The graduation was wonderful and very emotional! On the first day we attended the Turning Blue Ceremony where the Preacher had the honor of attaching the blue chord to our son's dress blues, signifying that he now was an Infantryman. The second day was the actual graduation where his entire company was paraded out on the open field where soil from every battlefield that we have fought upon was laid down and where so many men before him have marched.
After the ceremonies our son was able to spend a few days with us. We spent a few hours shopping and sight seeing and of course we ate out for each of our meals.
On two occasions we were blessed by total strangers who either paid our entire check or bought dessert for our family. On both occasions they expressed their gratitude for our son's willingness to serve his country.
You see this sort of thing happening in the news or someone might post a YouTube video where a man walks in a restaurant and someone picks up the bill all because that man was a veteran. You watch, a tear might come to your eye, but you don't think about this happening in your own life.
The first time it happened we were at a McDonald's, we had just finished eating and were about to leave when a little boy came up to us and asked us not to leave yet because his mom wanted to do something for us. She then came up with a sack of Apple pies, one for each of us. She explained her husband was in the military and she understood what we as a family were going through. She wanted her son to experience giving back to a fellow soldier.
The second time it happened we were at a BBQ restaurant. We had driven downtown to the old historical part of the town after attending church. The restaurant was full, people eating out after Sunday church. We ate our meal, we ordered dessert and was about to ask the waitress for our tab when she explained that a lady had seen us and then asked to pay our entire bill. The lady told our waitress to tell our son thank you for serving his country. We asked who it was that had done this wonderful thing because we wanted to thank her but she said the lady had already left.
On both occasions I cried, not just a little tear rolling down my cheek, no, I mean I cried! It was even hard for me to stop crying. How sweet, how generous were these people, that they would pay for our meal, and that they would take the time to notice us from across the room. Our son is a little uncomfortable wearing his ACU's in public, but it is an honor and when you see a soldier it reminds you of their strength and commitment to the nation they serve.
I'm asking you now, if you see someone in uniform or if you know that a person is or has fought for our country and for you, take the time to at least thank them. You don't have to pay for a meal if you don't want to but at least thank them. Let them know how grateful you are for their sacrifice and for the sacrifice of their families. It makes a difference.
Love from the Preacher and I
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