The city of New Orleans dedicated the first United States monument of a woman in service uniform: “Molly Marine” on 10Nov, 1943. A local recruiter commissioned the statue to help recruit women during World War II. For female Marines around the world, Molly has come to represent the countless significant contributions women have made to the Corps. She proudly stands for endurance, the book she holds records our history, the binoculars allow her to see into the future and she looks up steadfast facing all that comes her way. Molly has become a symbol of Esprit de Corps for all women Marines. Before graduation from boot camp, the recruits are asked to name one fellow recruit within their platoon who best exemplifies being a Marine. Here, we celebrate our newest sisters.
Molly Marine
PFC Renee Brown
O Co, Plt 4005
12 February 2014
It is dark and quiet at first but then it happens. We stop in front of the famous “yellow footprints”. Screams and shuffling are all you hear as a group of scared teenage girls embark upon a journey that will stay with them a lifetime. Through these days in boot camp we all accomplished many obstacles. A Molly Marine gives everything she has to better herself and others, holding the Marine Corps values of honor, courage, and commitment.
A Molly Marine is someone who takes the time to help others even though they need the help themselves. She is always there to keep others motivated to push harder, do the right thing, and to open others’ minds about being more respectful and understanding of opinions. She takes critiques from her peers and seniors not only improve herself but the platoon as a whole, if one fails, we all fail. A big lesson throughout this transition is the values and sisterhood that build us a future Marine allow us to become part of something much bigger than ourselves; we are continuing the legacy of the Marine Corps.
A Molly Marine does not do things for the recognition; she does them because they are the right thing to do. From the time she steps onto the yellow footprints to the time she graduates she is taught that she is no longer an individual, she is part of a sisterhood. She is taught day and night not only to look out for her new sisters but to teach them by example how to be Molly Marines themselves. She encourages others to build off of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. After witnessing the changes that take place in a squad bay as we approach graduation each day, I can see the positive change and difference in every recruit. The recruits in the platoon have created a sisterhood that has allowed us to overcome the difficulties experienced in order to become a Marine. We learn together, we train together, we fight together, and if it came down to it we would all die together.