Mike, that was what I was talking about. Bullet has the shoulder boards for his rank at retirement. He passed down all of the others. I don't think we bought a mess dress rank after 2nd Lt., maybe it was 1st.
20 yrs later, I wish we kept all of them to give to our DS, but OH WELL! Every base we were ever at over the 20 yrs., there was always somebody who passed down their rank. It doesn't occur for everyone. It really is about relationships where somebody does it from a mentoring position. You just don't hand it over for the sake of handing it over. You hand it over because you are connecting yourself with them.
I recall when Bullet got the mess dress boards as a promotion present from a friend. I thought okay, you are giving him hand me downs. It was only after looking at Bullet's face and how touched he was that I realized the importance behind the hand me down.
It is a true honor to receive a hand me down. It is never to be taken lightly. Everyone knows that fliers get their leather jackets, and they wear, sometimes the AF is kind enough to replace them. Bullet's gift to our DS at his retirement because we didn't keep all of his rank was his old flight jacket, cracked leather and blood chits. DS was entering AF, but to him it was like thanks DAD, an old worn out jacket.
He never wore it until this yr after he got picked up for UPT. Minute 1, Day 1, when he placed the jacket on the back of the chair, his instructor asked: Are those Blood Chits?
Yes, (thinking am I in trouble?) my Dad gave me this jacket at his retirement.
Show it.
The class lesson/discussion turned that day to how military members get blood chits to save lives. That they vary depending on the area. Bullet's was Arabic. It basically says I am an American, assist me.
DS learned that day it wasn't an old, beaten up jacket, it was history, and a gift to carry on those who lived before you. That it was rare and only those who were in combat in that theater had them in their jacket. Instructor laughed because he informed our DS his Dad was out of regs...flight jackets don't come with side pockets, only top pockets...Bullet when he got the chits, had the jacket altered/changed to have top and side pockets (one in the same)! That's very common, just like ripping off the peter pocket for fighter pilots.
Yes, now he guards it like the Hope Diamond. He gets it now, that handing down rank is the highest form of belief that the recipient is going to be a great military asset. That you don't give it like dropping off at the Good Will. You take time and think about who will appreciate the significance and honor it.
I love this tradition.
For cadets. Retirement seems like eons away...close to death! Keep all of your patches, scarves, visor covers, coins, etc., because before you know it you will be retiring.
For parents, if they have their patches from day one, think about making a shadow box for graduation using them. Trust me every military member had a "I LOVE ME" wall if not a room! Heck we have 1 room (his study), plus an over flow (our office), and more crap in the basement!
