If The Story Behind This Touching Marine Picture Does Not Melt Your Heart, Nothing Else Will

  I stumbled on this beautiful story of loving and caring beyond one's self; of how a Marine helps boy finish his race; and felt the need to share. 

This is about Boden Fuchs, a 9-year old, who was struggling to complete a footrace last weekend when he ran into Lance Cpl. Myles Kerr, a 19-year-old Marine.

The boy had become separated from those from his group who he had started the race with and asked Kerr, "Sir, will you please run with me?"

 Kerr, wearing boots and utes and carrying a full backpack for the event stuck with the boy; urged

him on when the boy wanted to give up; ensured that Boden saw the race to completion; and helped him reunite with his party at the end of the course.

Several minutes after his Marine buddies had finished, Lcpl Kerr still had not crossed the line making him dead last in his age group. So much later in fact, that they feared his extreme level of motivation may have caused him injury and/or fatigue resulting in him dropping out of the race.

 Moments before they ran back through the course to recover their fellow Marine, Lcpl Kerr came around the last turn along with the small boy clocking in at 35:43 minutes (five seconds behind Boden). GOOD guys do really finish last!

Kerr may have lost the Jeff Drenth Memorial 5K footrace at the Venetian Festival in Charlevoix, Michigan but that was a symbolic moment that both participants will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

The Facebook page, Seal of Honor, which posted a photograph of the pair running together went on to praise the Kerr:

 "By his unwavering commitment to help those in need through his ability to inspire others by his unequivocal level of motivation, Lcpl Kerr reflected great credit upon himself and was keeping in the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps".

The photo has received more than 200,000 likes and been shared nearly 45,000 times and has about 9500 comments on Facebook. He sure won the hearts of hundreds of thousands of admirers and built a future Marine’s character in that race.

 Lance Corporal Kerr said he was "just doing what any man would do” and also thanked Boden's family for giving him a $100 gift card to the Grey Gables Inn restaurant in Charlevoix.

 We need to find his parents and get the recipe they used to raise such a fine young man and hero!

See a screengrab of his tweets:

It was not to win the task first, it was to inspire and accept the responsibility of that huge milestone in supporting a young future hero. We've all been that little boy at a time in our lives seeking help, it's time we all became that Marine, a shining example of compassion, integrity, honour and character! The world could use more people like this. WE ALL can learn and follow such every day acts of kindness.

 At 19 this young man has shown more compassion, honour and integrity in one act than most people do in an entire lifetime.

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