From the left, Suzanna Barnard, Wes Smiley and Nita Wilkinson are pictured during after the U.S. Marine Corps Marathon in 2013 in Washington, D.C. (WILKINSON FAMILY PHOTO)
"Hey, Mom, let's run the Marine Corps Marathon together!"
Those words came during a phone call one evening in March 2013. On the other end of the line was my son, Wes Smiley, who was serving as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.
My first thought? Is he out of his mind? Thirteen and 26 miles sound quite different! But honestly, how do you say no to a Marine, especially one whose name is Mom?
Wes explained that we would have to go through a lottery to get into the November marathon. I thought getting a spot was going to be the hard part. Apparently, Marines have a little advantage when it comes to getting into their own marathon.
Wes had always wanted to be in the military. When Sept. 11, 2001, happened, he was a junior in high school, and that only strengthened his resolve. Serving his country wasn't just a career choice; it was something he had wanted for years…..READ MORE….
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