An absolutely must watch video today -- Corporal William Lottering, USMC by way of South Africa, gives a tour of the schoolhouse in Garmsir, Afghanistan. The headmaster of the school fled the school and didn't come back to teach until the Marines arrived and started providing security. When the Marines arrived, their were just over a hundred students. Now they're educatiing 366 kids. Most are between eight and 12, but some trying to learn to read and write are as old as 22.
The Spirit of America is taking donations in conjunction with the Marines to help educate the Afghan kids in the Helmland province.
Exit quotation: "If you look at these kids, by giving them a pen or a pencil it's like you just gave them a Ferrari. These kids are so happy with the little things we give. If we can just help them with just the basic necessities, it will mean the world."
I was not a great Marine. I never saw combat. I got a lot more from the Marines than the Marines got from me. But I believe fervently that this nation today needs the values of the Marine Corps as much as the nation needs the Marine Corps.