BCT Family Day

 Family Day for BCT August 2nd 2012 -Prior to the ceremony starting all of the family members and friends gather in the bleachers patiently waiting to be reunited with their loved one. The families gather at the Graduation field for a short ceremony and briefing on what the soldiers can and can't do during the day. After a few words from the Battalion Commander and him asking "DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR SOLDIER" twice, finally you see smoke coming from the wood line at the back of the field. From there you see hundreds of young men and women running towards the bleachers. The families were so excited they started screaming, yelling and stomping as loud as they could. It had been a long 10 weeks since they've seen their loved one. For many of them this was the first time they've ever left home for this long. (boy are they in for a lot, being a military family now) It was a awesome experience for sure and I'm glad I was able to be apart of it. 

They quickly rushed up and stood information while the BC said a few words to them

 The entire battalion graduates tomorrow, all 6 companies which makes a total of about 1000 soldiers. Here is Delta Company (our company) right before & during changing from their PC to their Beret. This was something I didn't know they did during the ceremony. Although makes sense because you always see them walking around on post on Wednesday's with their Beret on.

It wasn't much longer that the families were crowded down around the field searching for their SIT. I was there with a fellow Army Spouse who was also a volunteer on the Delta fb page. We went down to say hello and meet some of the families we had been talking to on line for the past several weeks. It was neat to finally put a face to a name in person. 

Normally the Soldiers & their families have to stay on post for family day. They have the option to go to the PX, water-park, movie theater, restaurants, parks, lakes, mini-golf, there are several other activities and things to do on post but the Soldiers aren't allowed to leave post. They have to be back at their Bay by 9pm that evening as well & families aren't allowed to stay. Now back up to Yesterday about 5:45pm (Tuesday) the power on all of FT. Jackson went out and still was not restored in many areas till late Wednesday night. This being said the BC through a big surprise out there to everyone, even the Company Commanders & 1SGT's. He gave them a OFF POST PASS for the day. The crowd went WILD when he announced this, Sarah (the girl I was with) and I just looked at each other like are you kidding. There's a lot that goes in to the SIT having a off post pass and when the DS aren't prepared for it things could go bad. It made since though, I mean what the heck were they going to do for 11 hours when most everything on post was closed.

Down on the field we were talking to the CO asking him if they knew anything about it and he him self was in shock. The SIT were so excited, they found out as their families found them and told them. What a wonderful unexpected surprise. While talking to the CO I asked him were the hubbs was because I had still yet to see him during the ceremony. HE HAD NO CLUE, really you don't know were my husband is, isn't he one of your Drill SGT's ???? I called him to find out were he was and he was back at the wood line, he was one of the ones that through out the smoke. He didn't know that's what he was going to be doing till he got there and they pulled him for it. I told the CO, all at once it clicked, "oh right that's were he is. duh!!!!!"

I'm looking forward to graduation tomorrow, this is the end of our first cycle so this is all new to me. 

1 down and ruffly 9 to go till April 2014. 

~DAY 293~

Washington DC ~ Day 1

The day started about 3am as we drove from WV to DC, its just under a 7 hr drive. We arrived in the city about 10ish and hit the road running because we had lots to do and see. This was my first ever trip to DC so I was really excited to be here and check out the area. Its on my 30 before 30 list, CHECK!!!!
(Let me apologize in advance for the amount of pictures)


~Our first stop was Arlington National Cemetery~
We walked around the cemetery looking at all the different head stones, visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, JFK's plot, watched the Change of the Guard Ceremony.

It was definitely a experience, I'm so glad I was able to finally go. The heat however was brutal, we probably lost a couple pounds just from sweating so much. It was a beautiful place very calm and peaceful as it should be. Many of the head stones still had a single stem rose laid across the top from Memorial Day. I was told by a friend later in the week that on Memorial day each head stone also had a American Flag placed in front of it. I only wish that the hubbs could have been here with me. 

~DAY 229~

9-11 Tunnel to Tower Run

For the husband who told his wife I love you one last time before his plane went down in a field, for the wife who stopped in the stairs to call her husband to say I will love you forever, for the mothers and fathers who kissed their kids goodbye the morning they died, for the policemen who rushed in with the firemen to help get others out only to die themselves, for the soldiers who fought back and lost their lives. Today, tomorrow, ten years from now, we will remember.

In honor of the lives lost on 9-11 and since then, on that horrible tragic day I decided that a great way to show my support and respect to the lost lives would be to participate in a race call Stephen Siller's Tunnel to Towers Run here in Hawaii. This was the first year the race was ran here on island & Hawaii was the 3rd largest organized group to run this race.

I couldn't think of any one else to do it with other than my two favorite girls. See the hubbs had SD Staff Duty the day before so he was out of commission seeings he would still be at work.
We made it down to the starting area near the Aloha Stadium with plenty of time to spare and really wake up. I mean we woke up at like 4:30 to get ready so we were still alittle out of it. There were thousands of people out showing there support from volunteering to running & even cheering us on by revving up their motorcycle engine on the side of the bridge.



With the ceremony behind us......raising of the flag, prayer, speeches, the National Anthem, Words of Wisdom and much more. It was finally time to start, we decided that since this race wasn't timed we were just going to take our time & enjoy it. It was a great opportunity for some good people watching as well. The run was a 5K which went across the Ford Island Bridge around the round about and back. I have always wanted to run the bridge since I started running and missed the Ford Island Bridge run a few months back so I was excited about this one.



We had such a great time, out of the different runs I have done on island this one had the most support & encouragement from by standards. People cheering us on as we went past them, even revving their motorcycle engine as we ran past & giving us the shaka sign. I'm glad I decided to participate in this race since it mint that much more to me than any other race I've done.





Its hard to believe that it has been 10 years since 9-11-01 and the tragic that struck the nation that day. I remember were I was that very moment that I found out......sitting in first period World History w/ Coach Carrol my freshman year of high school.
This day as well as every day that passes only reminds me to live each & every day to the fullest and not miss a moment. Do not let someone else hold you back from achieving your goals. Never set your sights to low or your dreams, dream big and run with it. We are not promised tomorrow, nor are we promise the next 5 minutes for that matter.

~Live Your Life With No Regrets~

We will never for get the ones that lost their life that day & every day since then due to this thing we call war. May you all REST IN PEACE.