Crestview Middle School Veteran's Day Program

Justice's school really hit the Veteran's Day Program completely out of the ballpark today.  It was absolutely amazing.  Those types of programs provide me an outlet for the emotions that sort of build up around this time of year and I appreciate the effort that specific entities such as schools go through to honor our nations veterans.  

First, they had students outside the school shaking hands with the vets and thanking them for their service.  I was happy to provide a great learning experience for the boys outside the school today.  As the line was walking by them and they were dutifully shaking old guys hands, they skipped me.  Huh.  I can't say that I blame them.  In their mind, a veteran is the old scabby dude with a VFW hat full of pins and a mean limp from the grenade they stepped on in either WWII or 'Nam.  Their idea of a veteran is not the chick my age with capri's on and a baby on her hip.  So I said to the kid…. 

"What, I don't get a thank you for my service too?"  

And I smiled at him.  He smiled back and shook my hand and thanked me for my service and the other boys started whispering and laughing at the poor kid.  Like they would have done anything different, right?  No.  And as I went inside, they had special seating in the gym for veteran's and their families.  I sat down with my gaggle of kids next to a WWII vet who was literally holding himself together with a tissue and some bandaids.  If it weren't 2013 I'd swear he had leprosy, but hey it's all good.  Those vets are the real deal, and I have an incredible amount of respect for them.  I've seen first hand the emotional turmoil that my Dad went through over his experiences in Vietnam, and nothing I've ever experienced comes anywhere close to that reality those men faced back in those days.  I was proud to sit next to him, even though he kept giving me the "shouldn't you be sitting up with the common folk?" glare every few minutes.

And here we go with the bad pictures.  I was lucky enough to get a good picture when we walked in the door, and I stood up during Justice's solo to get another picture, and that's it.  I couldn't get good pics where I was sitting and I was scared to inconvenience the old vet next to me for fear I'd bump into him and a body part would fall off or he'd yell at me.  So, this is it.

The vets got to sit in these chairs, and the rest of the visitors got to sit in the bleachers to the right and left.

After the color guard and a really amazing prayer, the choir sang and my boy Justice sang a solo! I was really nervous for him.   He had been practicing all week and was having trouble with one spot so I was worried for him.  I was hoping and praying he'd get it right for the program.  I sure didn't want him to be the kid that muffed the song at the program.

He did a great job, he absolutely nailed it!  

Look at my boy in the front with the microphone!  Ha!  If you would have asked me a year ago if this was in his future I would have bet everything I had on a no!

The guest speaker was fantastic, and they had a great slide show.  The daughter of a deceased Marine read a really emotional poem that her Dad wrote after he lost his best friend in combat.  

And then the choir sang Lee Greenwood's "I'm Proud To Be An American" and I absolutely LOST it.

In boot camp, there is a really horrible week where they emotionally and physically break you down to nothing.  When you get back up, you are more patriotic, physically strong and emotionally conditioned to handle the things that you may encounter in the military.  This song was played on that final day of that horrible week.  We were all so exhausted, dirty, tired, and crying.  The American Flag was passed around for us to hold and touch while this song was played and I can promise you that it was the most emotional day of my entire life, and that includes even more emotional than bearing my children.  Every time I hear that song, I cry.  Justice is so sweet, he knows it and as soon as they started singing he looked at me and started to smile so I wouldn't cry.   I love my sensitive little boy.

After the final song, they read the names of all the conflicts starting with WWII and asked any Veteran's that were involved in that campaign to stand.  They got to "1990 - 1994, Operation Desert Storm" and I stood.  

The old man next to me smiled at me.  

That was probably the best part of the program, when he realized I belonged.  I enjoyed shaking hands with all the old geezer's after the program, and there was an old woman there too.  I hope to be involved like that when I'm old and cranky.  I don't have the terrible scars that some of those men and women do, but I am indeed proud to be a combat veteran and to have served my country.

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Sailors Creed

I am a United States Sailor

I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me.

I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world.

I proudly serve my country's Navy combat team with Honor, Courage, and Commitment.

I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.

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