On Thursday morning Katie and I left our Inn in the dark and headed to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island for family day.

 

This is a shot from when it started to get a little lighter. When we arrived things were so dark it was hard for me to see the parking area. We arrived at about 6:00 am and hundreds of family members were already lined up anxious to see their Marine for the first time in 13 weeks.

 

The first event of family day was the motivational run. We asked around and positioned ourselves so we were most likely to see Andrew during the run. It would still be a few hours before family members could actually have any contact with their new Marine.

 

Katie waited anxiously hoping for a glimpse of her guy. Needless to say she had lots of nervous energy.

 

Here they come and the crowds were cheering loudly and the Marines were chanting.

 

We saw him and he saw us and all was good with the world. He’s the one smiling on your left. After this brief glimpse they were all gone somewhere on the base and we headed to the Visitors center.

 

Can’t tell you how thrilled I was that the visitors center had wonderful coffee choices including espresso and Mochas, etc. I needed my morning cup of Java really bad at this point. I opted for an iced Americano with an extra shot of espresso. It was already hot at 7:30 am. We waited out the time in the visitors center before they opened up the all weather facility at 8:30 A.M. so we could get some good seats for the Liberty Ceremony at 10:00 am.

 

When the doors were opened and the Marines filed in the energy in the facility was pulsing.

 

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy, Katie was finally able to touch Andrew.

 

Andrew’s dad and stepmother traveled from Florida for the big event.

 

On family day the new Marines get an on base Liberty from about 11:00 A.M. till 2:45 P.M. We had lunch together and went through the museum on base.

 

I couldn’t help myself taking more photos of the Spanish Moss. I hear in the Spring it sheds as yellow pollen making the sidewalks yellow.

 

 

A lot of proud family members were walking around with their new Marines on this day.

 

Andrew showed us the spot where he received his Eagle Globe and Anchor making his transition from a recruit to a Marine after a grueling 3 day training event called the Crucible.

 

We also got to check out his barracks and see his little space where he lived the last 13 weeks with 60 other recruits. We dropped Andrew off at the Parade Deck and headed back to Beaufort for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Tomorrow I’ll post my photos from the Graduation ceremony.

I’m adding this to Outdoor Wednesday hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.