RAPID CITY, S.D. — America is a patriotic country full of red, white and blue, with some of the finest service members the world has ever seen. On July 3, in front of one of the most recognizable and inspiring monuments in our nation, a group of young men and women raised their right hands proving their love for America during a Fourth of July celebration ceremony.
In the shadow of Mount Rushmore, these future service members promised to give their lives to our country by giving their oath of enlistment under the close supervision of our founding fathers and those in attendance.
“The success of these young men and women rely on the hands of not only the local community, but the nation, to ensure that they succeed as future service members,” said Gunnery Sgt. Frank Broberg, a Marine Corps recruiter here.
“It’s important for these men and women joining the military to be a part of an event like this because it helps give them a sense of pride while also showing them that they have America’s support,” said Sgt. Kenneth Johnson, another Marine Corps here.
Zachery Taylor, a native of Sturgis, S.D., participated in the ceremony and is currently in the Delayed Entry Program, waiting to attend boot camp and become a United States Marine.
“I wanted to be here so I could honor my history,” said Taylor. “Also I think it’s important for people to see the future of the military.”
The four men whose faces grace the mountain side have helped make our country what it is today. George Washington served as America’s first president; Abraham Lincoln led our country through the Civil War and ended slavery; Thomas Jefferson helped our country grow through the Louisiana Purchase and Theodore Roosevelt walked softly and carried a big stick, bringing us into the 20th Century on the right foot.
With the help of our founding fathers, men like Zachery Taylor have the opportunity to make his own mark on this country through the military or any other means.
“I find that if someone isn’t interested in their nation’s history, it’s because they’ve never been able to experience it first hand, so it’s important to be able to experience something as amazing as Mount Rushmore,” said Johnson.
“We are doing this to show that our history is important, no matter who you are or where in America you’re from. This is important, because we are the future of this country,” said Taylor.