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Sam's Graduation

I thought 2008 went by fast, that is, until 2009 rolled around. In January alone I have already visited Columbus, Georgia, attended two Army Ceremonies, had surgery, started studying for my LPN, and completed my snowmobile training. AAHHHHH!!! I hope the rest of the year slows down a bit! The absolute highlight of my January was going to my brother Sam's Basic and AIT (Advanced Infrantry Traing) Graduation. He is currently at Fort Benning in Columbus Georgia. He is waiting to get into airbourne school at the present, and plans to go into Ranger training after airboune school. You'll be able to tell how proud I am of him by all the pictures I made Amy post! My buttons are popping just writing about him!!

I am soooooooo proud of my brother. I can't even begin to list the things he has sacrificed to serve our country. Listening to the soldiers say the Soldier's Creed together was by far the most beautiful thing I have ever heard! Knowing my brother was one of the soldiers stating that he would defend our country and destroy the enemy put tears in my eyes. I am proud to say that my brother is a soldier in the United States Army.

These are the Drill Sargeants from all the platoons. This was the first graduation ceremony. It was held right under the bay (where the soldiers sleep). Sam's Drill Sargeant is the smallest one in the third row from the front.


We didn't get to see Sam before the ceremony. We were all waiting under the bay when all of a sudden, all the soldiers came from upstairs, yelling! Everyone stood and started clapping. Talk about a tear jerker!! The soldiers all got into formation really fast. Then the drill sergeants checked the lines.

This is Sam's platoon. He is about three rows back. You can't really see him.

Sam's platoon saying the Soldier's Creed.

They finally told us we could go find our soldier! Dad got to pin the Blue Cord on Sam. This signifies that he is a highly trained infantryman.

Grandma and Grandpa drove over from Arizona for the occasion.

The second ceremony was even bigger and better, if that was possible! There was more than one company graduating. Sam is part of the 254th ECHO Company.

The military band played at the beginning. Talk about being right on! They walked in perfect sequence with each other and the beat of the music.

All of a sudden we saw soldiers run out of the woods and set off some bombs. There was someone telling you everthing that was going on (like the History Channel!) My heart just swelled with pride! The following pictures are of the demos they performed.

The graduating soldiers came out of the woods after the demos. They marched in their companies.

As you can see there were alot of soldiers!

This is Sam's company. He is right behind his drill sergeant, but you can't see his face.

All the soldiers walked by the stands at the end of the ceremony.

Sam is the soldier on the far left. I just got him in the picture.

And then I got the back of his head!!!!!

I took a picture of the girl's bathroom after the ceremony. The line was really, really long!

The guy's line, not so much. The people you see in the line here are actually two ladies trying to sneak into the men's bathroom!! Hilarious!

Sam was able to get a weekend pass. We had a blast! We went to an indoor shooting range and shot some pistols. We also went out to eat a few times, played some cards with Grandma and Grandpa, and Sam went swimming with Carson.

I was reminded while I was looking around at the ceremonies that not all soldiers have families or people who support them. We can be the family they never had and the support they never felt. What they are doing is too great to go unnoticed.