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However well-intentioned you consider representing
those of us who have painfully earned the Eagle Globe and Anchor,
you CANNOT.
Since I’ve been a Marine for 15 years out of
my 34 on this Earth, it’s hard for me to put myself in
your shoes to see if this makes sense but if you ever go through
boot camp or OCS, only then will you understand the folly of
adopting the Eagle Globe and Anchor before earning it. The spirit
that ingrains itself in you when you become a Marine is the
very foundation of our fighting ability and our success is based
on the power we receive from the fact that we are Marines, have
earned that title and symbol, and everyone we fight with has
proven themselves in the cauldron of Marine training. So early
adopting the title or symbol, for whatever intention, is profoundly
insulting to us.
The argument that you are not actually posing as Marines
is not a factor. You are wearing something that is not yours,
that you have not earned, and that many millions of Marines
have held as their most prized possession. I would never wear
a Medal of Honor with the argument that I’m showing my
deep respect for the symbol or that I’m trying to emulate
everything it stands for. Not only would this be wrong to do
but the people who don’t know the difference would be
misled and those that did know the difference would be enraged…
justifiably.
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