Since my daughter was born, I stopped playing the do-over game. You know, the game where you think, “if I could do this all over, I’d ___________.

I wouldn’t do anything that would undo my child. She’s perfect and I wouldn’t have her any other way.

On the other hand, there are some missed opportunities in my life, and among them, in retrospect, I think I’d like to have done a stint in the Marines. I did briefly consider service, and my dad counseled me to go on to school. “If we were at war, son, it would be different. We are at peace.” Dad considered serving to be a great path, if there were a specific reason for the service, but felt I’d be losing four years of education if I stepped away.

Maybe he was right. I do know this: if I was fit enough to lie about my age and ride the bus to Paris Island right now, I would do so, in a heartbeat.

What I can do, is salute the Men and Women of that esteemed Corps on this day.

This is my rifle.

There are many like it, but this one is MINE.

My rifle is my best friend. It is my life.

I must master it as I must master my life.

My rifle without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless.

I must fire my rifle true.

I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me.

I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will…

My rifle and myself know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire,

the noise of our bursts, nor the smoke we make.

We know it is the hits that count. We will hit…

My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life.

Thus, I will learn it as a brother.

I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories,
its sights, and its barrel.

I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage.

I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready.

We will become part of each other. We will…

Before God I swear this creed.

My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country.

We are the masters of our enemy.

We are the saviors of my life.

So be it, until there is no enemy, but PEACE.

Sir: Yes, Sir!