Posted on 04/29/2011 12:21:37 PM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER
We left Tuesday afternoon for Fort Benning, Georgia, a 6 hour drive N.W. from here, for my grandson's completion of basic training.
Wednesday's activities began with the new soldiers standing bareheaded in ranks, then as one the black berets came out and they were American warriors. It was an emotional moment for everyone.
Thursday was set aside for the formal ceremony, held on the parade ground near the Fort Benning museum. The weather in Georgia and Alabama was threatening but the ceremony went off with no problems. Leave was granted until that evening and the area was full of new soldiers and their families.
On a personal note, Gerry had a pretty good appetite to begin with, now he's a high powered eating machine, LOL. He has bulked up, solid as a rock.
We got home at 3AM Friday morning. Coming South through Georgia we saw convoys of utility company bucket trucks and other equipment rushing North to the tornado damaged areas. We were blessed and safe but the damage in some places is severe.
Thanks SWAMPSNIPER. I was at Ft. Gordon in ‘66. Lovely country. I wanted to go back, but never did.
Ya done good Grampa Sniper. Thanks to you all...
Sniper, that’s a VERY sharp looking young man! Congrats!
JC
Fine job sir!
BTW, the museum is well worth the time. Simply awsome.
Congrats proud papa. Hope you enjoyed your stay in our fair state. Should’ve took your fishing rod...whites, hybrids, and stripes are running up the hooch.
Actually that’s the ASU, Army Service Uniform. The greens are going away completely, we’ll all be wearing blues now.
Praise be to God for no tornadoes where you where! Wonderful pictures—you must be so proud!
BTW Congrats on Gerry’s graduation and You obviously raised him with the right values. The parks in Columbus are great. I used to own a home 2 blocks from Wierocoba park on Columbus. Great old neighborhood. Great place to raise a family.
Outprocessing upon my return from Iraq. :-D
Would that be the FINAL return? Your cats and others want to know.
Let's just say that I intend to be home for the remainder of 2011.
Later this year, I'll see if I feel restless or if I want to take root. Life is short - there's lots of living to do! :)
I hope all is well with you, FRiend.
HUGS Dad, and Thank You to all of you that commented on our Soldier. This is his Mom (Swampsniper’s daughter)
Sharing a poem I wrote to both our Soldier and all that Serve from a Mom’s point of view.
A Mother’s Ode
Bursting with Pride,
Aching with fear,
But Freedom is not Free.
This was easier when it was ME.
Now it’s you,
My tow-haired boy,
That serves the Cause of Freedom.
In Time of War
You did not shirk
Nor shy away from Service.
You came of Age, and took up the yoke
Of those that toil to Serve us.
A Patriot,
A Citizen,
That understands the meaning.
I Love you much,
My Soldier-Son.
I give you to our Nation.
Because of you, and those with you
Our Flag will still fly Free.
Your Path is old,
But Tried and True.
And fraught with strife and conflict.
On side of Right,
You KNOW you Fight
For those that are not able.
The Warrior’s Path
Is a lonely Path,
Yet not one Walked alone.
The Burden breaks upon your back,
But upon your Soul, comes Flight.
Just know, My Son
That at YOUR back
Are those that carry your Banner.
For Country, Cause and Honor
Family and Freedom.
You do NOT walk that Path alone,
All Heroes walk together.
It was a VERY moving Ceremony. They Popped Smoke on the field, and from the left, was heard the sounds of gunfire. As the smoke cleared, the Soldiers of our past Wars walked slowly out upon the field. From 1776 til Desert Storm they came, in the Uniforms of their time, to stand upon their designated spots. Finally, the smoke cleared, and out marched THESE Heroes. Every Man upon that Field signed up in Time Of War, and I wanted to run down and hug every single one of them.
I Thank God for a Country that I can give my Son to, and I thank my County even more, for being one that my Son wants to Serve. For all the issues that exist, We have THIS, and for THIS Base, we must fight
Oh, Lord! I am getting old...old...OLD!
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