Graduation Day

I cannot express in words my pride in my son. Today was an extremely significant day in the life of this new Marine. We are spending time as a family tonight, so I will post pics and details tomorrow. I will say that he and his dad are developing their relationship on a whole new level, which is more a blessing to me than all of it together!

OOH-RAH!

Matt the Marine

Today is Family Day. It is 4:37am (or should I say 0437) and we are getting ready to jump in the van to spend a few hours with Matthew, then Friday we will see him graduate. I understand Marine Boot Camp Graduation is a pretty neat thing to see. I cannot wait! Last week the Chevron newspaper, which features the week's graduating company, was posted Thursday. The edition is dated every Friday-check it out (see last blog) to see Matthew's company and his name will be posted in the list of New Marines. Next post will feature actual photos of Matthew! :o)

Matthew will be home for ten days!

On Thursday we will see him for the first time in three months. Friday we bring him home. I imagine we will have to share him with others who will want to soak up every minute with him as much as we do. I'm sure it will go by very fast. While training is complete and I think by now he has been awarded the Eagle, Globe & Anchor, signifying his transition to Marine from Recruit, the official ceremony is still to come! Please check out the Chevron Newspaper. It is the MCRD paper and will feature the graduationg company of the week. I won't see it until we get home Friday with him, but who knows? He may be featured in it! Check it out-It was up Thursday last week for Friday's edition. http://www.mcrdsd.usmc.mil/chevron/index.htm

Graduation information

Check out this link for all graduation and family day information. http://www.mccsmcrd.com/Graduation/Graduation_Events.aspx

Matthew graduates Friday, August 29th. Family Day is Thursday the 28th. The festivities begin bright and early! So if you plan to come, plan to come very (Marine) early. The link above has the schedule and you can go from that page to directions and other important details and information.

Matthew would be so honored to have all his loved ones there to see him graduate!

Matthew with his platoon

Matthew's on the internet!

Wanna see Matt? He is in formation on this video. Pretty cool to see him in "real life". Click the link below.
http://devildogs.info/
Click on Second Battalion--> Hotel Co--> Platoon 2169
He is on the bottom row, fourth from right, facing left. You can rewind the video if you need to. If you see the white kid with big ears, then the darker kid, then there's Matt.

Gas Chamber and Crucible this week!

Please pray for Matthew very fervently this week. Today (Mon.) he goes into the gas chamber. Tuesday thru Thursday he will be doing The Crucible. Immediately after The Crucible he is awarded the Eagle, Globe & Anchor, which signifies his transformation into an official Marine. Then he will get the Warrior's Breakfast (a feast). Friday is a day of transition; he turns in his training gear and packs up to go to MCRD again for graduation week. Thank you for all your prayers and letters and support during this time. He has not had a delay and I am trusting he won't at all. I am looking forward to what a man my son has become. I can't wait to see him!

Boot Camp is almost over!

Thanks to all who have been keeping Matthew in your prayers. Please revisit the training schedule. You will see that this week is a great deal of physical training and next week is The Crucible which I previously posted info about. That is the week he will really need your prayers. After The Crucible is over, he receives the Eagle, Globe and Anchor in a special ceremony and is officially a US Marine! It is such a huge accomplishment that the guys are deeply emotional and proud! I am extremely happily surprised that he has not had any delays to his graduation so far and our God has been keeping his heart. Please pray that Matthew will still have no delays as well as thanks to our Great God who has abundantly poured out His grace! Love to all who love Brian Matthew with a genuine love!

From Ashley

August 3rd-
He begins his letter with how excited he is to be coming home in 3 1/2 weeks! :) He was kind of down when he wrote cause of some of the people there. I guess they aren't being quite fair to him :( He said he really wants to see me and that he loves me. He also said not to write anymore letters after August 19th cause it's too close to graduation. I am anxious to see him again! :)

I can't wait!! (from Sarah)

Matt wrote me another letter, he says he can't wait to come home again!!
He wants to be home again really bad and he also says he can't wait to go to church again. I'm so excited about seeing him again and can't wait to go to San Diego for the graduation.
he's made a couple friends and wants to stay in touch with one of them after Boot Camp. even though some of the guys there have been giving him a hard time, he is sticking it out and keeping a good attitude! I'm sooo proud of my big marine brother!

** Happy Birthday to Mom **

Well, "only three more Sundays," he says. Matt says he misses us. He has a friend and bunk mate that is from Montclair. They want to maintain friendship after Boot with plans to hang out. They want to go get new cell phones and spend a day or so together. He reports a couple other recruits that have bad attitudes and he is having trouble with them and is a little down. But he has been reminded of a song I like that they play at church there and it is encouraging to him. He wrote out the verse:

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call

He says he misses everyone a lot about five times in this letter. He says, "I see myself maturing through this time in life."

He is really counting on going to church as soon as he gets out.

He ends with Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary to me & Dad and says he is sorry he can't be here for it. (The letter arrived today, on my birthday. Our anniversary is next Monday.)

P.S. Don't send any letters after the 19th as it is too close to graduation. I guess he won't get them. :o)

From Ashley:

July 27th-
He said that last week they were getting ready for field week so that is why he wasn't able to write. He explained to me what they have been doing at the WFTBN (Weapons and Field Training Battalion). The first week was grass week where they learned how to aim. The second week was table week where they learned how to shoot sitting, standing, kneeling, and prone. The third week was field week which just ended. He sounded excited about becoming a third phase recruit and about the fact that there are only 21 Training days left...yes!! :) He mentioned to Travis that bootcamp is easier then he thought. The hard part is always being busy. He says he can't wait to be home again :)

*red letter editing by Tish