[msdrby]

You should try to go to a basic graduation sometime. They are cool. Before I went in, I thought they were no big deal, and kinda scoffed at the thought inviting my parents. Then, As time wore on, I realized it was a big deal because it would be the first time to SEE my parents in the previous two months, and the only time I would see them for at least the next two months. We had to go to tech school right after graduation. (Which was a new rule, evidently. Used to be there was a break in between basic and tech school)

[Wneighbor]

I went to one of Tom's graduations. It wasn't basic because we didn't know him then. But, he thanked me for coming several times because he had never had anyone travel to any of his army graduations. For Myranda and I it was a good excuse to see them and a nice vacation to El Paso. But, it meant a lot to him. I was glad we went.