Putting it in perspective

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blackhawkmom

5-Year Member
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Apr 9, 2010
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My DS is a very different person has matured beyond belief and I am so proud .
People are forever stopping him when we are off campus and thanking him for his service. At first he was uncomfortable with this explaining to them he is still a student. Now he says thank you and politely walks on.Last weekend he stopped to talk with a group of homeless vets. They stopped him asked him about his ribbons and commented on the red one which means active during time of war and the conversation was wonderful. He called them sir and thanked them for their service they in turn told him how proud they were to meet a academy student and hoped he would be safe and make them proud. To see my child -no --man- give the respect to these vets above and beyond the necessary was -well emotional. Just saying--these young people are maturing in leaps and bounds . They are making us all very proud.
 
Blackhwakmom- Thanks for posting. This just gives me chill bumps!!! If I am remembering right I think your DS was having some " this is not where I want to be" issues. It is just wonderful to see him and the rest doing so well and making us ALL SO PROUD. I pray for them all daily and hopefully my DS will be there next year.

Have a blessed day!
 
Blackhawkmom: Funny that you used the word "perspective". My older son, currently a Petty Officer, uses that word all the time in describing the most valuable thing he has learned in his two years in the Navy. After a very difficult year in which a serious injury kept him from fulfilling his dream of being a SEAL, he says that gaining perspective, regarding how blessed he is just to be an American and to have a loving family, was what got him through the tough times. He credits that perspective with the joy he finds today in serving our country. I hope all our Plebes can learn that same perspective as they begin their military careers!

Thank you for sharing your story, Blackhawkmom! And kudos to you for raising a wonderful son!
 
Putting it in...

Blackhawkmom,

This just shows the maturity of your son, but then again he is among the best and the brightest in the country. And you had something to do with it, as well. You and your family can be very proud of what he has become and will be down the road.

Tell him thanks for his service,

God Bless and God Speed,

RGK
 
Wonderful post! To share another one: Last year, my daughter & I went to a Naval Academy briefing at Ohio State U. My daughter's name was pulled from a hat & won tickets to the Navy-OSU game. I was wearing my navy retired garb: hat, shirt, etc. As we were walking around the stadium, several midshipmen were slapping my back. With each "slap" they each sounded off "Hooh-rah" while a crowd gathered to see what was happening. After a minute, they were chanting for Navy, For Country, For OSU. Too bad I wasn't the luck they needed. OSU won that day!
 
Yes OSU won that day...but not before Mr Dobbs made it interesting......That was one hell of a game.....
 
laxman44 said:
Yes OSU won that day...but not before Mr Dobbs made it interesting......That was one hell of a game.....
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Yep, looked over at my son right before we dropped the pass in the end zone and said, "I bet it's been a long time in this stadium during a game that one could hear a pin drop". And I dare say that they will ever go out of their way again to be so welcoming to a visiting team, even if they are a SA.
 
This reminds me of our Plebe Parents weekend in 2006 (Class of 10). We were given all day Saturday and Sunday to be off the yard - yes the last class to have an overnight - and allowed to travel 150 miles from the Academy. We took Saturday and visited all of the monuments and the Capitol in DC. Walking past one of the statues at the reflecting pool in front of the Capitol steps a homeless gentleman approached my son. They talked for a bit and he had served in the Navy in Vietnam. At the end of the conversation, he asked my son what ship he was assigned to, without missing a beat my son replied "Sir, the USS Bancroft Sir, we are a rather large ship, and have 4000 Midshipmen assigned to her decks, we are a training site and hopefully we will all serve the United States with honor." The man smiled and told my son that he was proud of him and thanked him not only for his service but taking the time to talk to a stranger who was a bit down on his luck. As we started to walk away, the man chuckled a bit and said that he appreciated my Mids humor and wished him success in the Navy.
 
Great stories! Hope you don't mind if I share another.

Last year at Veteran's Day, the Women's Glee Club traveled to Chicago for a concert/recruiting trip. Plebes in good standing were allowed to go, but when on liberty, they were required to be in summer whites, while the upper classes were allowed civvies. My then 3/C and I were walking along in a group that included several Plebes, when suddenly some new recruits from Great Lakes (undoubtedly on their first liberty) saw the summer whites and promptly saluted. The Plebes hesitated, whereupon the upperclass Mids muttered, "Return the salute!" They reasoned that it was better to recognize that the recruits were doing what they thought was right than to ignore them. We all had a good laugh later on about "lower than dirt" Plebes being saluted!
 
Yes the awkward to salute, not to salute or to return salute... Got to love it when Plebes are in the "to return a salute situation." The hesitation and then the best salute they have ever given!

My son's best friend's grandfather is a USNA Grad and retired 3 star. His car has a front plate with 3 stars. The boys used to get such a rush plebe year when riding onto the yard with him and the guards saluting the car... The little joys that Plebes do find. Love it!
 
Grandparents visited son this weekend in Annapolis - went somewhere for a drink after the game (son ordered a glass of water). The waiter thanked my son for his service to our country and before he could state that he was a student at the Academy, the owner came to the table and said "Your money is no good here - Drinks are on the house." The Grandparents were very proud and my son was very touched.
 
HeyClaire said:
Grandparents visited son this weekend in Annapolis - went somewhere for a drink after the game (son ordered a glass of water). The waiter thanked my son for his service to our country and before he could state that he was a student at the Academy, the owner came to the table and said "Your money is no good here - Drinks are on the house." The Grandparents were very proud and my son was very touched.
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... which tells me they didn't go to a restaurant in Annapolis. :shake:
 
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