honor and respect

on tuesday i went on a junior retreat. in case you don't know what that is, it is something we do at catholic schools where a group of students go somewhere for the day [or days] and take part in activities which help you relax and learn things about yourself and others. it is usually meant to be a religious experience, but if you are like me then it doesn't have to be. they are a lot of fun and help you think about things and find clarity. anyways, one of the senior leaders was a boy named mark sauser. he is going to West Point Military Academy for college next year and he is going to join the Army. seeing as my brother wants to join the marines, i find this to be very noble. most of the day i observed Mark and saw what a real man he was. he wears his Army boots to school to break them in. he carries himself upright and presents himself well. he even spoke like a man in front of the group. as i watched mark i thought about the Vietnam war videos we've watched in Lit class and how those soldiers were all just boys, like mark. i pictured him both in combat, which made me sad, and standing at attention in line with other soldiers, which made me proud. i thought about all the other boys i know in high school. they all look just like any of those boys in the video, and any of them could one day be a soldier. it makes me sad to think that even if i don't know them barely at all, if they died i'd be sad. but mostly it makes me proud to know that there are other people like my brother who are passionate about joining the military. a lot of people laugh when they hear that tim wants to be a marine, but i dont really like when they do. it is the place where he finds his purpose and it is an honorable life-path. serving your country is and should be one of the most honorable things any person could do, and it takes great courage and dedication. it is a hard reality to face, the fact that my brother could go to war, but i'd be more proud of him than sad if he died because i know that he died doing something that so many other people only dream they were brave enough to do. people like mark bring me great inspiration. they are stronger than most everyone else.