Golfgar4
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2002
- Messages
- 4,342
- Location
- Janesville, Wisconsin
- Tractor
- None -yet. Until then FunBuggy (EZ-Go) will have to do!
I have to tell you all that if for any reason you've had any concerns over the future of our country, I can tell you that you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
We had the opportunity and great privledge to attend our son's graduation from U.S. Navy boot camp this past Friday. What a truly inspiring sight and experience.
It wasn't just because of all of the flags flying or the drums beating. It wasn't because of the inspiring military music or the trumpets blaring.
It was because of the look in the eyes of all of these new sailors. It was in how the families of the graduates cheered for EVERY graduate, and for EVERY service man or woman, regardless of rank, when they were introduced.
I was in my sons shoes abouit 32 years ago. I can remember how proud I was when I graduated and became a "real" sailor. And then I had to travel in public to get to my first duty station. As I walked through the airport, I was spit on and called a baby killer (right out of boot camp!). Over my 4 years in the Navy, when I was out in public, I was frequently ridiculed, harrassed, and ignored. I cannot even begin to understand what some of my fellow servicemen from the Army or Marine Corps went through, since they were the "fighters".
Ever since then, I told myself that I would never allow my children to be put through something like that. So when my son told me that he had joined the Navy, I was both worried and happy.
My fears were unfounded. The respect that these new sailors were given from the other military personnel was awesome. And the reaction of the new sailors was overwhelming. I had the chance to talk with a few of them. To a person, they all said how proud they were, and they wanted to serve their country in an effort to give back to the country what others before them had given for them. Many of them explained how they never had an idea of what their freedom meant until they got in the Navy.
After the ceremonies were over, we were able to take our son, along with his wife, off base for the first time in 9 weeks. Needless to say, the first thing he wanted was a REALLY good meal. Actually, he clarified that by saying that he wanted a REALLY good lunch, and then a REALLY good dinner. So we got him both!
But what was truly great was the way he, and other graduates, were treated by the public. A number of people that were driving by as we were walking to the restaurant honked their horns and gave him a thumbs up. Strangers on the street walked up and shook his hand and thanked him. The nice thing was that he really understood that they weren't necessarily thanking him personally, but the military in general.
As part of our graduation present for him, we rented a hotel room for 2 nights for he and his wife. Although he could not stay the night with her because he had to report back by 9:00 p.m. each night, he could relax with her during the day. We'll be going back down there tomorrow to spend the afternoon with him before he goes back to base. Then he gets shipped out to his school in San Antonio next Friday for 7 weeks. After that, who knows where?
But like I said, I don't think I'm going to worry. The young people that I saw Friday showed me that things will be in very capable hands in the future.
We had the opportunity and great privledge to attend our son's graduation from U.S. Navy boot camp this past Friday. What a truly inspiring sight and experience.
It wasn't just because of all of the flags flying or the drums beating. It wasn't because of the inspiring military music or the trumpets blaring.
It was because of the look in the eyes of all of these new sailors. It was in how the families of the graduates cheered for EVERY graduate, and for EVERY service man or woman, regardless of rank, when they were introduced.
I was in my sons shoes abouit 32 years ago. I can remember how proud I was when I graduated and became a "real" sailor. And then I had to travel in public to get to my first duty station. As I walked through the airport, I was spit on and called a baby killer (right out of boot camp!). Over my 4 years in the Navy, when I was out in public, I was frequently ridiculed, harrassed, and ignored. I cannot even begin to understand what some of my fellow servicemen from the Army or Marine Corps went through, since they were the "fighters".
Ever since then, I told myself that I would never allow my children to be put through something like that. So when my son told me that he had joined the Navy, I was both worried and happy.
My fears were unfounded. The respect that these new sailors were given from the other military personnel was awesome. And the reaction of the new sailors was overwhelming. I had the chance to talk with a few of them. To a person, they all said how proud they were, and they wanted to serve their country in an effort to give back to the country what others before them had given for them. Many of them explained how they never had an idea of what their freedom meant until they got in the Navy.
After the ceremonies were over, we were able to take our son, along with his wife, off base for the first time in 9 weeks. Needless to say, the first thing he wanted was a REALLY good meal. Actually, he clarified that by saying that he wanted a REALLY good lunch, and then a REALLY good dinner. So we got him both!
But what was truly great was the way he, and other graduates, were treated by the public. A number of people that were driving by as we were walking to the restaurant honked their horns and gave him a thumbs up. Strangers on the street walked up and shook his hand and thanked him. The nice thing was that he really understood that they weren't necessarily thanking him personally, but the military in general.
As part of our graduation present for him, we rented a hotel room for 2 nights for he and his wife. Although he could not stay the night with her because he had to report back by 9:00 p.m. each night, he could relax with her during the day. We'll be going back down there tomorrow to spend the afternoon with him before he goes back to base. Then he gets shipped out to his school in San Antonio next Friday for 7 weeks. After that, who knows where?
But like I said, I don't think I'm going to worry. The young people that I saw Friday showed me that things will be in very capable hands in the future.
