Wow, what a week we had in sunny Virginia. The whole time we were there it poured and poured and poured here in the Northeast. We have a record 11 inches of rain for the month of May so far here which is about 9 inches above normal I think they said. I am soooooo glad we got to escape the brunt of this gloomy weather at least for a bit.
Well we drove straight all day last Thursday arriving at the Natural Bridge Hotel at about 10 pm. All the hotels in the whole state of Virginia it seems were booked. We were lucky we got as close as we did. When we booked this hotel, we were told there was only one room left. Whew just made it. We stayed almost a week leaving yesterday and arriving back home last night.
Our first ceremony was a special award ceremony for certain cadets. There were faculty awards given out first and then about 3 dozen cadets were honored. One of course was our son Brian. He received an award that was named the John W. Kennedy award and was given out to Brian as he best exemplified the memory of this airman that graduated from VMI in 1969. All that I know is his remains were found in 1996 basically knowing nothing about him. This award came with a very large placque of which I took a picture of with him holding it. He did not like to stand there holding that up I have to say. But a mother has to do what a mother has to do, KWIM?
After the ceremony Brian informed us that he was the receipiant of four awards the day before. We did not know about this. One was very prestigious and the one he was most proud of. It was a Dinstinguished Air Force Cadet award given to the top Air Force ROTC cadet. His name will now be entered on something engraved in the halls of VMI. Next to his name on the graduation program a few days later I noticed was DAFG to show he got this award. This award came with a very large certificate that Brian said would definitely go on the wall. I think now he could fill a wall with all he received this weekend. He also received the George C. Marshall Award. He had to go to WA earlier this spring to receive that. He got along with the award a very large picture of all the Air Force Lts all across the country who also received this award on that day.
They then had a very nice parade along with the changing of duties. The first class for the first time sat in a few long rows watching the underclassmen now put on a parade in their honor. Of course these first classmen took every opportunity to point out and laugh at any mistakes made. There was a bunch of hooting and hollering. VMI puts on quite an impressive show. I know the cadets spend the whole year putting in countless hours of marching for just this occasion. Along the way they did march for the inaugarations of both George Bush and the Governor of VA, but here for the parents was the grand finale.
Another biggie for Brian who was Company Commander for the Gulf company was the award given to Gulf for the best Company. He received something that gets put on their comany flag for next year. He was very proud of this. Later talking to an owner of a Lexington Store who was very involved with VMI (we saw the big ring on his finger) he laughed and laughed when he heard Gulf won this award. He said they have always been a rebel company and not one to receive such an honor. We told him Brian received the Marshall Award and asked how big that was and he laughed and said it was a very big honor. We later asked Brian if he knew this man. He said yes and he got very animated when he told us that this man had seven confirmed killings with a shovel in Vietnam and probably killed hundreds. Brian was in awe of this man. And he seemed like such a jolly cheerful kind of guy. Very surprising.
On Monday was the commissioning. This was the day it was official. Brian would formally be commissioned as Lt in the United States Air Force. In the hall marched in all the cadets in their brand new uniforms. There was white for Navy, blue for AF, green for Army and black for Marines. One by one their respective generals got up to give a short speech and lead each branch into the oath that would usher them into service for their country. General Custer who came from Washington got up to give the AF their oath. Later outside in the garden where the pinning ceremony would be done this same General came up to Brian and shook his hand. He said he had heard alot of good things about Brian. After a few minutes of small talk I asked this general if he would let me take his picture with Brian. It came out so good. I am going to blow this one up big. It's another Mom moment.
We then had the privilege, his dad and I, to pin a bar on each of his shoulders with his soon to be bride pinning a bar on his hat. Lots of pictures were taken. It was here that he again put his hand up for his individual oath. One by one the Cadets were individually commissioned into the service. He had a soon to be AF Chaplain be his first salute. Again, a Kodak moment.
After this they had the Battle of New Market. What a ceremony is all I have to say. If there is anyone in the area that has never seen this parade they are missing out. It was awesome and quite sobering as well. Basically this commemorates the fallen cadets in the Civil War Battle of New Market. VMI is the only school to ever send their whole student body to war. When the smoke cleared on May 15, 1864, 10 Cadets were killed and 47 wounded.
During the ceremony they had a roll call. One by one they called the names of those 10 fallen cadets. One by one a young cadet from today's company would stand forward, gun to his shoulder and say...."Cadet (insert name) died on the field of Honor sir!! This happend 10 times as each name was called This was so sad. Then a few cadets laid a wreath at the foot of the monument there and while doing so all those in attendance with uniforms rose to salute. While this was being done taps was being played in the background. Then there was the 21 gun salute . Right after that the band started to play Amazing Grace. It started with just bagpipes but as the song moved along more and more instruments were added to give a rendition like I've not heard before. It ended with a prayer just before the grand exit of companies would do their final march along the street into the barracks. Before the cadets marched by tho, the seven cadets that offered up their guns in salute walked the street one behind the other with one very tall cadet (think Abraham Lincoln) along the side of this line. They walked errily, slowly in quietness down the street.as if all was in slow motion. Very impressive, very somber. This ceremony is always performed on the 15th of May no matter the day of the week.
Then one by one the cadets and their commanders marched by us. I saw my son as Comany Commander lead his company for the very last time. He stood out in the front, with three of his officers behind him, one holding the flag, and then along came his company. One of the reasons his company won the top honors was for formation and ability to perform in these marching parades. They looked grand I have to say, and I did capture a bit of this on video.
Then came the day of graduation (Tuesday). What a graduation they put on. Of course they are all dressed in the finest VMI uniforms unlike the gown and cap of most graduations. Only approximately 50% of the incoming class four years ago would see this day. I believe there were about 235 graduates. About half of the class were commissioned, some already have their orders to go to Iraq. My heart goes out to the moms whose sons are leaving soon for this duty.
We had great seats standing in line very early to be able to get these seats. We saw the helicopters flying overhead. We saw the secret service all over as well as all the cops in VA I have to believe. We also saw a few war protesters. We sat right next to where Donald Rumsfield stood waiting his turn to come out with the other top officials. I got a very close up picture of him. I could have shaken his hand but I guess the Yankee in me would not allow this to happen. I don't get all gushy about these types of things. I lost a great photo op when he again walked right toward me exiting from the same place he entered, right next to our seats.
Of course my camera died about halfway thru the graduation and the reason I lost that great photo opportunity. I think I literally wore it out with all the pictures taken over the course of the four days. I was surprised that along with their diplomas, which were very huge by the way, they also received an engraved bible. It had the VMI logo on it along with the cadet's name.
All in all VMI did good. The whole thing was really a four day event. I believe everything VMI does is big so it's not really a surprise, and I have to say it's a graduation like none I have ever attended before.
Congratulations Brian, you made us all proud. Go with God and may he bless your every move.
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