A Ceremony to Remember 2
When the soloist arrived to sing the Star Spangled Banner and Chris’ promotion ceremony began, I thought, “It was worth the wait,” because she sang our National Anthem beautifully.
The brigadier general who spoke at the ceremony interviewed Chris ahead of time to learn about his career in the Army. When asked why he became an officer, he talked about a mentor in his high school ROTC program. When asked about his service in Afghanistan, he talked about the Afghan people. Again and again he gave credit to other people.
After those remarks, the actual promotion ceremony began. Knowing little about military ceremonies, I didn’t understand what each person was pinning onto Chris’ uniform, but there were tasks for the brigadier general and for Chris’ wife, his mother, and finally, his sons. Then, Chris was asked to take the Army officers’ oath of office which has been used since 1959:
I, _____, having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God.”
With the official parts of the ceremony completed, it was time for Chris to address those assembled. Since the ceremony last weekend, one word has continually come to mind when I have thought Chris. The word is gracious. I knew he was a good husband and father and nephew and uncle, but I never knew until last weekend what a gracious person he is.
Over and over, he talked about how other people had helped him reach this milestone. When he designed the program for the ceremony, he chose a photo of Omaha Beach in France for the front cover. Omaha Beach was where Ray’s and Alan’s father (Chris’ paternal grandfather) landed the day after D-Day during World War II. The photo on the inside of the program was the landing at Guadalcanal. Chris’ maternal grandfather was among those troops during World War II.
Chris spoke of his father, of his mother, of fellow officers, and especially of the soldiers who had worked under him. When we went out to eat with family members the night before the ceremony, Chris’ wife Lynn had talked about how much their family enjoys going there and she talked about its Italian owner. She pointed out the shirt Chris was wearing. It had an Italian insignia on it featuring the colors of the Italian flag. She said that he always wears it when they eat there. At the time, I thought what a nice gesture that was, but at the ceremony I came to realize how much that attitude is embedded in who Chris is as a person.
On this day when Chris was the reason we had gathered, he surprised us all. He talked about his father-in-law’s service in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He spoke of how those soldiers were not honored at the time because people were so upset with our government. Then he called his father-in-law up from the audience and presented him with a beautiful framed picture honoring his service in Vietnam. That’s Chris–“It’s not about me; it’s about other people.”
We all sang the “Army Song,” Ray gave the benediction, and we gathered for lunch in a richly-paneled room that evoked the feeling of a medieval castle.
Our hearts have been brimming with admiration ever since.
The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.
Proverbs 15:33