HE'S IN THE ARMY NOW!

Hey y'all! Hugs, kisses, yada yada yada...

Well, we got back from beautiful Columbus, GA on Thursday afternoon. As y'all know, we had gone to Fort Benning, GA to spend a few days with #3 son, Phillip, and enjoy his graduation from U.S. Army Basic Training. And I must say that "A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!"

I'll swear, the boy man looks like he's lost about 25 pounds, and when I hugged him it felt like I had latched on to a marble statue.

You know, going to a military basic training graduation is something that every American should do. This is the second one that I have been to, and it really instills a sense of gratitude. Not just gratitude for the young men and women that volunteer to serve now...also for the millions that have before. Our debt to all of them has piled high and deep...and can not be repaid.

Something very interesting happened. After the soldiers were dismissed on "Family Day," (the Tuesday before graduation on Wednesday), I asked #3 son what he wanted to do. He said, "Just go see some civilization. Just ANYTHING!" So, he decided that he wanted to go to a shopping mall and walk around. Not knowing the area, we didn't get to the mall he had heard about, but we stumbled upon one anyway.

We stepped out of the car, and walked to the mall entrance. Now, you need to understand that he had not seen a civilian, or had any contact with the outside world (except for a few phone calls, and letters from his family) in 10 weeks. As we got to the entrance doors, he and his fiancee' were ahead of us. And an elderly lady was approaching the entrance, also.

The elderly lady stopped him, noticing his uniform, and held out her hand to grab his. She said to him, "Young man, I want to thank you for serving our country. You should be very proud (or something like that...truthfully, I could not hear exactly what she said...but it was a touching moment)." I thought to myself, "Man, can it get any better than this? Here you go, busting your butt for 10 weeks in murderous Georgia heat, putting up with Drill Sergeants, crappy food, a major life-style adjustment, physical/mental/emotional rigors...and THE VERY FIRST PERSON you encounter "on the outside" stops to tell you "Thanks!"

I wondered to myself, "How many guys and gals have done two, or three, or four tours in the desert...and have not been so fortunate as to run across a civilian that cares enough to stop and show their gratitude?" I'll bet a lot.

Marching in for formation on "Family Day"
(this was an impressive deal)

New Soldiers don their black berets for first time

Me and Phil (I'm the old one with the gray beret)

Phillip, and a good reason for serving

The majority of the 190 graduates that day are shipping along with Phil to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX for training as Medics. (Well, at least they'll get a break from the heat. Nyuk) Their school is roughly four months. Phillip will serve with a Reserve Unit in Hot Springs, and his plan is to enter the regular Army when he finishes college. We'll see how it all pans out.

But for now, one major hurdle is behind the man. Thank y'all for your prayers for him.