Friday I was told I had to be into work an hour early (0630 instead of 0730).
I got there right on time to find it was a surprise breakfast from the school to all 15 prior service vets on the faculty. Flabbergasted is not quite the word but it's the best I can do. At the ceremony we were all given little certificates and asked to contribute (temporarily) a few pics of ourselves from active duty years. I loaned three. There is a contest to see which of the student body can put the the correct name to the old pic. All the more surprising because the Principals, and assistant Principals all saw the same phot album I show my students every year which features significant moments from my active duty years as well as stuff since. That would include IDPA shooting matches and pix of my wife and daughter shooting as well. I got a lot of new looks of respect from this crowd.
Then were all pinned with a special card on our shirts. The kids were all told to identify the cards and just walk up at random and thank us for our service. You have any idea what it's like to have 1700 kids repeatedly thank you all day long? Repeatedly because sure as shootin' (lol) some kid is going to forget what he or she said at 0800 by the time lunch rolls around! It was pretty awesome. Better than (I think) walking in a parade in uniform.
Wow, that’s wonderful! Especially knowing that the children understood and that whoever organized it did, too.
Lovely!
Too bad they only put on this face - once a year.
Couldn’t happen to a better group.....:o)
I remember coming home thru Travis AFB in 1974 having to change my uniform before I was allowed off the base to go back home on leave. I felt like I was a convict.
Then in 91 when returning from Desert Storm......A 180 in reception from folks here in the USA. I was hugged and greeted by thousands in Bangor Maine, Philly Airport, Denver and Albuquerque....... I cried. Feeling was unbelievable ......I cried for all those men and women before me and with me that have more pride and self worth than anyone I know.
And now this nation is trying to elect as president those who enjoyed treating vets that way then and now.......
Stay safe and I am so jealous of your day in the sun with all those students my friend !
Too cool !
How wonderful, thank you for sharing your day with us.
That you deserved it, can’t be said often enough.
Nor, can I say “Thank you for serving”, to all of you often enough.
I was thinking of you all this morning, in the last hour of the
John Rothman program on kgo.com, you can still get it on the computer pod cast......I think.
He had on the author of a WW2 book, a David Israel, who wrote
“The Thunderbird Cried”, it is the stories that are untold from WW2, of the men and officers who lived them.
It is a book, written by the man who was there, so most of you will never know the book exists.
I was glad that I managed to hear it on my radio.
This is the website for the book:
http://www.thunderbirdcried.com/
May God keep all of you safe, those of our history and those of our future.
Thank You!!!!