O U R   M I G H T Y   C I T A D E L

_{Travels / C h a r l e s t o n}

_{by Ruben Cress}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

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_{S u m m a r y}

<sub>After visiting the beach, my uncle really wanted to show me "The Citadel", a school for the military. It is the number one ranked public college in the South where you can get a master's degree. It is also the best coeducational military college in the US. This is mostly because The Citadel started to accept female applicants. Here in the Netherlands, this is common, so I don't quite understand the commotion about it. From my understanding and experience in life; Honor, valor, integrity, and loyalty are not determined by whether you're a woman or a man. It is within us all.

The military campus was just as I expected. Clean, strict and there is a kind of atmosphere when you walk around. Just walking there while no one is around somehow demanding to show respect and discipline while being there. We were kind of lucky to see the students do a routine. It was quite impressive and cool to watch. The discipline and respect these students show are admirable. It reminds me of a premise that is guarded 24/7 by 'The Sentinels' (Tomb Guards). One of the most respected and disciplined guards in the world. They are considered to be the Elite of the Elite, who -voluntarily- yes, voluntarily, Guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 24/7, 365 days per year.

Around the campus of The Citadel, there were multiple historic vehicles/statues. This includes the campus "The Citadel Bulldog" dedicated to the Major who died during the Vietnam war. Also, there was a plane, which I just had to photograph since it has the same name as my mother (Annette). In the air, the plane was controlled by Capt. Buck Shuler and Lt. Bill Read. The F4 Phantom was armed with Napalm. Unfortunately, 4 years after my visit, a tree fell on the plane (in 2015), so luckily I had the chance to take this photograph of the undamaged plane. The "Thunderbolt", an M4 Sherman displayed below in one of the photographs that I took, shows the vehicle is in excellent condition (WWII).</sub>

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_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

_{Ruben Cress | The Citadel}

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I can't imagine what it is like, can you?

It's crazy sometimes how we have to defend ourselves, but think it is even crazier to think that we are willing to murder one another to get "more land". I feel I am blessed for living in a time in a peaceful country, with peaceful neighboring countries. I would never be able to understand, no matter how much I try, how much pain and sorrow war creates for innocent refugees who are living in a country where there is war.

Cheers,
Ruben

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