Bout Of The Blue
Monday, October 29, 2007 at 06:45PM Last spring, our son, Andrew, was inducted into the Tennessee Air National Guard. Starting in January 2008 he'll be attending college in Knoxville and training for a career in ministry, but in addition to his college education, he had long wanted to be part of the United States military. Becoming a reservist in the Air National Guard -- which, after completion of basic training and tech school, involves serving one weekend per month for six years -- made sense. "Freedom isn't free, Mom," he reminded me when I expressed concern over all the possible ramifications of his joining the Air Force. Although as usual I had some cogent arguments (and they were fully argued), I could not argue with that.
Early on the morning of Sunday, April 15, 2007, with our nephew, David, providing moral support (and taking pictures), Andrew swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and to obey the orders of the President of the United States. We were proud of him. He had to finish high school, which he did on May 25th, then await his orders. They finally came, and in mid-July he was shipped out to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, for six weeks of basic training. Andrew distinguished himself while there and, again, we were very proud of him. He was sent on to technical school at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he studied space command communications, and tomorrow he will finish his work there.
Andrew will fly home on the morning of Wednesday, October 31st, for a short leave. I'm excited about that. He is required to travel in his dress blues, in which he looks quite handsome, and I can't wait to see all six-foot-one of him stride down that corridor into the waiting area at the airport. He has told me I am to wear my red hat to meet him (maybe so he'll recognize me), and that afterwards he is taking me out to lunch at my favorite restaurant "... and we're gonna hold hands, Mom." First stop, however, will be his alma mater, where he wants to see his friends and teachers (or rather, he wants his friends and teachers to see him) and let them know he survived fourteen whole weeks of full-time military life. And he has the stripes to prove it.
During these weeks of intense training and of being away from home, Andrew has learned a great deal about people in general, about himself, about submission to authority, about his faith, and about the advantages he has had since birth. Not just the great advantage of having been born in America (although that would have been enough), but the advantages provided to him by both his immediate and extended family. I guess if I were to say what makes me most proud of Andrew, it would be that those lessons, so freely available to him via these recent experiences, were not lost on him. He is still a young boy -- with all that implies -- but I have seen glimmers of the man of character I fervently hope he will someday be. I think he has learned things that could not have been imparted to him any other way ... at least not at this stage in his life. And in order to learn them, he had to be teachable, and he was. On a list of Things Parents Should Be Thankful For, that would be very near the top of mine.
Throughout the coming years I pray Andrew will do what I told him to do the day he decided to enlist: serve his country with honor. My heart goes out to those mothers whose children are serving in Iraq, bravely fighting the war on terror. What great Americans they are ... both the children and their mothers. How fortunate we are that they are willing to make these great sacrifices in order to defend our precious freedoms. God bless America! Freedom isn't free.
Reader Comments (4)
Don't know if I told you this or not--but when we first went to look at the car we eventually bought for Alicia, I struck up a convernsation with the owner while Mitchell test drove the car. In the course of our conversation, she told me that she has a son in the Army National Guard who is currently serving in Afganistan. He has been attending law school and this is the second time he has been called up to serve. He served a year in Kosovo, came back for a year or so of school, and is now in Afganistan. His professors told him that they could get him out of going. I was most impressed by his reply. "I didn't sign up not to serve." So twice now he has put his education on hold to serve our country. After a year in Afganistan, he will return for his last year in law school. I must confess that his answer and attitude so amazes and impresses me. Don't you know he must be a fine young man. I'm afraid that my attitude would not be so noble if I was in that position. Pretty humbling to say the least!
Wow ... I am very impressed by that. These young men and women amaze me with their bravery. I'm afraid I would have told the professor to get me out of it! God bless and protect them.
Lots of piccies required Jen! These 'children' are truely brave. My own nephew is going to Afghanistan at Easter with the British Army. His father and mother are both ex-Army and know the score, but the fear is always there. Maarten is quite philosophical about it, as are his friends and he pointed out to my sister that my own daughter is in more danger walking the streets and facing criminals day in-day out. It made Joan feel better but spooked me!
Enjoy your time with Andrew!
I'll bet that did spook you, Depps! Yikes! The beautiful KJ ... and sweet brave Maarten. He will distinguish himself I am certain. God bless him and his courageous friends! Remind me at Easter so that I can say a prayer for dear Joan ... and for you!