I am the Mother of a 19 yr old Marine. He joined while still in his senior year. When he came to me to sign his enlistment papers I was hesitant. No I was down right, not in a million years. He was only 17, how could I give him permission, just wait I asked and think about it some more. He looked at me with a mixture of fear, in thinking I might not sign and anger, in knowing I didn't understand. And what he said next has stuck in my head through all his training and now he leaves this spring for Iraq. He told me, Mom I owe this to my country. I grew up with so many advantages that only because I grew up here I was able to have. Free schooling, the opportunity to work. So many liberties and there are so many others in this world who don't get these freedoms. I'm not joining just so I can kill or fight, but to do what I'm asked and give back to the country that gave to me. Now this is a young man who grew up in a single parent family, worked since he was 12 yrs old, paying for his own amenities because I couldn't afford to. Now don't get me wrong he always had a roof over his head and food in his belly. Decent clothes on his back and we did a lot of outdoor activities. But he still didn't have everything handed to him on a silver platter. But he still felt he had received so very much and I was proud that my son was so selfless. He told me I could either sign now or he would join anyway in 6 months. But he wanted to know I supported him and signing was my way of showing just that. It was hard, and I tried to prepare myself for the future but the day he left for bootcamp nearly ripped my heart from my chest. Now as he prepares for Iraq deployment I am a little better prepared for what the future holds mentally. But to me, he and most the men who will accompany him are so young, they still seem like boys to me, but I know they are men. Willing to serve their country. I remember 9/11 like it was yesterday and I also remember the fear that was on that 7th graders face when he was bused home early that day and watched the events unfold on the TV. And now he stands as a Marine, willing to sacrafice his everyday freedoms to assure we are safe here at home. He doesn't care if you do or don't understand his choice, he isn't concerned with political views, religion or race. His greatest concern is doing the job he is asked to do with skill and pride, protecting those abroad and at home and standing up to the standards he has set for himself. He knows the biggest complainers are usually the ill informed or those who do nothing, yet you can say what ever you want, he'll still do his job. I'm proud of my son and there won't be a day that goes by I won't worry. I have gone through every scenario in my mind, I've learned to stop that because it will drive you crazy. I put him in God's hands, yes we believe in God, if you don't it doesn't matter, he'll still do his job.... But none the less all the worry in the world won't change the future, so in God's hands he'll stay and hopefully the future will hold promise for all of us in the war on terror.