Presidents' Comments:
24 September, 2002
Dear Parents:
What do we as a Parents Club do? This question was asked at a recent meeting of that Club.
Much of what is below was gleaned from the discussion that followed that question.
As we see it we gather together to gain strength from each other as our children leave home and continue the process of becoming young, productive adults.
They have chosen to serve their country, and
have taken the hard road for this journey.
Their four years of education will not simply be spent in academic
pursuits but will have the added pressure of gaining military and leadership
skills that are necessary for them to lead other young people equally dedicated
to serve, as officers in the Naval service. These four years will not be
interspersed with unfettered summers of fun and frivolity, but summers packed
with the adventure of fleet cruises, and advanced military training, where they
are able to fly in supersonic aircraft, dive to the depths of the ocean, or
cruise the oceans' surface, and, thankfully, also have some small amount of vacation time to spend at home, although
there is less of the
latter as each year goes by.
Margaret and I have observed this process in
our Mid, from Plebe year, when we all wanted him home every free day, morphing
gradually to this most recent summer when at the end of six weeks of Leatherneck
training, and three weeks of Plebe Summer Detailing, he and a friend flew to
Europe on a military hop, spending three well-earned, and nearly carefree weeks
touring countries and civilizations, some they had only read about, returning
just in time to start their final academic year.
Their job is to learn and grow; as an organization,
our job is to support them and each other during this time of constant change;
Margaret and I see it as our job to use our families’ experience in this evolution to the mutual
advantage of every one of you, my fellow club members.
The terrorist attacks on our country, our values, our system of government, and our people make this choice of our children all the more important. They are the instrument that will stamp "PAID IN FULL" on that invoice of hatred. Our support of their commitment has never been more important.
It is to this is task that we commit ourselves. With the help and support of each of you, the members of the club, we, the sum, will be greater than the parts, and will, individually and mutually, provide the support and occasional succor that our children will require in the course of this journey.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Grant and Margaret