Make-A-Wish grants North Louisiana kid his dream of being a Marine
Early Wednesday morning, while it was still dark outside, Cade Liles was about to get a dream come true. The Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana had granted the Homer resident his wish to be a ‘Marine for a day’.
It would be more than a day, it was a 4-day trip to San Diego, California with his mother, Holly Liles, and two family friends. The normal check-in to the Shreveport Regional Airport was interrupted by Marine Maj. Lucas Culver who was there to give an official “boot camp” goodbye before he boarded the plane.
Culver was there with Marines from Company B of the 4th Marine Division in Bossier City to give Liles an official Marine T-shirt, the official " boot camp" sledgehammer and show off the Marine truck.
They also told Liles what to expect during his trip, including a chance to observe a cadet graduation ceremony, getting to meet “Bruno,” the base’s English Bulldog mascot, and have lunch with cadets in the mess hall. They will visit Camp Pendleton to observe the Weapons Field Training, where he will get a chance to participate in the weapons training simulator.
“I could not be more happy right now. It’s overwhelming. I’m just so excited,” said Liles.
Liles’ family has a long history of military service, including his mother’s cousin, who served in Vietnam, and his uncle, a current Marine. Because of this, Cade has wanted to be a Marine “since before [he] was 5,” and he has often dressed as one for Halloween. Cade chose this as his wish because his medical condition will prevent him from enlisting when he is older.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him so happy! I have cried a few times already!” said Liles mother.
The Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana is one of 58 chapters throughout the United States and its territories. Since 1984, they have granted more than 10,600 wishes to local children, and, during fiscal year 2022, they granted 572 wishes—a record for the organization.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Make-A-Wish grants North Louisiana kid his dream of being a Marine
