Thankful for Service

Last night on the bus I watched an interesting exchange between two former Marines. One had on a cap with the Marine symbol and lettering on it; he was an older white gentleman who served in the Vietnam war between 1967-1971. The other gentleman was a bit younger, a black man who served in the early eighties and recalled his time in the Marines as 'one of the better things' he had done with his life.

What captured my attention was the way they greeted each other when the younger man boarded the bus. He said, 'Semper Fi' to which the older man automatically responded,'Do or die!' As they clasped hands, it was obvious that whatever paths their separate lives had taken since their time in the Marines, they shared a brotherhood that spans time, color and age.

They went on to recount their experiences, travels and memories in the 5 to 10 minutes we all rode together, while another passenger and I listened respectfully. As the younger man exited the bus, he said to the older, 'Once a Marine...' to which the older man promptly replied, 'Always a Marine!' They again clasped hands and arms quickly. The older man then turned to me and said,'It's like a fraternity, a brotherhood.' I replied how nice it was to see people come together in peace, and we both agreed how ironic that the very thing that brought them together was their shared experiences of war.

I couldn't help but think that whether or not we agree with the politics or issues that sent both of these young men to fight for a cause that may or may not have been their own, we can be thankful for people like them. As very young men, they made a decision to serve others, and despite their difference in age and background, they have their service in common and that service still gives them hope, courage, and a brotherhood many years later. Although I will always prefer peace over war and choose to serve in other ways, I was very thankful to witness that scene and for their willingness to share it with me. And as I exited the bus, I told him so.