<p>i must have typed faster than i was thinking:</p>
<p>"i'm not sure she's share in our ability to make light of the situation so soon after his death."</p>
<p>Please do not take this the wrong way, but it almost sounds as if your son was looking of a reason not to attend, and that is fine, Academy life is not for everyone. I would think that it is not unnatural to become extremely nervous before going to an academy or into the military at large, as it is a huge committement for anyone, especially someone just out of high school. I know someone in school who didn't apply to USNA despite good talks with the football coaches because he didn't want to give up his summer. He believes he will enroll in NROTC somewhere else. I suppose a good way to confirm the motivations behind your son's doubts would be to ask if he would enroll in NROTC or another military program at a regular college. It is also important that he knows that in the military, death is not an impossibility, especially in today's world. My best friend and I, who will both be reporting to USMA in June, have a teacher we enormously respect who about a month ago lost her son in Iraq, yet we knew that these things happen in the military and in war, and are still going to the Academy. IMHO, going into the military is something you shouldn't do without being able to accept the risks for the service. I would find out if this is the case with your son. Good luck, ma'am.</p>