I'd done this a few times previously..first in 98 when the son of an old friend, whom I went through Quantico with, newly commissioned, was in the city..been able to do it twicw more since then..a few years we were away, and once it was impossible becauce the club was hostign an all-weekend tournament. This year, the pieces fell in place. But I decided that junior officers were probably getting enough (G)..thought it time to give the EM's a break in the fresh air and sunshine...Friends in San Diego did all the scouting and screening...Told them if they knew four young marines who were going to be in for Fleet week, and wanted to play a round of golf on Sunday.. Had to be Sunday becuase we have a member guestwith another club, and Sunday was our "away" day.. My only requirement was that they could reasonably play the game...get it around in less that 100...Well, many phone calls and email later, all arranged..Told them I'd meet them at the train at 8am , if the wanted to go to church with me, or 9 am if they wanted to sleep in a little..met them at the 9am train, happily, they were in uniform...I hadn't asked, but I hoped..four LC's..all splendid specimens of American youth.. I actually wasn't planning on playing, was going to walk the course with them for the round, being whatever help or assistance I could. We got to the clubhouse a little after nine, went in for a light breakfast. They were the center fo atention..had to drag them away for our tee-time..They brought slacks..we gaev then a club golf shirt, and the pro outfitted them with everythign. Them to my happy surprise, at the starter's, there were 4 other groups waiting to go off. They each grabbed one of my guests, actually, "kidnapped" is closer to it..I had no say whatsoever, and the four groups went off. I was instantly excess baggage..an a very happy guy. I followed them around the course, going from group to group..and was very happy to be ignored...My friends and club members were determined that each of those four young men was gonna have a great afternoon. We all finished up around 1:30, everyone showered, my four young marines, now resplendent again, we all went to the veranda for lunch, seemed like everyone wanted to come over, say hello, talk with them, shake their hands, touch the uniform. We have many young ladies working the summer as waitresses..they were all over the lads,and I do believe a phone number or e-addy may have been exchanged..anyways, one of our more ostentatious members insisted on givign the boys, now suitably lubricated. a ride back to the train station at 4:40 in his new HUMMER..hardly the military version...good fun, but ironic in a sense....
The point that I wanted to make, aside from just the pleasure of sharing a good story with you all, is that much has been written lately about the demographics of our volunteer force. There's some truth to that, sadly, but I think it's more a lack of first hand knowledge, and contact..We've got 325 members, probably 250 baby boomers. I think I, and 3 others, were in the service, and I don't know one person's kid who's going in, or is in..Some how we need to "outreach" for want of a better word..mayeb what we really need to do is to find a way to reach out to them when they come home, when they complete their tours..whether it's mentoring, advice, maybe helping their families here, while they're deployed. It seems a no brainer. I saw lots of my friends press the business cards, with home and cells numbers and addresses written ont he back, on all these four young marines, tellign them to call when they got back, or to write, or if they needed help with anythign...There was a tremendous amount of love, and good will, yesterday afternoon..Made me very proud.
And I can tell you that there is already talk about doign somethng on a much large scale for next year...there's talk about forming a "committee" to make plans...I heard thoughts about having a whole ships's company up for the weekend, putting them up with folks....lordy, these poor people who never served, they don't know what they're doing...they'll have to lock up their wives and daughters next year....
We have many young ladies working the summer as waitresses..they were all over the lads,and I do believe a phone number or e-addy may have been exchanged.
OK now I'm jealous! :-)
Cool beans. Thanks for the report.
Good work. Thanks. Got some work to do around here, I see.
There was a tremendous amount of love, and good will, yesterday afternoon..Made me very proud.
It's great to hear about the outporing of support for these Marines.
You done good. :-)
Thanks for sharing this with us ken, very nice.