The Brotherhood of Marines (that dont even know each other) Vetsconnect

It never ceases to amaze me how Marines will never hesitate to help each other out, no matter how old, what generation, and whether or not they know each other from Adam. My computer was disabled with a virus this weekend. I called around to the big box stores, nerd gangs and dufus crews. All of them wanted a minimum of $150 for just a clean up. I went on Google Maps and searched for computer repair to find some local people that could fix it. I noticed a local guy about seven minutes away named Sparky's computer repair. I checked the reviews and they were all good. The deciding factor for me to go there was that someone left a review saying that he was great at what he did and that he was a Marine.
Sparky's shop is a mobile structure the size of two average sheds. It is jam packed with monitors and towers covering all available floor space. The walls are covered with hangers and shelves that are overflowing with hard drives, cooling fans , cords, mouses and all kinds of other equipment beyond my ability to identify. I knew i was in the right place though. I am somewhat ashamed to admit that I was expecting someone younger. Computers tend to be a young guys game but, this guy definitely knew his stuff . He had just finished changing out a sound card and hard drive in a computer that was the same model as my HP.
It was no accident that I was wearing my old 1st Bn 1st Marines tee shirt. He noticed it within the first thirty seconds of my daughter and I entering his shop. Our first meeting was brief. i told him what was wrong with my laptop. He told me that he charges $45 for a cleanup and needed about an hour. Needless to say, I was pretty happy to pay a third of what everyone else wanted and have it done same day when most places couldnt even start it the same day. So instead of going back home, I took my daughter to the park until it was time to go pick up the internet machine.
We left the park after an hour and a half to go back to Sparky's. I figured i'd give him a little extra time just in case. I was almost expecting to hear about some unfixable issue and nothing could be done. That is usually how my luck works. I was wrong once again. Not only did he fix everything in less time than he said, he added all kinds of protection programs and only charged me $35 on top of that. As I was getting the money out of my wallet i told him that he got my business because i knew he was a Marine. He then said "yeah, I treat all my customers good but, i went a little above and beyond for you, I saw your shirt and the back window on your truck as you were pulling away and I knew you were in the brotherhood" It was at this point that we bored my four year old daughter to death by trading war stories of Parris Island, duty stations and deployments. It was like running into an old friend that I never met.
This is not the first time that I have gotten special treatment from a fellow former Marine. Im sure it wont be the last. In this world that is more divided everyday by politics, race, religion and whatever else they can use as a wedge to try and divide and conquer us with, it's nice to know that the Brotherhood of Marines still exists, stronger than ever. It isn't often that i meet someone and i am compelled to write about it. Most people these days are cold and detached, and getting more aggressive about it everyday. With social media making face to face conversations seem foreign to kids and a thing of the past to anyone over twentyfive and mainstream media pushing the idea that violence is justifiable if someone doesn't think the same way they do, a real "human" connection is rare. The experiences shared by Marines Soldiers Seamen and Airmen create a common bond thread that ties us together and stronger than any superficial excuse to hate someone. We need to cultivate these bonds and friendships into a community so strong and big that everyone takes notice. Some would say that is what the VFW or American Legion are but the younger generation that is returning now aren't turning to those establishments like they did in the past. As much as I don't like it, social media is where the young generation can be reached. My point is that the experiences that veterans share are a solid foundation to build more on and return the connection between mankind

This post is a precursor to an article I am putting together to awaken the drive for #Vetsconnect. I will be posting the next vetsconnect article sometime before Thanksgiving. Please be sure to keep an eye out for it and give it a resteem and upvote. I will be once again focusing all my writing attention to getting vetsconnect up and running. Any and all support is needed and greatly appreciated.

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