Staff Sergeant John Vela

Omaha, NE

As a Grenada/Beirut Marine Veteran I look forward to my old unit's 25 year reunion commemorating our historic interventions in those far-off places from many years ago. My small part in those operations have been some of the most significant moments in my life. Consequently, the men of my unit are some of the most significant people in my life, though we no longer see each other on a daily basis. What I feel about those guys transcends any time or space that has separated us these past 25 years. I never thought that there would be anything I'd be more proud of - that is, until the day I witnessed my son being sworn in to join the Marine Corps. If you think that pride runs deep and wide in a man that has served in the Marine Corps, you're right. But that pride pales in comparison to the pride a Marine dad feels when he sees his son join the same Corps. Having a father-son relationship implies a bit of history between the parent and child, but when that father and son are both members of the "World's Finest", there's a whole NEW level of history that are shared between the two men - Marine Corps history. Now he is a part of my history as I am a part of his in a whole NEW level. It gives me GREAT pride to know he is now there at MCRD San Diego Boot Camp earning his passage into my beloved Corps. It'll give me even more pride to stand there on that parade deck this April 4th to watch him graduate! As a child, my son grew up knowing what "Semper Fi" translates to and what it means to me. Now, as a young man, he will come to know what it means to live it and know that he, too, has joined the ranks of the eternal brotherhood of the finest fighting force the world has ever known - the United States Marine Corps! Semper Fi, Son!