Everywhere I went the nickname followed, "the new girl," yet this allowed me to recreate myself with every day that passed. You hindered me from keeping my friends for too long but presented me with the opportunities to build new friendships. You showed me that leaving friends behind doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your friendship along with it. You teach me how to be a well-rounded individual.

You moved me from home to home, state to state, year after year. You take me on new adventures, to marvelous places, and you expose me to the world through your eyes. You enriched my life with new traditions and revealed a unique way of life. The only way of life that you and I would be able to comprehend. You taught me innovative and ridiculous words such as: go-fasters, bulkhead, and starboard. Nonetheless, you taught me the words "Semper Fidelis," and its meaning "always faithful." You also taught me that this phrase means so much more, such as camaraderie and dedication to family. This is what taught me to be faithful to myself and those I care for most.

My life isn't always easy, but you never said it would be. We've had to say goodbye more times than I can count, but "welcome backs" were always worth it because you always found your way home. You understood and accepted my failures, but also instilled in me the determination to persist because failures are just a minute bump in the road. You encouraged me to set my goals high, from this I have gained the strength to believe in myself.

You protect me, you defend me, you continue to show me how to be strong. You taught me to stand up for myself, for what I believe in and not to pander to others. You teach me that though others my not understand who I am it is important that I know who I am and to be true to myself. You are my teacher of survival in this world that is full of both beauty and animosity. You emphasized the importance of acceptance and recognizing the good in others, while remaining vigilant.

You put me to sleep with the sound of your lullabies that echoed from the flight line and you woke me with the sound of your bugle in the morning. You pressed record when you read me "Goodnight, Mr. Night," therefore allowing me to hear your voice even in your absence. Teaching me to always treasure the little things, for those are what we miss the greatest when they are gone.

You sacrifice more than what meets the eye but not once do you complain. You show me that with some of the greatest losses comes the greatest of rewards. From this I have learned that it takes more than just physical strength to be a strong person. You teach that it is okay to be human and to express your emotions.

You taught me the true meaning of family and that no one gets left behind. You are my savior and my creator. It was you that shaped and molded me into the person I am today. You taught me that knowledge is infinite; therefore, I am continually pursuing knowledge, from you and from the world around me, appreciating every detail of the endless lesson.

I know you will always stand next to me, for this I am eternally grateful. You are Lieutenant Colonel Stoetzer, Lance Corporal Demetreu, you are the Few and you are the Proud. You are the ones that we call Marines and you are the ones that I gladly get to call my family.