I am the proud mother of a Marine and a Sailor. My son, the Marine, knew he wanted to join the Corp when he was 8 years old. Nothing could dissuade him from his decision. I fought with his High School Guidance Counselor when he wanted to drop down a level from an impossible to pass history class. The counselor kept saying "It's not a college prep class." I said he is not going to college, he is going into the Marines. "Oh, he is young, he'll change his mind," she insisted. My reply to her was "You don't understand, and you don't know him, he has wanted to join since he was 8 years old and he is not going to change his mind." She relented and, low and behold, he passed the class. He turned 18 in October of his senior and was itching to go, but thankfully his recruiter told him to finish high school first, it was the best thing for him and his future. He has now been serving for almost two years and has been working hard, having been promoted to Corporal in May of this year. His sister, not knowing what direction to take, joined the Navy. She has been serving for 4 years and is a Petty Officer, 2nd class. It fills my heart to bursting to have my children serving our great country.

Louise Jones Koenig
Manassas, VA