LEADVILLE, CO

Changing Lives At 13,000 Feet

It may be several months until the America's Marines television commercial hits the air, but Tuesday we got a powerful reminder of how strong the connection is between Americans and their Marine Corps.

Filming for the commercial wrapped up Tuesday just ahead of snow flurries, 13,000 feet up in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. More than 100 people showed up for the production, all braving rapidly plunging temperatures and each with a slightly different motivation for making the drive.

A bus full of students from Ridge View Academy, south of Denver, drove more than three hours to see the production and talk with Marines. The teenagers were part of a leadership program at the school for at-risk youth.

"This is a perfect chance to demonstrate the value of discipline and dedication," explained Brandon Hall, former Marine and vice principal at the school.

At a break in production, several members of the Silent Drill Platoon answered questions from the students. By and large the questions were straight-forward and extremely practical: What did you do to get those medals? Do you sing cadence when you run? Where have you traveled? Do you have to pay for your own tickets?

Not all of the questions, however, were easy. One of the students asked how hard it was being a Marine, especially being part of the Silent Drill Platoon.

"You have to make sacrifices," answered Lance Corporal Jeremy Miller, himself not much older than the students. "Me, I've got a wife at home. We [the SDP] have to travel all the time. She knows how important this is to me and how proud I am to do this. It's tough, but that’s what you have to do to accomplish something worthwhile."

Throughout the day former Marines, families of Marines and nearby residents made their way to watch the production. Few, however, made as big an impression as Arthur Martinez. Plenty of other former Marines had the same red jackets. But none of theirs said "King Arthur" or boasted patches for being the Marine Corps boxing champ.

"I told the recruiter, I don’t care what you sign me up for, just let me box," he said. And he did, traveling the world with the Marine Corps’ boxing team for four years. Along the way he learned a thing or two about being an ambassador.

"I used to go into schools all the time to talk about the Marine Corps and what it offers students," he said. "I told them I was proof that you could be anything you want in the Marine Corps, you just have to work at it."

And he had some guidance for the current members of the Silent Drill Platoon who were filming the new commercial.

"These guys aren’t thinking about it right now, but they’re changing lives," he said. "Some kid is going to watch this commercial and decide right then and there, 'I want to be a Marine.'"

The commercial production was bittersweet for Brad Palmer of Leadville. His son, LCpl. Nicklas Palmer, was killed in action last December. Mr. Palmer, head of the local public works office, learned that the commercial production was coming to town less than a week before. His staff worked through the weekend to make sure several roads leading to the more remote location were graded to ease access for the heavy trucks.

"These boys are a spitting image of my son," he said watching the last few shots of the commercial. "I can't tell you how proud I am they're filming here."

Before the day was over it was the members of the SDP who were honored. On their way back to Denver the platoon stopped in Leadville so Mr. Palmer could show them the memorial that will be dedicated to his son later this winter.

One-by-one the Marines walked past the memorial and hugged Mr. Palmer and LCpl. Palmer’s brother. It was a potent example of the powerful connection the Marines have experienced with their fellow Americans during the two months of television production, said platoon commander Captain Joshua Glover.

"I can't think of a more perfect way to end this tour," he said.

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