Standing straight as a board in his Marine Corps dress blues Sgt. Joseph Killian wasn't barking orders at recruits who could be seen periodically running in formations around NAS Meridian Wednesday afternoon.
Instead he was talking of collecting toys for children for the Christmas holidays.
"We pride ourselves on being Marines who will fight for their country but we also have other sides we like to show people," said Killian, who is a Bessemer, Ala. native. "We try just as hard to help the people in our own communities. We have wives and children, too and when we can help those less fortunate we mobilize in a big way."
In a big way might have been a slight understatement given the success the Marines have had this year in securing toys and monetary donations for the needy.
Killian said upwards of 1,400 toys and $12,500 has been raised in just a few short weeks. Wednesday, squads of Marines were on hand to count and load huge cardboard boxes of toys into a truck for the Salvation Army in Meridian. It was a chore the Marines didn't mind at all and one in which Salvation Army Maj. Steve Welch was proud to be a recipient.
"It is really impressive to see the Marines move toward a goal," said Welch as he watched the boxes loaded into the covered bed of the truck. "They are so organized and can bring so many volunteers. You can see they work with their hearts."
Welch said all this hard work done by the Marines means there will be countless children who will have a joyful Christmas.
In addition to the donations in Meridian, Killian said charities in Lousiville and Laurel also benefited from this year's collection of toys and funds.
"We always look for the opportunity to serve the people," Killian said.
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