Justin Timberlake, the Marines and something I did not know

I’m about to show my age here, but what can you do.  Up until this morning, I had no idea who Justin Timberlake was.  I mean, sure I’d heard his name, but I just vaguely thought “Singer?  Actor?  Whatever.”  I’ve pretty much checked out of pop culture lately, finding it too antithetical to my politics, my values and my parenting.

As of right now, I still haven’t heard Timberlake sing or seen him act, but I have read about the fact that he accepted an invitation to the Marine Corps Ball and that he made good on that acceptance.  More than that, I’ve read on his website the tribute he put up describing his experiences:

I’m writing this out to all of you after attending an event that turned out to be one of the most moving evenings I’ve ever had…

I had the honor and privilege last night of attending The Basic School Instructor Battalion 236th Marine Corps Birthday Ball at the Greater Richmond Convention Center with Corporal Kelsey DeSantis…

[snip]

I’ve always been very vocal about my support of our Armed Forces. I’ve always felt like they offered us the opportunity to live our lives freely without the fear that so many other nations have to endure still to this day. And, they do it without asking for anything in return. I had this very feeling walking into this dinner. So, to say I was stoked to be there would be more than accurate.

[snip]

They started the ceremony. And, the next thing I knew I was watching a video about Pearl Harbor/WW2 and the September 11 terrorist attacks

[snip]

While this tribute was playing, you could hear a pin drop. It was a surreal moment to be in that room with so many of our great Marines who have such a different type of connection to those stories. One that we who don’t serve will NEVER understand. It was familial. It was like they were listening to their own blood brothers. I glanced around the room at young men and women, spouses and soldiers… At kids way beyond their years, really… All so deeply entwined. Not just by battle, even though we who have never endured anything remotely close to those experiences and have NO position to comment on… But, by having such life changing experiences through them and to not ever waver in their love and respect for our homeland. That’s what I saw. A faith in us that has been tested time and time again. And, through it all, NEVER a drop of doubt.

I was truly moved.

Timberlake may not be a Marine but, in the Bizarro World that is American entertainment, he is a truly brave man, and I applaud him. I also wish I could have been at that Ball, not to see Timberlake, but to see the Marines gathered to celebrate their Corps and their history.  I’ve been to some pretty gorgeous Navy events, and I suspect I’d enjoy a Marine event every bit as much.  (With all due respect, of course, to my Navy friends.)

By the way, about Corporal Kelsey DeSantis, the one who invited Timberlake to the Ball?  Here’s something about her I bet you didn’t know, but that I greatly admire.  That gal is a fighter in more ways than one.