Time for my "2 cents" worth

Colleges & Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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<p>The time has come to add my "2 cents" as an addendum to Zaphod's excellent post earlier this month.</p>

<p>Let me start by thanking every young person that has accepted an appointment to a service academy or enlisted in any branch of the service. Today we have an all-volunteer military, a concept I believe many in this United States truly misunderstands and under-appreciates.</p>

<p>I look at my beautiful daughter (yes, I'm prejudice) knowing in 45 very short days she will no longer be mine. The little girl that would come running to me every day with "Hi daddy, I missed you!" has grown up. The days of kissing skinned knees, snuggling on cold nights, saying our prayers before bed, teaching to ride a bicycle, to climb a tree, are past. The time to "let go" has come.</p>

<p>She, along with thousands of other bright, ambitious young people, are about to take a giant step into adulthood, a step that will forever change the way in which they perceive the world.</p>

<p>The reality of all this hit home while filling out the death beneficiary forms for the Academy. I will long remember the look on her face, that self-realization of mortality. It is not a comforting thought, knowing your child has a distinct possibility of being in harm's way, or being the "one" that offers the ultimate sacrifice.</p>

<p>But, while I am fearful for what the future may hold for my daughter, I am comforted in the knowledge this is her decision and the training she will receive is second to none. I am also secure in the fact she is solidly grounded in her faith in God, in country, in duty.</p>

<p>As you savior these last fleeting moments with your son or daughter do not miss any opportunity to say, "I love you" and reinforce how proud you are of them. Confirm the fact you are committed to their goals and confident in their ability to succeed.</p>

<p>Again, to those currently serving and to those about to begin their military careers, thank you. Be assured many of us will be praying for you daily.</p>

<p>May God watch over and protect you always and never forget how very proud we are of you.</p>

<p>wvdad</p>

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<p>Well thank you very much. On behalf of those already serving I do so very much appreciate your kind words. Also know that although your children will be in harms way know that they are well taken care of by those around them. It is not one person that can determine whether someone will make it or not, it is everyone involved in creating that person and being around that person when the time comes. There are few people that I have met in the military that I would not want to be next to me, helping me, in the line of fire.
Also know that there are those of us who will look out for your children. Although we are all heading to the same place there are some of us that have had experiences and failures that allow us to go beyond what is considered a normal midshipman. I will by no means say I or anyone of the people on here is better than the other, because that is not fathomable. However I will say that we are all each talented in different ways. Some of us are more talented leaders, while some are skilled in specific areas. Some know physics, while others know literature. It is important that we take all of these talents bring them together and learn how to use them.
A family friend of ours once said "It does not matter how much you know about one subject as an officer, that is not your job. It matters that you know who to go to and who you can rely on when things go beyond your abilities." (ADM. Kirkland Donald, Directo, Naval Nuclear Propulsion)</p>

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<p>OK, since wvdad has weighed in, let me share a story that happened last sunday in our home...</p>

<p>We are Episcopalians ( who really BELIEVE, by the way in Jesus, but that's another story) - and our daughter was the Acolyte...(think altar girl in full vestments)</p>

<p>Last sunday the opening hymn chosen was "Eternal Father, strong to save", aka "The Navy Hymn." I happened to catch my daughter's eye as the song began and I could see her face get red. She mouths back to me: 'we sang that last year at summer seminar's church service.' The service progresses, and the Gospel reading is about Jesus being the Good Shepherd. In our church the custom is that following the Bible readings and the Sermon, people can share what spoke to their hearts. Well, our daughter, who usually doesn't talk publically much in this setting, says: "I know Jesus will be my Good Shepherd who will lead me through valleys, and mountains, and canyons, and deserts, and plains and ( by this point she is wracked with sobbing.) will always be with me no matter where I go. I motion for her to come down from the altar position she is in and she collapses into her dad's and my arms like our precious little girl that she is. She continues to share that she knows she is going to the Naval Academy because God has called her to serve her country, but that it is really scarey. She will be leaving all she has ever known....her friends, her state, her family. She continued...that while she is really scared, she is also really excited and feels this pull of emotions as she thinks about leaving home in just over a month. I have to say, by this point both mom and dad are crying, too. But it is a dear and sweet time for us all.</p>

<p>Then the entire church body comes around us, some lay hands on Janell and out loud our Priest anoints her head with holy oil and says: "Janell we commission you in Jesus name to go to the Naval Academy and serve God and your country in the full knowledge that this is your calling, and we 100% support you in this calling." I thought his choice of the word :commission was significant, since that will actually happen come graduation.</p>

<p>Following this time of prayer, she stayed with us until the time of Communion, when, completely composed, she went back up to finish her acolyte duties with a smile on her face.</p>

<p>After the service I teased the musician that it was HER fault this all happened, since she opened the emotional floodgate in our daughter with the selection of that hymn....( and of course, how could she have known it would have this effect on our child?) :-)</p>

<p>I write this story out hoping that at some point every family will have some kind of moment like this. I was incredibly grateful that it happened in our church family, with both my husband and I present...instead of hitting our child perhaps AFTER she started I-Day when we couldn't be there to affirm and support her.</p>

<p>Each and every one of you young people, as wvdad has said - had lots of opportunities to select an 'easier' path for your college career. Each one of you could have allowed yourselves to sleep in, skip classes, party hard, etc...and still get a college degree and most likely a decent job come graduation. But you all made a different choice,one only a very small percentage of your peers have chosen. This humbles and blesses me that you all have.</p>

<p>Know you are making this middle aged mom and grandma mighty proud to be an American! Thank you one and all.</p>

<p>Moms and Dads...lets all agree to love our kids to pieces in the few days we have left to hug them in person and tell them to their faces how amazing they are!!</p>

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<p>What beautiful posts.....Amen</p>

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<p>Let me assure all of you that I will try and take care of your sons and daughters as best I can while I am there at school with them. I find myself believing that I was put in the situation that I have been put in to help guide those who go with me and are afraid of what lies ahead. Although I myself am uncertain of my future and what lies ahead of me after school is over. I know that I look forth upon those times as a time to strive forth and make something of myself that I always knew I could be. I have for many years been the parent among my group of friends and have found myself in a counseling role many a times. I feel that it is something that suits me and I have always had comforting words to say to those around me. I thank you both for sharing your stories, they are truely quite amazing(almost made me cry, I hate being a sap). I know that I am more than likely the oldest member of this class and will be looked upon by those around me to do what is right and to be the person that people can count on in dire times. I hope that all of my upbringing, having been the son of a USNA grad and career Captain, and all of the experiences in my life will allow me to strive ahead and help your sons and daughters become better people and better sailors. </p>

<p>There I something weird that happens when you leave everything behind in order to go out to sea. It makes you grow into something you knew you had inside, but that you never thought you would realize. I know that in the recent time I have spent away from my family and from those I care about I have grown to appreciate all of the little things. I have learned what a true leader is and what I need to do to become that person. Most importantly I have learned to savor the moments. I know that in a short time I will leave my family, girlfriend, and friends behind again for a long period of time. However, I do so knowing full well that everything that I do I do for them. The people that you meet in the navy/marines, although you may not get along with them, are your well being. The friendships you forge today in this place will form a bond that no one else can understand. They will keep you awake on a midwatch, they will lend you a hand when knocked down, they will take care of you when ill, and they will love you for who you are and not what you are. They are the Bubba's and the Forrest's of vietnam that sit in a mudhole in the rain watching each others backs. I hope that I can live up to all of these things and at the same time be an effective leader. </p>

<p>I hope that I may aid you all in any pursuits that you may have while at school. If you need advice or merely a word of encouragement, do not hesitate to stop by. I have realized my role and that is to help you become everything that you can be. And I expect nothing less of myself. I will see you all very soon.</p>

<p>Kyle</p>

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<p>Kyle- you're one AMAZING young man! What a wonderful Naval Officer you will make. No wonder USNA gave you an appointment!!!!</p>

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<p>From the bottom of my heart thank you.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Let me assure all of you that I will try and take care of your sons and daughters as best I can while I am there at school with them...I have for many years been the parent among my group of friends...I know that I am more than likely the oldest member of this class and will be looked upon by those around me to do what is right and to be the person that people can count on in dire times...The friendships you forge today in this place will form a bond that no one else can understand. They will keep you awake on a midwatch, they will lend you a hand when knocked down, they will take care of you when ill, and they will love you for who you are and not what you are.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Can we call you "Daddy" too? ;)</p>

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<p>Sure, why not. I am more than likely the oldest in the class. It is only fitting, either that or gramps.</p>

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<p>fergsonfire,
Jake's BGO told him last night that there is a guy who he thought was 23 and had been to Iraq/was injured and received a purple heart and is in the class of 2010. Is that you?</p>

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<p>Nope, I have not been to iraq, nor have I received something as honorable as a purple heart. However if he is 23 already then he is past the age limit and would not be allowed to enter. I am a simple submarine sailor who has been in almost 3 years now, most of which was spent going through the nuclear power pipeline. The highest thing that I might get from my command is a NAM (navy and marine corps achievement medal), however I doubt that I will get one.(even though I deserve it, but thats politics for ya) The only thing I have been awarded personally, besides numerous letters and coins, is the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for my 1000+ hours of community service with the Goose Creek Rural Volunteer Fire Department. Now that may not sound like much, but consider it was in a 6 month period and 1000+ hours becomes a much more significant thing. Plus it doesn't cost the injury and $26 dollars for the medal. Now do not take this as me berating such an accomplishment, because that is something that is truely incredible. It is just not something I would like to get, due to needing to be injured to get it.</p>

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<p>that guy is in the class of 2009, and in 14th company. he took a bullet through the arm in iraq.</p>

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<p>fergonfire....you HAVE to meet our kiddo's Squad Leader from summer seminar last year....he is in 27th company....was in subs for 3 years, then NAPS and now will be in 2nd class at USNA. His first name is Shawn...I'll let you know his further info if you are at all intersted, pm me. I bet, even though you are separated in class at USNA, you might like to kibbutz together sometime in the 2 years you'll have ahead. It'll be funny for you to have to defer to him - but that's how it'll go. But I just spoke to a mid this week who is back at USNA with this guy and he's big on YP sailing and will be working with all Plebes this summer. I hope you meet him.</p>

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<p>There will be a midshipman from Connecticut who is currently at NAPS who was wounded in Iraq. President Bush visited him in the hospital and asked, "What can I do for you?" and he said, "Send me to the Naval Academy."
He will be a member of your Class of 2010!
Another 2010 classmate, also from Connecticut, enlisted as a Marine 2 years ago (we believe he is currently in Iraq), to return for IDay!</p>

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<p>cadetmom....wow...what a GREAT story! It inspires me! God bless that mid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1</p>

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<p>yeah the former marine who took a bullet lived right across the hall from my host mid during my CVW...some heavy stuff</p>