Boot Camp Graduation

Last Wednesday night Robert and I flew out of DIA @ 7pm to travel to Atlanta, Georgia for Matt, my brother's, Boot Camp Graduation. We landed in Atlanta at 11:51pm and then drove to Columbus, two hours a way. By the time we got out of the airport, got our rental car, and arrived at our hotel it was 3:30am. We were supposed to be on the Ft Benning Army Base at 7am. It was certainly a rough night and slept through our 6am alarm and missed the Turning Blue Ceremony where Matt received his cords and honors for his physical fitness merits and weapons marksmanship. I was so mad! We instead got up at 7am but I don't think we would have made it anyway because the Army Base was so big and there were so many people that we were lost from the second we entered. We got there just as it got over :( After that we got to have Matt until 8pm that night to do whatever we wanted because it was Family Day. My Dad and his wife drove out there and my mom and sister also flew out there. Matt took us to this army museum that was amazing. It had different world war exhibits and displays. It was huge. We were there for three hours and still didn't see everything. Matt also showed us around base. This base was so big that it crossed state lines into Alabama. Matt was very excited to show us where he trained and where he had been the last four months. We met some of his friends and his drill Sergeant.



Matt had certainly changed since we last saw him at Christmas. He carried himself with pride and respect. He has discipline. He addressed everyone as "Mame" or "Sir". I am so incredibly proud of him. It brought tears to my eyes to see him in his uniform and the way that he carried himself. You can tell by the look in his eyes that he is different. Yes, I wish with all my heart that he had gone on a mission but I can honestly say that this was and is the next best thing for him.

Friday was the actual graduation. In the three companies that graduated there were 560 graduates. Matt will be serving in the Airborne Infantry. This means he is a foot soldier but will also be repelling out of helicopters. After graduation we ate lunch as a family and then he had to leave to Kentucky to Ft. Campbell. There he will continue his training and await deployment to Afghanistan, possibly as soon as May. Even though I fear for his safety, after this week I have a new respect and understanding of the Army and sacrifices of the men and women who give up so much so that I can enjoy my freedom.


It was hard to see him leave but it was so good to see him doing so well! The rest of the day we just hung out. I really struggled with the time change and jet lag and was really tired the whole time while we were out there. On Saturday we got up early so we could drive back to Atlanta and go to the Atlanta Aquarium, which is the largest is the world. It was awesome! We even got to touch sting rays and baby sharks!


Even though we are extremely tired from our whirlwind trip I wouldn't have missed it for anything. It meant a lot to Matt that we were there to support him and I am so glad that I got to see him and how he has changed. Matt I love you and am so proud of you!