A Marine graduation isn’t a typical experience. It's a platoon of 400 new marines, marching across the base in San Diego.
Each has shown that he deserves the title of marine, and for their parents, the feeling is indescribable.
"Being the oldest boy, first born son to come into the military, is a big, big thing for us,” said Todd Smith of Green Bay
Smith is seeing his son Logan graduate. He was fresh out of Green Bay East High School when he left for San Diego and he spent months in boot camp, with drill instructors watching his every move.
"Seeing what's been going on in the world, seeing him join the marines when he did, and that was all with no prodding or pushing from anybody, it's just, being proud of him,” Smith said.
"I always kind of wanted to serve in the Military and I saw my recruiter from my school with his dress blues, and I was like, that's pretty cool, so I joined,” Logan Smith said.
It's about more than just the uniform. It's what it represents to each Marine, because they're one step closer to achieving their dreams.
"He's 19 years old, he was born two years before 9/11 so they have lived through everything since then, so that was the hardest thing, I think when he decided to join,” Smith said.
Some Marines join to continue family tradition, but smith says he does it because it's his duty.
"Living through all of this stuff, the last 17 years, is surprising, actually, to see all of these guys do this,” Smith said.
