[Elder]

We have received the outstanding news that our son has successfully passed the “Q”. He will walk the stage at graduation this Thursday.

My uncle walked among you back during the Viet Nam days. I was so naïve as a kid back then that I wondered what that funny looking green hat was my cousin showed me on his father’s dresser. Then he played an old Barry Sadler LP for me for the first time. The ballad brought tears to my eyes as a child, and it still does.

And now, my son will walk among you. I cannot tell you how proud of him I am, and how proud I am of all of you QP’s. I have read countless pages on this exceptional site. I want to thank all of you for your wisdom, experiences and inspiration. You have provided a father with more than a few salient words of encouragement and very specific prayer requests; and the incredible relief I would have when he would convey to me his own observations consistent with the observations made by so many of you. The unbreakable spirit to NEVER quit, no matter what; laser like unshakable focus; the discipline to overcome each challenge and then turning the page immediately to the next task; how indecisiveness only prolongs pain; how to balance being hard with helping your comrade; deciding with whom he would be willing to go to war; and many, many more.

Before all of this began, he told me he was called to this. God and many of you have proven that he was correct.

And then the incredible experiences you share: Nasty Nick (I can only hope to step inside the gate of Camp McCall one day); endless rucking and land nav; the beauty of a dark night sky during his first night HALO jump (he was one of the lucky few who got that opportunity). And the countless experiences that await him down range. I could go on, but I too must focus.

I had the immense pleasure today of gifting to him his own first Green Beret and Long Tab. To watch him shave and shape the Beret this evening, and watch the immense grin cross his face (and mine) as he arranged those three tabs on his left shoulder for the first time. He said it was the first time he had ever touched the “long tab”, but that it was beginning to sink in that he would finally graduate and begin his long awaited team time.

I recognize that he is only at the beginning and has so much to learn. My prayers will now shift to those who will comprise his first team. The importance of his Team Sergeant and for the family he and his men must become, along with the families they will leave behind time and again.

So, I will be there on Thursday. You won’t know me, or I you, as I look to make eye contact with those of you in the room and wonder who among you are those who have graciously blessed me on these pages of your site. I will be the guy with a grin on his face, tears welling up in my eyes, and my Tommy Bahamas shirt popping open with pride. Know that I am eternally grateful for all each of you have done in service to our great country, for the sacrifices you have made, for the very small role this site has allowed me to play in this grand adventure my son has embarked upon, and for watching his back as he watches yours. Although I will always be there for him, I must now give him to those among you with whom he will now serve. I assure you, he will always be there for you too.

Blessings on you all.

A proud and grateful Father.