GRAND CANYON, AZ

Spectacular Views, Unexpected Moments

As the America's Marines commercial production arrived at the Grand Canyon, everyone was thrilled for breathtaking vistas and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. No one expected to be greeted by a former Marine and member of the Hualapai Tribe on arrival.

"Welcome to Guano Point," their guide told the assembled members of the Silent Drill Platoon, family members, film makers and assorted other crews. He came out to welcome the team onto the Hualapai reservation, about 60 miles north of Kingman, AZ, because "every Marine, old or young, is my brother and sister."

Guano Point was named for a mining operation to haul guano from massive caves along the Colorado River. The location's name was a stark contrast to the amazing view as sunrise painted the 1,200-foot cliffs.

In 1957, miners rented the land from the Hualapai tribe to build the guano-collecting operation. While the mining lasted only one year the remnants of the cable lifts that were used to haul the droppings are still standing on the top of the point.

As the Marines took up positions around the cliff, the vivid colors of the canyon shifted seemingly moment by moment. Filming was done from the air, with a specially equipped helicopter making filming passes over and over again. Through it all, a handful of visitors and family members snapped pictures.

Corporal Adam Wiley was there, despite being just days away from deploying with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. His brother, Cpl. Ryan Wiley was one of the Marines out on the cliff. The brothers joined the Marine Corps within months of each other. While their assignments couldn't be more different, Cpl. Adam Wiley had no doubt that the job his brother was doing was every bit as valuable to the country as his own.

"These guys are the face of the Marine Corps," he said, pointing to the cliffs several hundred yards away. "It's a big deal that they're out here doing this."

For Hualapai tribal leaders it made perfect sense for the Marines to come to his reservation, and not just for the scenery.

Quite a few of the young men and women from the Hualapai tribe are currently serving in the armed forces, he noted, with about half in the Marines Corps. That's because the values of the Marines and the values of the Hualapai's warrior culture are closely aligned, one of the leaders said.

After filming, and snapping a few pictures with their own cameras, the entire production caravanned several hours north to the Hoover Dam.

Shooting on the dam proved equally challenging. On an average day 12,000 people can cross the dam, up to 4,500 of them on foot. Just try to squeeze into that space, which is only 45-feet wide, a line of Marines, a 50-foot crane and other production equipment.

To make it happen, the crews choreographed filming with brief interruptions to all traffic across the bridge. Between takes, the Marines had long stretches standing out in the sun, greeting foot traffic as it passed by them. The unlikely scene took many by surprise, including tourists from Japan, Germany and the Netherlands.

George and Zak Farmer from Indianapolis certainly didn't expect to meet Marines when they came to the dam. "That's so cool," Zak, 14, told his dad after one take. His father couldn't agree more.

"The job these guys do is so admirable," George Farmer said. "Watching this is almost as cool as seeing the dam."

Karen Stamper from Las Vegas had an especially keen interest in the production. She held in front of her a Silent Drill Platoon poster from nearly 20 years ago.

"That's my son, Scott, there," she said pointing to one of the Marines on the poster. "He knew from the time he was eight that he would be a Marine. I look at these Marines here and think, ‘Wow, my son was that young when they took this picture.'"

Her son's time in the unit has long since past, but Ms. Stamper's pride in the Marines hasn't faded. "I am almost speechless in their presence," she said. "These kids are our future, they're our protection. They are our heroes."

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