Yellow footprints

WOW! Where to start about Day 2.

3:30 a.m. wake up.... at the airport by 5 a.m. ... Started off flying from Louisville to Charlotte to Savannah... that took about 12 hours thanks to mother nature and her wonderful March snow!

Then... we took a short drive up the coast to Parris Island in Beaufort, South Carolina. Made it, finally, however, our luggage didn't.

Lucky me, I kept my work gear with me, so I'm able to blog and I was able to head out tonight and get video of Recruits stepping off the bus onto the yellow footprints. Meanwhile many of the teachers I'm with and even my escort, Sgt. John Jackson, do not have luggage. Nothing to wear tomorrow, can't brush their teeth! My bags arrived just before 11 p.m. so I'm content. Got my WVU sweatshirt and my Bengals pajamas and now its time to share the day with you!

I know it is only Day 2, but I can't wait to get this video on Fox 19 and fox19.com!

After arriving at the hotel we took a short drive to Parris Island Marine Depot to watch Recruits arrive to start their journey.

Hard to explain... but here it goes.... pitch dark, men and women jumping off a bus, in "civilian" normal clothing... they have 15 ft. to make it from the bus to the yellow footprints, I can only imagine it feels like 15 miles.

Drill Instructors tell them to run, not walk, but they can't get there fast enough.

In 4 months these same Recruits I saw will be Marines. They will be defending our country, they will probably be heading to combat. They will be defending my right to the fact my biggest concern today was not having my luggage. Not having my camera battery charger. My right to tell you what I really think about all of this, my right to send a text message to my sister, asking her to check the UC basketball score (Bearcats lost to Nova).

It is a pretty powerful emotion. Seeing those individuals make that step off the bus and step up to the yellow footprints. Powerful emotion. Really puts life in perspective.

But I stopped thinking about that.

Too busy trying to capture it all on film.

Too busy listening to the Drill Instructor. Her message is poetic in the content and cadence.

After the yellow footprints they walk through the silver hatch (grand set of doors). The Drill Instructor tells them they'll only pass through these doors once. She tells them that they officially start the transformation from civilian to Marine. No one else walks through these doors. Not officers, not me, not you, not families, not any Marine or military member.

Only Recruits.

I went to Parris Island with just my camera, 1st Lt. Hudson Reynolds and Master Sgt. Oliva was there as well. None of the teachers made the trip.

They get to experience it tomorrow. But won't get to see what I saw tonight. What I'm excited to share with you.

What an honor that the United States Marine Corps let me be there where they make Marines... from the first step off the bus, from the first step onto the yellow footprints.