Ticket overpriced, the experience- PRICELESS

Well, graduation is over and I am so grateful I was able to attend.
This was an experience I will always treasure. My respect for anyone moving in this direction has grown tremendously (this is coming from a little hippie in H.S.).
I took many pictures but I'm just posting a few.

The picture above is where family day and graduation took place (Hilton Field)

Addressing the crowd on Family day.

This gave me chills. Smoke grenades went off and the Color Guard marched out of the woods
onto the field.

Then the troops marched out of the woods. The cheering was deafening.
I think hubby could hear me back in AZ.

The heat and humidity - overwhelming. The uniforms are so heavy.
I swear I will never complain about being hot again.

Jeff's group. I couldn't spot him but I was so excited knowing he was in there somewhere.
Dorothy had a camcorder so she was able to really zoom in and spot him.

Once all the troops were on the field, we were allowed to try to find our soldiers.

YAY, double YAY!
I had been crying (of course) but I was just so happy to see him.

Jeff and Dorothy. Can you see all the smiling faces in the background?

Love them to pieces.

The Army Band

I thought they were fab. Actually, I thought everything was fab.

This shot is from graduation.
It was so hot and humid.

Quite a few soldiers passed out from the heat and most likely nerves.
My heart went out to them and their families.

Jeff's group getting ready to march around the field.
I will get the lingo down eventually.

Finally off base and into civilian clothes.
The "ladies" picked out this shirt for daddy.

Since I had a flight out that left around the same time as Jeff, the Army was kind enough to let us take him to the airport.

Saying goodbye

This is Kaylen, she drove with Dorothy to South Carolina.
I think of her as my second daughter.

This lovely lady is Carolynn.
She is one of Dorothy and Kaylen's best friends.
She and her husband Eric, volunteered to watch the ladies so Dorothy could attend the graduation. This photo was taken at her wedding last year.
Jayde is right behind her and Hailey is to the right.


Now that graduation is over, a new life begins for Jeff.
He is in California at DLI, Department of the Army Defense Language Institute.
He is in Military Intelligence and will be learning Indonesian.
I guess those few years at the Lycee helped him. Indonesian though... I can't imagine it would be an easy language to learn.
He will be in California for a year.

I can't wait until we can visit him there.

Well my friends, I have rambled on long enough.

I want you to know that I truly appreciate your comments and emails.
You all ROCK!

GO ARMY