I know I am at very rare poster. I also know that this is way off topic. Thanks for indulging me as I wanted to share a powerful experience I had today. My Father-In-Law (a retired Naval Commander) was laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. I was able to share the experience with my wife, three daughters and mom and dad (a retired Army Infantryman). Being on base with the young soldiers, in the Post Chapel and listening to our Parish Priest, Father Cavanaugh, speak of Hope, love and "Sacramental Certainty," following the Caisson through the beautiful cemetery, reading the headstones that (due to the recent snow) still have wreaths that were placed by volunteers and, watching young service men and women bestow full military honors on my father-in-law, was all overwhelming.
Most touching to me was when we were leaving the chapel at Fort Myer, I noticed many individuals who were not part of the ceremony and performing other tasks, stop, stand and salute the procession and my Father-in-Law. The concepts of honor, discipline. respect, civility and love were so very real today. I want to thank my Father-in-Law for his service. I want to thank my dad who is my hero for his service. I also know that we have some posters on this Board who serve and want to thank them.
I will get back to the issues with our football and basketball programs tomorrow. For today, it was a day to honor greatness, great people and things that really matter. Just because I could not resist, I have set forth below an essay that my oldest daughter wrote about my dad for a Veteran's day mass last year.
Thanks for letting me share this experience and I would love to hear from others. It may get us over the hump until the boys take the field in the Spring. God Bless.
Veteran's Day Essay
By Caroline Graham
My Veteran's Day essay is about my Grandpa, Retired Lieutenant Colonel, Bob Graham. My Grandpa served in the United States Army for 23 years. He was an "infantry" specialist, which means that he fought on the ground. Grandpa was part of infantry battalions that were brought into battles by armed personnel carriers ("APC's").
My Grandpa began his training in Fort Benning, Georgia. While he was in the Army, Grandpa was stationed in many places across the United States, including Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Fort Dix, New Jersey, the Pentagon, and even served our country from two different locations in Germany. My Grandpa finished his service as the head of the ROTC programs at Georgetown, Catholic, Marymount, and George Mason Universities.
While he was in the military, my Grandpa fought in the Vietnam War. He spent one year fighting in the south of Vietnam. During that year he served as an advisor to and fought along side of South Vietnamese soldiers in the Mekong Delta. After a short return to the United States, my Grandpa went back to Vietnam. This time, he fought in the northern part of the country as an XO OF an infantry BN in the Americal Division. My Grandpa was very brave. He was in three helicopter crashes, earned two silver stars, four bronze stars, and many commendation medals, one of which was for "valor" as it recognized that my Grandpa and his team NCO made eight trips across a pond while being shot at to rescue wounded Vietnamese soldiers.
I am very lucky that I have someone to look up to like my Grandpa and very grateful for all that he has done for our country.
Most touching to me was when we were leaving the chapel at Fort Myer, I noticed many individuals who were not part of the ceremony and performing other tasks, stop, stand and salute the procession and my Father-in-Law. The concepts of honor, discipline. respect, civility and love were so very real today. I want to thank my Father-in-Law for his service. I want to thank my dad who is my hero for his service. I also know that we have some posters on this Board who serve and want to thank them.
I will get back to the issues with our football and basketball programs tomorrow. For today, it was a day to honor greatness, great people and things that really matter. Just because I could not resist, I have set forth below an essay that my oldest daughter wrote about my dad for a Veteran's day mass last year.
Thanks for letting me share this experience and I would love to hear from others. It may get us over the hump until the boys take the field in the Spring. God Bless.
Veteran's Day Essay
By Caroline Graham
My Veteran's Day essay is about my Grandpa, Retired Lieutenant Colonel, Bob Graham. My Grandpa served in the United States Army for 23 years. He was an "infantry" specialist, which means that he fought on the ground. Grandpa was part of infantry battalions that were brought into battles by armed personnel carriers ("APC's").
My Grandpa began his training in Fort Benning, Georgia. While he was in the Army, Grandpa was stationed in many places across the United States, including Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Fort Dix, New Jersey, the Pentagon, and even served our country from two different locations in Germany. My Grandpa finished his service as the head of the ROTC programs at Georgetown, Catholic, Marymount, and George Mason Universities.
While he was in the military, my Grandpa fought in the Vietnam War. He spent one year fighting in the south of Vietnam. During that year he served as an advisor to and fought along side of South Vietnamese soldiers in the Mekong Delta. After a short return to the United States, my Grandpa went back to Vietnam. This time, he fought in the northern part of the country as an XO OF an infantry BN in the Americal Division. My Grandpa was very brave. He was in three helicopter crashes, earned two silver stars, four bronze stars, and many commendation medals, one of which was for "valor" as it recognized that my Grandpa and his team NCO made eight trips across a pond while being shot at to rescue wounded Vietnamese soldiers.
I am very lucky that I have someone to look up to like my Grandpa and very grateful for all that he has done for our country.
