[an excerpt from the
Sgt. Grit newsletter]
Hello Marines!
As a former Marine, and currently the mother of one former, and one active duty Marine, (and one ready to sign up on Delayed Enlistment Program this fall) my pride knows no bounds. I am the manager of national retail store in Vero Beach, FL, home to many retired former military personnel. My store is also about 10-15 miles from the UDT/Navy Seal Museum in Fort Pierce. I have a great relationship with the local recruiters (thanks in part to signing over two kids and a potential third!) and I always go to them first when I'm trying to fill an available position on my staff. I know I'll get a great employee there!
When either of my sons were deployed over the last several years, I proudly wore pins with their boot camp pictures and a red, white & blue ribbon. I feel it is my duty to remind everyone that while we go through our days, doing the things that need to be done, Americans are putting their lives on the line so the rest of us can go through our days, doing the things that need to be done.
In the summer of 2004, my middle son, Cpl Bryan Christensen, was deployed to Afghanistan with the 22MEU. I never left the house without my two Marines pinned to my blouse. I was 'going through my day' at work, when a young lady, probably in her early twenties (like Bryan) walked into my store. I greeted her and her friend and asked if I could help them with their purchases. The first young lady looked at my pins and without a second thought, loudly spit out the following: "This company should fire you for wearing war-mongers on your chest!"
Now, before I tell you my reply, I should state that the red, white and blue ribbon that I had the boys photos pinned to, had come from our corporate office. My company had sent out reels of ribbon to all of our stores the week after the events of September 11th. We operate a store within a block or two of Ground Zero.
Back to my story. At first I wasn't quite sure what she had said. And then, through a red haze of fury, I heard the two teenagers on my staff suck in their breath and watched their eyes grow to the size of dinner plates, waiting for my reaction.
While my initial reaction was to smack her across her mouth, I refrained. I really didn't want to lose my job, and I'd like to believe I have more class than that. So I took a deep breath, calmed myself, and replied "Honey, it's because of years of 'war-mongers' like MY CHILDREN that you can walk into MY place of business and spout off with an asinine statement like that. If you don't like that fact that I'm wearing 'war-mongers' on my chest, you can take your d*mn business somewhere else. Now get the h&ll out of my store!" My two teenage sales associates started applauding. An elderly customer offered to show her the way out, and I walked into my stockroom and tried to stop shaking. I figured I probably ought to call my District Manager and give her a heads up in case there were any repercussions. She was horrified that someone would say such a thing, but her first reaction was "I hope you smacked the crap out of her!". She told me not to worry about a thing and that she had my back if any problems arose from the situation. There were none.
Fast forward to today. I'm getting ready to head up to Cherry Point on 2/9 with my husband and our 16 year old future Marine to see Bryan off to Iraq. He was promoted to Sgt. yesterday. I've already ordered and received my "Half of My Heart is in Iraq" t-shirt from SgtGrit.com and I will proudly wear it, along with my "Once A Marine, Always A Marine" baseball cap. I defy another person to make a derogatory comment about it!
By the way, my District Managers ten year old son recently called me to ask if it would be okay if his fourth grade class 'adopted' Bryan while he was in Iraq. It seems they were deciding to do this as a class project and when he told his Mom about it, she suggested Bryan. She felt it would be nicer for them to adopt someone they sort of know, rather than a stranger.
I spoke to Bryan on the phone last night, and with his usual good-heartedness, he offered to go visit the class when he gets home from the sandbox. Mind you, his new adopted 'family' is in Fort Lauderdale, a good two hour drive away from our home. I didn't think I would ever be more proud of anything in my life than I was the day I got my EGA at Parris Island in 1980. I was wrong. Seeing two of my sons getting their EGA's was even better. As a Marine, I fully understand (and back) Bryan's desire to do what his Country has asked of him. As his Mom, my heart is full and for some reason, it keeps leaking out of my eyes! I know it's going to be a long year for me, but I wouldn't change a thing. When I gave birth to him, all I wanted was for him to grow up strong, and happy, and honorable. He's achieved all of those things. I can't wait for September to get here so he can come home! Semper Fi!
Ruth Murphy,
Former Lance Corporal, Always a Marine
Ft Pierce, FL
Note: Stories like the above are why every other weekly newsletter is call "AmericanCourage". Semper fi Sgt Grit
