, shopped in the Exchange, checked out the barracks, the PT Field, the Parade Deck and generally got an idea of where, and how, our son had spent the past three months. |
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Here is our Marine. He seemed taller, stood straighter and you could sense his pride in his personal accomplishment during the 13 weeks of boot camp. His voice had even changed, no doubt from all the yelling during boot camp. It was wonderful getting to spend time with him and hear about his training. |
| The Recruit Graduation Ceremony is based on military tradition and pagentry. It was a time of enormous pride. Kris was now a Marine. He was one of the few, the proud. As I read on a sign at MCRD, "to be a Marine you must believe in yourself, your fellow Marines, your Corps, your Country and your God. Semper Fidelis" |
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