Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    Marine Corps Security Force guard lives to serve

    Marine Corps Security Force guard lives to serve

    Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Elvis Umanzor | U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Michael Risola, a Tarpon Springs, Fla., native assigned...... read more read more

    DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES

    11.15.2016

    Story by Staff Sgt. Elvis Umanzor 

    Joint Task Force-National Capital Region

    U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Michael J. Risola was born prematurely with a blood disease, weighing two pounds, half way around the world in October 1996. He was later placed in a Moscow orphanage for children with special needs, waiting for the opportunity of a lifetime.

    Adopted by Sam and Linda Risola, the 3-year-old boy arrived at his new home in Tarpon Springs, Florida, to begin a new life dedicated to service.

    “I am here to serve those who seek to fulfill their life’s purpose,” said Risola, assigned to Guard Company, Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. “I have been given so much … I had to give back.”

    Risola, a Marine Corps Security Force guard, has an important mission to provide security for senior staff members of the Marine Corps and Navy in the Military District of Washington.

    Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., also known as "8th & I," is the oldest active post in the Marine Corps and supports both ceremonial and security missions in the nation's capital to include the 58th Presidential Inauguration.

    During his eighth grade year, Risola became active in volunteering and served in many programs like the Boys and Girls Club, before and after school activities, Civil Air Patrol, Key Club and tutoring and mentoring, logging more than one thousand volunteer service hours.

    In February 2015, Risola joined the Marine Corps and after completing boot camp, infantry and guard training, he arrived to his first assignment, where he is also a member of a fellowship program with his congressman.

    Risola, who aspires to one day be a congressman to serve the American people, said he’s making the best from every opportunity that he is given and that he is excited and honored to serve in any capacity of the presidential inauguration.

    Risola said it’s exciting to have a new commander in chief. “Regardless of who won the election … I’m in a position where I serve the president of the United States,” he said.

    “This opportunity to be in D.C. is history,” he added. “I’m literally living through history right now.

    “It’s incredible that you can start off at two pounds in Russia and you can be here, right now, especially with the inauguration of our next president,” he added. “This is something I’ll cherish, not only to say I was there when it happened, [but] I served as a Marine.”

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 11.15.2016
    Date Posted: 11.17.2016 09:41
    Story ID: 214870
    Location: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US
    Hometown: TARPON SPRINGS, FLORIDA, US

    Web Views: 347
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN