Grey's Graduation

As parents, we do the best we can to raise our children to be upstanding, God-fearing people, but at some point, we have to let go and allow them to make their own way in the world. Well, 16 years ago, my older brother Brook made his way to graduating from the Air Force Academy, and this year my baby brother Grey followed in his footsteps. They are both upstanding and God-fearing men, and I am supremely proud of them both.

This week, Peter, Jaden, and I had the privilege of flying to Colorado to help celebrate Grey's graduation ceremonies. It was a short trip, and chock full of activities with little sleep, but it was well worth it.

Grey's commissioning took place on Tuesday night, right before graduation. We traveled to the Officer's Club on the Air Force Academy base and witnessed Grey being sworn in as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. After four years of blood, sweat, and tears, he was no longer a cadet but an actual officer in our nation's armed forces. Pretty cool, huh.

My dad, as a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, had the honor of swearing him in.

My mom, as his mom, and my older brother, as an active duty Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force had the honor of removing his cadet rank and replacing them with his new 2nd Lt rank.

After the ceremonies, the family gathered for a picture in our fancy clothes.


The next day was graduation. We awoke to a cold and drizzly day and prepared ourselves for several hours spent outdoors in yucky conditions. Brook's graduation was colder and rainier, so at least we knew what we were in for. We had to leave extra early to allow time to get through the beefed up security for President Bush who was speaking at the event. Jaden was pretty miserable through the long lines, but he settled down a bit once we got into our seats and were able to bundle up a bit more.

The cadets, president, and other important people filed in, and the ceremony finally started.

President Bush gave an inspirational, convicting, and yet humorous speech, honoring our troops and the sacrifices they make for our freedom and pointing the way to the future of the military. He then saluted and shook hands with all 1012 graduates, allowing them to hug him and even pick him up, signing their hats, waving to their parents in the stands, saying hello to someone on their cell phone, pretty much whatever the cadet asked him to do. It was obvious he was genuinely proud of these young men and women and wanted to be a part of their lives, if only for a brief moment.

Here's a shot of Grey with the president.

The weather finally improved just as the ceremonies were concluding - go figure. The former cadets threw their hats in the air just as the Thunderbirds flew overhead, and that was that. As children scrambled to retrieve a hat from the field (a USAFA graduation tradition that Grey participated in as a 6-year-old at Brook's graduation), the graduates made their way into the stands to see their families.

Here's a shot of Jaden with his Uncle Grey and one of the aforementioned hats that Grey was kind enough to snag for him.

Grey then left the stadium to go "outprocess" and pack the rest of his belongings into his truck, and he was done. What a feeling!! He now has a well-deserved 60 days of leave before reporting to Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. I know that I can speak for the family when I say that I look forward to watching Grey continue to mature in his faith, in his manhood, and in his military career. We all are very proud of him.

RAGE!!

(that's the motto of Grey's former squadron at the AFA, for those of you who don't know :)