Dad, I made it. I'm a Marine now. --And I'm not even sure how I feel except my eyes welled up.

-- Joel Rosen (JoelnBecky@webtv.net), February 21, 2002

Answers

"Semper Fi" to your son, Joel. The Navy expression is "Bravo Zulu" (well done).

(:raig

-- Craig Miller (CMiller@ssd.com), February 21, 2002.

ALRIGHT! I recall many moons ago when my brother returned from Parris Island. He had left home to join the marines at 17 with my mother's permission..he had slugged a teacher and was requested to exit in his senior year..his idea of fun was to get as drunk as possible and vomit alot..he was a mess headed for huge trouble. The day he came home, he ran up the five floors of the tenement building, ran across the livingroom and up onto the BACK of the sofa, beating his chest and announcing:" I AM a United States MARINE and I can whip any enemy's ass at any time, anywhere." I was rather taken aback to say the least. He is now a Boston lawyer who meets each year with his aging buddies from PI to compare their abdominal girth with that of the young men such as your son..Last summer, several of them had a bet that whomever couldn't climb the course rope would buy beer for the crowd....picture a bunch of 55 year old "former" Marines all standing in Parris island watching your son climb the course ropes...ater seeing the kids, the group left to buy their own beer. Congrats to your son..he deserves to be VERY proud indeed!

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), February 21, 2002.

I'm happy sad for you. Congratulations to your son! Marines are tough buggers!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), February 21, 2002.

Congratulations. I will think of you both each morning as I hoist the colors here.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), February 21, 2002.