A Week to Remember As I set here in the office on this Sunday morning, today I reflect on what has probably been one of the most memorable weeks I have had in my 32 years on this God’s Green Earth. In May I made a promise to what was at that time a kid that I would not let him graduate Basic Training without having family at his graduation and if his adoptive parents weren’t able to attend I would personally be there for him. Tuesday at 7:40 am his brother, Steven and myself flew out of Monroe Regional Airport headed for Fort Jackson, South Carolina for what I didn’t realize was going to be one of the most moving two days I have ever experienced. Growing-up with two loving parents in a family steeped in as much tradition and legacy that has been handed down from my Grand Parents Harvey and Lorraine Rouse, and my 97 year old great grandmother, Granny, Marie Austin, I have always taken for granted the love and support of a family that I have been blessed with. Even to the point where I get a little embarrassed when my Dad still brags on me playing football in the Superdome when I was in high school. Kevin and Steven have been raised since an early age by Mr. Lamar and Mrs. Dee Frith who have done a wonderful job raising two fine young men. Mrs. Dee’s poor health and age doesn’t allow her to do many of the things she would love to do with these two guys that are the apple of her eye and when she was told I would make the trip in her absence the her words tears on her face was more than a thank you letter could ever provide. My relationship with Kevin started when he was 14 and I was setting on the back row of church with Mom and Dad as I do most Sunday’s when he tapped me on the shoulder and asked for a job, as I do in most cases I said you’re welcome to fill out an application, but there is nothing available. For some reason that Sunday my eyes kept drifting over to he and the rest of their family setting there and at the end of the service I told him to come see me after the show started and from that point on something more than just a employer/employee relationship has developed and it seems as if I look at these two more as my boys than hands. Back to the story, Tuesday when we arrived Steve and I checked in at the hotel and headed over to base to kinda get a feel of where we needed to go Wednesday morning, then came back took a short nap and headed to Downtown Columbia where we had an adventurous ride with the iphone taking us out to grandma’s house to get to where we were going but I guess everything happens for a reason as things kept popping up reminding us of home, first turn the radio on and its on 96.7 playing what else but classic rock, then the phone has us get on I-20 before turning on the tail end of main street where there was a sign Winnsboro 24 miles. Driving to town we then come across Kilbourne road, the only thing that would have made it feel more awkward was if they would have had a spot come on with Ivy doing the voice work LOL, which I have had happen in Branson before as the radio stations swap spots. In town of course we found the single screen theatre and stopped by to take a look, it was nice, but I am prejudice toward ours and feel my old girl is much nicer. The next morning we get up and head to base for what was to become the start of an emotional roller coaster for yours truly. Signing in, I unintentionally stole the guards ink pen as I have a habit of doing, as it turned out it was needed as President Jim Cofer always said if you are doing to do something hard always have a pen in your hand to squeeze on. LOL. We were advised Tuesday to get to the stadium at 7:30 to get a seat so we sat there in the beautiful environment of Hilton Field and due to boredom I got up to walk around and began visiting with other parents prior to the event. While out of the stadium they begin to play music in the stands. Growing-up it was always instilled in me to put God, Country and Family first and therefore, I have always possessed much more patriotism than others in my generation so these songs have always hit a cord with me. Setting there and singing along to songs I have grew up with like “This Land is Your Land, Souza’s Stars and Stripes for Ever, My Country Tiz of Thee” Steven of course was getting a little embarrassed, LOL. The Johnny Cash comes on with “That Ragged Old Flag” as I sang along it started to build and the harder I tried to keep it back, surprised I didn’t bite my tongue in half or bust the inkpen, LOL, I felt one start to roll down my cheek and I looked the other way hoping Steven didn’t see it, which I found out later he did, but if he would have asked what’s wrong they prolly would have really started rolling. Regained composer then the ceremony started, setting there you could barely see the guys in the woods behind the field, they began by throwing colored smoke grenades out on the field and playing Toby Kieth’s “Red, White and Blue” when the line came “We’ll put a boot in your Ass it’s the American Way” the platoons charged the field and the pride built up again and continued through the greatest song of all our NATIONAL ANTHEM. When released to the field to greet our soldiers the feeling of pride when I shook his hand and gave the boy a hug was definitely a feeling I will never forget and then watching he and his brother embrace almost had me going again. I didn’t know this had taken place, but I guess it explains why the emotions were so high throughout the ceremony, but Kevin had told all of his new brothers that I was his Dad as I found out throughout the day. The balance of the day Wednesday we spent with him on base along with one of his brothers Delmar who’s family couldn’t make the event. As we spent the day, touring the campus/fort he introduced me to the other soldiers and family members as his Dad and every time it caused that Rouse pride to get just a little stronger. Wednesday at the actual graduation weren’t near as prevalent, but the pride surly was as I began telling the little white lie myself when visiting with the other parents before the event. Once it was over and we picked up our soldiers visiting with their Drill Sergeants, I felt the pride of a father as they told me how good of a soldier Kevin was and gave me instructions on what needed to be done. That afternoon we ate lunch with his bunkmate and battle buddy Alan Adams and then returned to the hotel together as a family with Adam’s included and spent the balance of the day at the pool with other soldiers and their families basking in the glow of pride of being the family of an American Soldier. Coming home Thursday, the emotions though I was able to hide it went into overload again as soon as we got to the airport. Walking in a retired Vet greeted us and invited us into the USO lounge where we hung out until it was time to go through security and told us how appreciative he was of Kevin and me and Steve for giving up our family member to serve. Those sentiments greeted us the rest of the day from individual and then at the Atlanta Airport when we got to our departure gate the man at the desk made a PA announcement thanking him and us for his service and I had to look away then the entire gate gave him a round of applause. When we arrived home Bro. Jonathan and Elizabeth along with Jonas greeted us at MLU and Jonnas gave Kevin a flag looked as it almost came off of a Hallmark Card. When we got to Mer Rouge I called the Boyte family who are in the process of adopting their little sister Stephanie and told them we were about and 30 minutes out but not to tell Steph as we wanted to surprise her. We got there quietly walked around the house and about 10 feet from the pool she saw us and immediately broke down and once again, I had to hold it back myself as it was truly one more moving moment. That evening we took all three to Johnny’s to eat and Kevin was dead set on working so I let him show up in uniform which once again gave me a since of pride. Though I may not be biological or legal either for that matter, I am proud to say I the proud Dad of an American Soldier. --- ATH PS: The knucklehead just came by the office and I had to teach him to tie a tie before I finished writing this. LOL
Posted on: Sun, 11 Aug 2013 14:44:23 +0000
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