Dining Out

We were privileged to attend Ariel's ROTC Dining Out Military Ball last Friday.
They used to be called Dress Mess.

As Battalion S3 (operations officer) this semester he planned the entire event.
They started working on it at the start of the semester.

The Army is big on tradition and history, and this evening was no exception.

There was a table in a prominent place set for one.
A single Red Rose and a Red Ribbon signifies remembrance of Fallen Comrades.
Felllow soldiers who have given their all in every war that America has fought.
App State has already lost two ROTC alumni in our current War on Terror.

Several proscribed toasts follow, starting with "We Toast the President of the United States" and ending with "We toast the Ladies!"
Then the Colonel started the dinner, while a slide show of each of the MS4 (Senior) Cadets played.
All of us submitted pictures, and it was interesting to see which ones Ariel chose.
It was funny, and very touching as well to see these young soldiers as cute little Young'uns.

Afterwards the Colonel made a few brief remarks, and introduced the guest speaker, a young Captain who graduated in '05.
He has already seen two combat tours in Iraq.
He gave very good advice about cultivating a relationship with your NCO's, (Go out and have a beer or two with them. The Army runs because of it's Senior NCO's) and looking after your young enlisted men.
"They will be looking up to you for guidance and discipline. Their Body Armor will most likely be too small, and their Kevlar (helmet) too big. Their ACU's seldom fit as well.
Take care of them"
He also advised them to learn to think on their feet, and to study the art of War Craft.
Keep your boys alive and bring them home!

We then took part in pinning his branch insignia on his uniform.
Ariel will be infantry, attached to the Big Red One, First ID based in Ft Knox KN

It was a proud moment pinning those crossed rifles on his Class A uniform.
He has diligently been working out for two years, and the uniform that hung rather loosely after BCT grad now fits like he is fixing to explode out of the tunic.
My son is a stud!

Proud Momma and Daddy to be sure!

The last picture shows that Queen Felica is adept at making friends wherever she goes.
We spent a glorious spring day in Blowing Rock, one of our favorite NC Towns.

There's Gold in them thar hills!

Some of you know that we have been on pins and needles waiting for Ariel's orders to post.
He was the last senior in the Battalion to find out which unit he would be assigned to, and where his home garrison would be.

Well, the wait is over.
He will be part of the famous First Infantry Division, "The Big Red One" based at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Which unit within the First I.D. is not yet known.
The Combat Battalion is deployed overseas right now.

Their distinctive shoulder patch with the large 1 on a shield, all in bright Red has seen combat in every major war since World War One.

His mother's first comment was "Fort Knox, tell him to get me some gold!"

His commissioning ceremony will be on August 7th.

He then has several months before starting his active duty training next April at Fort Benning.

We're looking for a good job he can start in June through next February to fill in the gaps and keep his bank account full.

We are of course very proud of him in every way.

He will graduate with honors on time before starting his career as an officer.

Hooah! Son!

This Easter weekend, listen to the Pope!

As all of you know, I am not Roman Catholic.

But sometimes it is patently obvious when The I Am speaks through someone else.

In his Easter Sunday address, the Pope warned those of us in Western Society that we are drifting into a "Desert of Godlessness".

Well said, and timely words.

We must heed them, if we have not been already doing so.

"Be still, and know that I am God." we are commanded.

Religion and Godliness has been virtually eliminated from public life in Europe.
That movement has gained speed in our own Republic over the last twenty years.

The Queen and I were discussing that very thing this Easter weekend past.

"When and how did it start?" she asked.

In my opinion it started when we were in early gradeschool, when one woman was able to remove prayer from our Public schools.
That's right, one woman whose name I will not dignify here filed suit and was eventually heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The common practice of reading The Lord's Prayer, giving students a moment to pray and posting The Ten Commandments in each classroom abruptly ceased forever.
I remember my Godly second grade teacher Mrs. Cayton reading from the scriptures every morning, and then praying for us.

And this was in Meadowlane Elementary School, Dade County Florida public schools.
I also well remember my 10th grade biology teacher stating his opinion on Darwinian Theory, saying
"I have to teach it, but I do not have to accept it!"
No one got up and walked out, and no parent objected and tried to have him fired.

Yes, this was in good old Hialeah High School, public schools of Dade County.
The year was 1969, exactly forty years ago. (Yes, I am old, thanks for reminding me!)

Easter is a time to reflect, and refocus on the importance of Christ in our lives.
We went to First Baptist Church in our home town yesterday.

It was a very traditional, formal Southern service.
The pastor's message from Luke 24:1-12 was simple and direct.
The service ended with a very stirring, excellent singing of G.F. Handel's "Hallelujah" Chorus from "Messiah"

There indeed are many important things to be concerned about in our modern world.

I needed to be reminded who is really in charge of it all.

Thank You, and thank you for your Easter gift of life Eternal to us all!

Do Southerners and college kids need a reason?

To celebrate?

Or as Three Dog Night and The Doors put it,
"Celebrate, Celebrate, Dance to the Music!" and "Light My Fire" as in Bonfire.

Last night our local Cagers, the UNC Chapel Hill Tarheels won their fifth National Men's Basketball Championship in convincing fashion.

This places them in rarified air with the UCLA Bruins, (11), the Kentucky Wildcats (5) and Indiana Hoosiers as the most storied programs in the last fifty years of the NCAA tourament.
Alumni Coach Roy Williams won his second in six years since coming 'home' from Kansas.

Our son, in his last semester at sister campus App State, themselves winners of three of the last four NCAA Division 1AA football championships watched with his roomies and ROTC buddies at a favorite sports hangout, MacAdoos on King Street.
I asked him how ROTC class and training meeting went today.
"Not too good. No one wanted to be there after last night"
"Good time?" I queried. "Oh, yeah Dad!"
No further elucidation was neceassary, I was young and in college once.

The game was never in doubt.
The Tarheels actually played poorly in the second half after scoring 55 in a flawless first half, and still easily won by 17 points.

Even though, being raised in Florida and having 'No dog in this hunt' as far as local ACC teams go, it was refreshing seeing a team with senior players who would normally have bolted for the NBA and big bucks come back to win one for their school.

Last years meltdown against William's former team the Kansas Jayhawks in the semi's left a bad taste in their mouths.

This year was a vindication and a mission of redemption from the first game on.

No Tournament game was closer than 12 points, and the Championship last night was a 17 point fanny kicking, with a coaching lesson given by Coach Williams to the very likable and talented C0ach Tom Izzo and his young Spartan team.

Their time will come, but facing a talented, experienced, well coached and driven group of boys in Tarheel Blue was just too much to ask this year.

Sometimes the best team does indeed triumph.

This is for my niece and nephew Heather and Luke and their kids, now in route to their new home in Sunny Seattle.

"TAR..............HEELS!"

GO BLUE, GO HEELS!

P.S. If you want a championship banner, or T-shirts let us know.