Dad retired from 29 years in the Air Force on Friday. The ceremony was somewhat emotional, of course. One of his close friends from the Academy retired him and told some pretty funny stories along the way. Dad showed a "career video" which was actually a powerpoint slideshow of non-work-related pictures...I got to see some from before I was born, and a LOT from the family growing up. There was everything from Disney world when we were REALLY young, to the annual Christmas Tree tradition, to my and my brother's science fairs, to family trips (Europe!). Looking back made me really appreciate how lucky I've been...I know I've said that before, but it's true. I've gotten to grow up with some truly incredible role models; I've gotten to watch lives and careers develop as I've grown up. At the very end of the ceremony, Dad told the audience that he was going to pass on something he'd heard at the retirement of someone that he really looked up to, and he said "It is now your job to stand on the shoulders of those who came before you, so you can go forward and achieve excellence."
Even though I can't tell people "Yeah, my Dad is in the Air Force" anymore, the Air Force will always be a part of me; most importantly, the values and ideals that I developed from growing up in an Air Force family will always be with me. (Oh, and the memories. Always the memories. :-) )
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