Monday's Inspiration -- Our men and women who serve

By Greg Perry, Kirkland Realtor
www.425realty.com

    I am the proud father of a U.S. Marine who served a tour in Kuwait and Iraq.  Over the weekend, we celebrated Kevin's birthday. 

Kevin has always been the ultimate team player.  As a youth hockey player, he was always the inspirational leader of every team he played on.  Just as he was graduating from high school, Kevin decided to enlist in the Marine Corp.

Kevin had a problem, however.  He suffered a knee injury in his last year of hockey and he failed his physical.  Military doctors told him that surgery was his only option, and there was no guarantee he would pass the physical after rehab.

Kevin had his operation, and worked like a man possessed to rehab his knee.  His goal was to become a U.S. Marine.

It took him a year to earn his way into the Corp.  Kevin never took his eye off his goal.  He went through basic training with flying colors.  The day of his graduation was an emotional day for me.

Kevin was gung-ho when he got the call to serve in Kuwait, where he was at the time the war started in Iraq.  He was more than willing to go and serve and felt the importance of what he was doing in his every fiber.  Again, as a Marine, Kevin was the ultimate team player.  Thank God, he made it back.  I hated it when Kevin was in harm's way.

As a parent, we try to raise our children to beome contributers to society.  We want them to make independent decisions.  We teach them how to set goals and hope they become givers to others. 

It is not easy, however, when your child volunteers to put himself into harms way.  Kevin made a hard decision and he matured quickly in the Marine Corp.

Now at 26, Kevin is married to a beautiful woman, Sherry, and they own a lovely home.  He is doing well with his occupation and taking college classes in the evening. 

I am so proud of Kevin.  Happy Birthday, son.

Here's tribute to all the men and women who are serving in our armed forces.  I pray for them.....and their parents.