Cannot begin to tell you how many times I've heard that line in a film or a TV show.
What does this blog have to do with theatre and/or play production?
Absolutely NOTHING!
It's a question I asked myself and the friends sitting next to us, last Saturday night at The Marine Corps Ball, put on by The Marine Corps League in Las Vegas, NV.
Kristina, my wife, and I attended the event along with two other couples - all of us in our 70's -- three of us (the husbands) being Marine, Vietnam vets.
As we looked at the young active duty Marines: officers and enlisted - all looking to be somewhere around 12-years old -- it's a question we asked ourselves over and over again - lol!
It was a great evening spent reuniting with other Marine vets and active duty Marines who didn't know each other, but who were all family. Yes, I know how that sounds and I don't care. The bond in that room Saturday night was strong - unbreakable.
In the presence of the younger Marines, us old Marines saw ourselves as we once were. In the presence of us older Marines, the young ones (though I'm sure most of them didn't know it, because they were so young) saw what they would become.
It was an evening where age was respected and appreciated. Many times I heard from a young PFC, Lance Corporal, Corporal, and Sergeant - even one officer, "Thank you for your service, sir." (I wasn't an officer when I was active duty); and they meant it.
It was an evening where all Marines, regardless of when, where, what period of time they served, were honored and welcomed. No distinction between officers and enlisted...ALL are/were Marines.
Interesting observation from my wife, Kristina... she said that sitting in a room full of men and women who normally, as a result of being in combat or combat related situations, would always sit facing the doors of any other public place, that night, no one had a problem sitting with their backs to the doors, so they could talk to each other.
On a final note...it was an emotional evening for me, and I'm not sure why, I just know it was.
Thanks for reading my blog!