Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana is celebrating 13-year-old Cade’s wish to be a Marine for a day with a send-off celebration at Shreveport Regional Airport.
On Wednesday (August 2), Cade and his mother will travel from Homer to San Diego and spend the week at the home of the United States Marine Corps. When he arrives at the airport in Shreveport, Make-A-Wish and soldiers from Company B of the 4th Marine Division, 23rd Marine Regiment, 1st Battalion, based in Bossier City, will surprise Cade with an official “boot camp” send-off before he boards the plane.
During this, Cade will meet his heroes from Company B and learn what to expect during his trip. Cade’s family has a long history of military service, including his mother’s cousin, who served in Vietnam, and his uncle, a current Marine. Because of this, Cade has wanted to be a Marine “since before [he] was 5,” and he has often dressed as one for Halloween. Cade chose this as his wish because his medical condition will prevent him from enlisting when he is older.
In San Diego, Cade will observe a cadet graduation ceremony at the Marine Corps. Recruit Depot, meet “Bruno,” the base’s English Bulldog mascot, and have lunch with cadets in the mess hall, among several other activities. Then, he will visit Camp Pendleton and observe Weapons Field Training and participate in the weapons training simulator.