The Marines in Times Square

Yesterday I posted the story of the rejection of the Marine's Silent Drill Platoon when they wished to film a recruiting commercial in San Francisco. Tuesday morning the platoon filmed in Times Square and the story can be found in a special website they've set up to document their travels:

Manhattan was packed with diplomats and world leaders on Monday, but it was a platoon of Marines that took the city by storm.

It all started at 2:30 a.m. at 46th and Broadway, with a line of Marines lit only by the glaring displays of Times Square. They came to film another portion of the America’s Marines commercial. But it became a destination event for nearly 150 future and former Marines.

It was a curious scene, people trying to keep quiet in the perpetually noisy Times Square, all intensely focused on the line of 26 Marines performing. No one was more attentive than Art Karin.

The 68-year-old former lance corporal came to the set from Keyport, NJ, with his wife, who guided him to vantage point near the curb. That’s because Mr. Karin lost his sight 15 years ago to glaucoma.

“I don’t see much, but there’s something about being around Marines that just puts me at ease,” he said. “I can’t see these guys, but if I can stand here and just listen. I can see more than most of these other people ever will.”

San Francisco doesn't deserve these guys.