Graduation day begins with the raising of the colors.  A ceremony fittingly led by the band as they would also usher the new marines in to their graduation. Recruits filing in, following the final orders and procedures of boot camp. Anxiously anticipating the last command they’d hear from their drill instructor.

With that last command, the new marines are officially released to their families. The Wards can bring their son Raymond home to Johnstown.

Brenda, Raymond’s mother, said, ” “I’ve been worried sick, and he’s lost a ton of weight but I am so unbelievably proud of him. So proud.” 

She added, “I can’t even describe it, I’m so excited. It’s been a long 13 weeks. A long 13 weeks.”

The only contact the Ward’s had with Raymond was through letters. They wrote a letter every day. 

His father Joe explained, “It’s a long time not to talk and to do the old snail mail letters back and forth. You know, the things you ask back and forth and you forget some of the things you want to talk about.”  

It was the letters and thoughts of home that got Raymond through the grueling 13 weeks.

Raymond detailed, “Literally any chance you get. You’re standing in chow, not supposed to talk, look around, any of that, you’re staring straight ahead. That’s the only thing going through your head.

He added, “Those tough days it’s what gets you through them. You stop, think about home and how much time you’ve got left.” 

The tough times come often in the first few weeks. Many Marine recruits start having doubts. Raymond included.

 He said, “There’s a few doubts. I didn’t think it would happen but you get into that 3rd week, you realize ‘ok, this is how it is. It how it’s gonna be…..’ You learn to just go numb roll with the punches push your way through and 13 weeks later you are here. “

The journey was certainly unexpected. Raymond not only graduated from Westmont Hilltop before enlisting, he also earned a degree at IUP.

Brenda explained, “(It’s) not what mom wants to hear after 5 years of college. (He) comes home and says ‘mom, I’m joining the Marines.'”

Raymond said, “I thought about it, I said ‘why not?’ Live my life regretting it: ‘What if? What if? What if?’ I figured this way I could do it, get it over with and go from there. Hopefully enjoy it and make it for what it’s worth.”

In the end, he says it was all worth it. To stand in his dress blues, officially a Marine. “Right now it means the world,” he said,  “All the work I’ve put in, all the time I’ve put in, energy we’ve put in., lack of sleep, lack of food. Just hard work, dedication, commitment. It’s come a long way. So, right now it means the world to make my parents proud.”

Raymond looks to become an air crew chief and eventually work to be commissioned as an officer. But first, 10 days back home to take in time with his family and what he missed dearly about his home town. 

“Wooly’s!”, he exclaimed,  “Wooly’s burgers, oh yeah. It’s one of my favorites.”

For more on Making Marines check out Part 1. or Part 2. Or check out the teachers on the trip take on the shooting range.