Posted on
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
13-year-old Gets Wish: He's a Marine Recruit
By ASHLIE OSBURN
Staff Writer
During a tearful surprise party at The Diner in Tyler Monday evening, a 13-year-old was recruited into the U.S. Marine Corps — making his wish come true.
Staff Writer
During a tearful surprise party at The Diner in Tyler Monday evening, a 13-year-old was recruited into the U.S. Marine Corps — making his wish come true.
Working with the Tyler-based Make-A-Wish foundation, an organization helping grant wishes to children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions, Kyle Drott’s dream is now a reality.
“There is no way to describe it. It’s been absolutely amazing,” Drott said. “I’m just amazed that the Marine Corps has done everything that they’ve done.”
Drott is now recruited into the Marine Corps and is scheduled to travel to Marine Corps Recruit Depot training facility at Parris Island, S.C., with his family on Aug. 5-10. The activities and boot camp training operations are also a surprise to Kyle.
Marine Corps flags and decorations and the American flag donned the walls and tables of the diner, where friends, family and supporters anxiously awaited Kyle’s arrival in a stretch Hummer limousine.
Kyle Drott answers a question from United States Marine Staff Sgt. LaRoyce M. Broom at the Diner on Monday in Tyler. Tyler-based Make-A-Wish of North Texas has granted Drott of Tyler his wish to be a Marine. He and his family will later travel to Parris Island South Carolina to attend Marine boot camp on Aug 5.
“It’s an odd feeling to have people do things for you like this,” said Amy Drott, Kyle’s mother. “As neat as it is, it’s just terribly hard to believe.”
Drott hurriedly jumped out of the vehicle, listening to every command the Marine recruiters gave. As he ran into the restaurant, he stopped suddenly and buried his head in his hands after realizing his wish had come true.
After a presentation of commemorative plaques and a cannon shell shot at the funeral of former President Ronald Reagan, Kyle sang the Marine Corps anthem in unison with other servicemen.
Kyle Drott gets a hug from his mother, Amy Drott.
Sitting in a place of honor with a smile on his face, he gave some advice to other children dealing with similar medical conditions.
“Never give up, keep going, just remember that pain is temporary, but quitting is forever,” Drott said.
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