A boy, about 5, walked up to my booth at the Western Idaho State Fair today. He looked timid and just stood there for a few minutes staring at me and my booth.

"What's going on young man," I asked.

"Nothing. Just looking at your stuff," he replied.

We had a pullup bar and a table full of Marine Corps swag you can win for doing pullups.

A few more moments passed, he asked, "what do you win."

"Wars," I replied. "Would you like to know what you can win?"

He wasn't interested in the pullup challenge anymore.

"Are you really a Marine?" he asked. He finally noticed the Marine Corps writing on everything.

"Yes."

He put his hand out and I shook it. He thanked me. He then ran away toward his father. When he reached his father, he grabbed his hand and pulled him to me.

"Dad, shake his hand. He is a Marine. You know the ones you said keep us safe."

His father thanked me and shook my hand.

"I hope my boy becomes a Marine. I wanted to join but the medical board said I was ineligible," the father said. "We owe you everything."

After we closed out booth for the night, the father showed up and invited all the Marines to his house for dinner tomorrow night.

We had to decline since we have to work late. None of us said anything after they left. We get thanked all the time for our service, but this left us all speechless.