The Marine Hymn

Interesting article in today's Northwest Indiana Times. It is about Lt. Shawn Blue, a Munster native who was killed in Iraq one year ago. It was a nice piece written by a friend and I assume fellow Marine. What struck me was the conclusion. He wrote: "I like to think that if the gates of heaven are guarded by Marines, as the Marines hymn suggests, that 1st Lt. Shaun Blue is now forever walking the lines of the perimeter, checking on the Marines defending their eternal post."

I must not have ever heard the third verse which suggests that heaven will be guarded by Marines. The verse goes like this:

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And have never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

What an interesting spin on Christianity and our military might. Not only are we the "protectors" of the world, but we are also the protectors of heaven. Not to sure what we are to make of this, but my hunch is that this worldview does not fit within the traditional Judeo-Christian worldview.