United States Marine Corps

My wife Jen, my daughter Jessie, and I took Jason, my son, to Columbia, SC this evening and dropped him off at MEPS. If you have read some previous blogs you know that he decided to join the United States Marine Corps.

We checked him in at the hotel and went out to dinner for one of his favorite meals. Then we took him back to the hotel, said our goodbyes, and drove away. There wasn't a lot to say since we had covered the bases over the past months. I am so proud of him that my heart could pop in my chest. This is my boy. In 13 weeks he will graduate from basic training and be a man. The next 13 weeks are going to be interesting ones. The house will be quiet. His room will be empty, and way too neat after cleaning it up in preparation for this day. And Jen has to take out the trash because I am not home trash night. I will miss that boy. It isn't like your kid going away to college. They come back for the summer and holidays. He's gone. Starting an entirely new life and direction. He will be home for Christmas this year because it's just after his graduation. This is big. I don't even know how big just yet. I'll let you know in a few weeks, months, and years.

I'll leave this blog with this letter that I gave Jason last March:

March 1, 2004

Jason,

As you get ready to go into the world you have made a choice that will take you deeper into "the real world" than most in your class. You may possibly, before the end of next year, when others are entering their second year of college, see combat in some corner of the world.

By then you will have experienced more than most people will in a lifetime. You will be a man. You will have discovered many truths and life lessons, yet I would like to leave you with some thoughts that I hope will be of help as you move through life:

* Value your friends. Make sure that you know whom they are. Be a friend. Someone who will stand back to back with in any situation and never let you stand alone.
* Intelligence and wisdom are very different. Know the difference and work harder to be wise.
* Understand authority and how it protects and propels you.
* Never sell out for anything or anyone. Keep your integrity. You have to look at yourself in the mirror every day.
* Don"t neglect the spiritual part of your development. The Kingdom of God makes sense out of upside down situations and you must learn how to sense the Holy Spirit and His instruction.
* Remember your roots. You represent the family name.
* Hold your head high - you can change the world
* Never be afraid to cry or show emotion.
* Don"t marry the person you can live with, marry the person you cannot live without.
* When you are a father remember that you are not an anchor or a sail but rather a light who points the way
* If something seems too good to be true it usually is
* Be characterized as an investor rather than as a spender in relationships, finances, time, life. Look at the "return" you are getting and decide if it is the best place for your resources.
* Remember that I love you more than life itself

Life is good. Live it to the fullest.

Love,

Dad

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See You.

WH