“The idea of joining the Marine Corps has always been kind of conflicting for me. My father was a Marine and he was my best friend, but I also never really had a family; I lost it when I was pretty young. I had never really felt at home here, so I was always searching for something that felt like a brotherhood. I found that with the Marines, and it has just been amazing. It all really clicked for me when we put my father to rest and I had that flag in my hands. All I could think about in that moment was that I was going to go out being a part of something bigger than myself, and I’m grateful for that.” – Kyle Gathright, Grade 12