Ft. Benning, Georgia

In January, our family traveled to Ft. Benning, Georgia for Michael's graduation from basic training. Our first day there, we watched what is called the "Turning Blue" ceremony, which is when a soldier officially becomes part of the infantry.



Michael's blue infantry cord came from my brother, Ethan. I didn't know this before, but it is a tradition that if a soldier has a family member who is also an infantryman, then they can pass down their cord. Ethan is a captain stationed at Ft. Drum, New York, and he mailed his cord to Michael. I know it meant a lot to Michael.

Doesn't he look handsome?

The next day was graduation. Before the soldiers marched out, there was a neat demonstration with tanks, colored gas, and gunfire. It was loud and impressive (although Eleanor will tell you she was terrified).

Here are the kids freezing their tails off on the metal bleachers before graduation.
It was so cold!

Then the soldiers from three different companies marched out onto the field. It was a very nice ceremony. We were all so proud of Michael and how hard he as worked.

That's him, on the far right, second row from the rear.

Michael with the rest of our kids after graduation.

He's at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky now, and will probably be deploying to Iraq within a couple of weeks. We knew when he enlisted back in September that there was no question that he would be going. Still, as I looked at him with the friends he made in his platoon, I was struck by the fact that these are just kids. Eighteen years old and off to war. I know he is in God's hands, as are we all, but it is hard not to worry. Pray, pray, pray.