RSSPresident Ronald Reagan Speaks To New Marines At Parris Island
Carl Andrews | October 29, 2010
(The following is a speech President Ronald Reagan gave at a Boot Camp Graduation at Parris Island in June of 1986.
America could surely use this man right now.)
I wonder if you have any idea what this means to a former Second Lieutenant of horse cavalry. [Laughter]
It's wonderful to be with you here on Parris Island. You'll notice we brought some rain with us.
While that might cancel out the A-frame exercise for you Marines, the farmers of South Carolina, I have to tell you, ordered it up; and so I had to comply.
Of course, I didn't have to do the ``slide for life'' -- [laughter] --
I only had to watch. But it was fascinating to see your obstacle course and the ``slide for life.''
It reminded me of trying to get a bill through Congress. [Laughter] We don't have an alligator or sand fleas, but we got some people in Washington who could double for them in a pinch. [Laughter]
But since this is the Marine Corps and it was supposed to be real hot here, I planned to keep my remarks short -- no more than an hour or so. [Laughter] Seriously, I'm glad you're not all standing at attention.
One time I addressed a group of Marines. I told them a favorite joke of mine, and I was a bit disappointed when they didn't laugh. And I thought maybe I'd gotten the delivery wrong or they didn't quite understand it or something. And then the commanding officer leaned over to me and whispered that they're standing at attention, they're not permitted to laugh.
So, just to play it safe: At ease, and feel free to laugh. That's an order!
Seriously, I couldn't be happier than to be here.
The recruitment posters say they're looking for a few good men, and I can see here today they've found them -- and I shouldn't leave out the women.
This is about the finest bunch of leathernecks I have ever seen.
Well, the few and the proud -- the Marines have always exemplified those cardinal virtues of duty to country, honor, and bravery.
Since the beginning of the Corps at Philadelphia's Tun Tavern in 1775, Marines have always been on the frontlines of freedom.
Often the first into battle, the first to fight for right and freedom -- on land, on the sea, and in the air, in every corner of the world -- you've been there when your country needed you.
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