Hi! I hope that you're all doing well. I got an email from Jenn today and thought that I would share the wonderful news. Take care of yourselves....I love ya'll!
EMail from Jenn:
Hey everybody...No, I am not prego, but we are gettin' the h--- outta Del Rio. I am sorrythat we have fallen of off the face of the earth lately, but life has beensuper hectic. Paul's entire Air Force career was determined last night,Drop Night.
Drop Night, is the one night at the end of pilot training where each pilotfinds out what plane they will be flying, which ultimately determines theirmissions, and what base they will be stationed at next. The instructors getup in front of everyone and tell stories and make fun of all of the stupidthings that the pilot's did during piliot training and everyone begins totap the kegs. It is the best party of the year.
So, I guess you are wondering what we got!...Well, we are moving to Fairfield, California to fly the KC-10 at Travis AFB. Each pilot had to rank the 18 planes and bases according to theirpreference. They of course try to give each pilot one of their top choices,but it all depends on how each pilot is ranked in the class. I am so proudof how hard Paul has worked this past year and yesterday we found out thathe was ranked 1st out of all of the active duty pilot's and 2nd out of allof the pilots. It is a huge accomplishment for him, especially since theone Guard/Reserve pilot that is ranked ahead of him came into training withover 1400 flying hours and Paul came in with only 44 hours. Needless tosay, Paul got his first choice of plane and base. When they announced it,all of the pilots were so excited for Paul...they all ran up and piled ontop of him. I started to cry happy tears...I was so excited!
Fairfield is in Nothern California, only 30 min from Sacramento, 1.5 hrsfrom San Francisco, 1.5 hrs from camping, 2 hrs from Lake Tahoe, close toNapa Valley, 1.5 hrs from the beach and 3 hrs from Las Vegas. Ya'll willhave to come visit! We will probably leave within the next 6-8 wks and wewill be in Cali for 3-4 years. Paul will only be deployed 3-4 months out ofeach year and then just fly weekly missions every so often.Okay, I will quit bragging about my hubby and how proud I am of him. I amjust thrilled that we will be moving some place that has a mall!Love always, Jenn
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
???
Ok, so i was under the impression Chad had left land and was
underwater, until he called me this morning around 6:30. He may be on
land for another day, or he may be leaving shortly, either way, if you
were thinking of emaling him, now is a good time. Even after he gets
off land he will be able to check his emails for another few days
until they go on silence again.
underwater, until he called me this morning around 6:30. He may be on
land for another day, or he may be leaving shortly, either way, if you
were thinking of emaling him, now is a good time. Even after he gets
off land he will be able to check his emails for another few days
until they go on silence again.
Just wanted to let you all know... but generally he is safe and sound!
sorry...hope you enjoy my regular blog posting
Now I just have to figure a way to get it to the other blog! Uggh.
Lent Lily, Blue Roman Hyacinth, 'Golden Harvest', Spider Web
Busy days yesterday and today, but I know you all might enjoy some pictures from the farm. We have released the next botanical print in our series of drawings by Ann Swan. Be sure to check them out at www.southernbulbs.com.
It was a foggy morning yesterday morning with a lot of dew on the ground, and the water made for some really great pictures. This first one below is a crocus we have blooming in the field.
This Lent lily is keeping a strong stalk even when loaded down with water.
Our blue Roman hyacinths continue to shoot up bloom stalks. The whites are nearly almost done now.
Lent lilies (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) often make nice drifts of traditional daffodil color and form.
The light behind this Narcissus casts some nice shadows on the tepals.
This spider decided to make a web in some of our white rain lilies (Zephyranthes candida).
Fischer and this daffodil both look to the sun for some warmth.
It was a foggy morning yesterday morning with a lot of dew on the ground, and the water made for some really great pictures. This first one below is a crocus we have blooming in the field.
This Lent lily is keeping a strong stalk even when loaded down with water.
Our blue Roman hyacinths continue to shoot up bloom stalks. The whites are nearly almost done now.
Lent lilies (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) often make nice drifts of traditional daffodil color and form.
The light behind this Narcissus casts some nice shadows on the tepals.
This spider decided to make a web in some of our white rain lilies (Zephyranthes candida).Fischer and this daffodil both look to the sun for some warmth.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Chad Update 02.21.07
hello again!
i hope everyone is doing well... i just thought id updated everyone
with the little, but new information i have...
so chad left tokyo about 2 weeks ago... but ended up in another city
in japan for a few days this week while they were fixing some things.
he sounds good... though he says he's ready to come home.
at this point i believe he will be home somewhere around 6-11 days
before his birthday... so a little later than originally scheduled.
other than that, he will have email for the next few days on the boat
- i'm sure he would love to hear from you all... and will most likely
be at port again around the 18th or so of march for a few days...
not much new, but i thought i'd let you know.
Stefanie!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Chad Update 02.04.07
Hi Again -
I just wanted to let everyone know that Chad is safely on land,
probably for the remainder of this week. I spoke to him on the phone
a couple times and i know he will call again.
He sounds good... other than he says he's ready to come home... but
he's always looking at the bright side of things... they got into port
in time to watch the superbowl so they're having a party and i think
they'll have some fun which is good.
While he's at port, he will also be checking his regular gmail account
so if you wanted to send him anything there, it might be faster than
through the navy... but again that will be just till the end of the
week... then back to the navy email. I'm sure he'd love to hear from
anyone who's not me... lol i send MANY emails every day... someone
else would probably be a welcomed change.
Anyway, not too much news... but if you have any questions you can
always email me!
I hope everyone is having a great weekend... and enjoying Superbowl
Sunday! I know Chad would much prefer to be watching it with you guys
than where he is!
Love to all...
Stefanie
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Chad Update : 01.30.07
Hi Guys -
Well i have received a few emails from Chad in the last couple of
days. it sounds like he is doing well... he is definitely working his
butt off to the point where i'm not sure he sleeps... but he tells me
things are as good as they can be down there.... so i guess that's the
best we can ask for.
He says some of the higher ranking officers have noticed that he has
been working hard which is really important so that's good too.
I had planned to meet there boat in the next week or so, but their
route was changed and that will no longer be possible.
in a few days i believe they will be on land however, so he may have
more time to email and i am hoping to get a phone call when he gets a
chance.
sadly, due to the change in schedule they will be arrived in the
middle of april, about 2 weeks later than originally planned.
that's all i've got for now, i will keep everyone posted when i hear
more... and as always, feel free to email me if you have any
questions!!
i hope everyone is doing well!
Love,
Stefanie : )
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Troop Care Packages
Hi! Hope that everything is going well. I need your help with something, please! My sister is involved in Student Council at her high school. They are wanting to put together care packages for troops in Iraq or elsewhere. I thought it would be so cool if they could be sent to someone we know! How do we go about doing this? What do you want or need? What are the restrictions? Any advice? Can you provide details and a shipping address? THANK YOU so much. I really support this project and hope that you all can be the fine, Aggie men to receive such a wonderful gift. Let me know what you know. Love ya'll!
Sarah Shalley
www.sarahshalley.photoreflect.com
Wedding pictures will be up soon (we hope) at www.capturedbylyns.photoreflect.com
Sarah Shalley
www.sarahshalley.photoreflect.com
Wedding pictures will be up soon (we hope) at www.capturedbylyns.photoreflect.com
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Update on Sean
Here's an update on Sean....
He is currently on the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower. He is just on the carrier temporarily (about a month total...1 or 2 more weeks to go) as a liason officer. He likes being on the carrier, as it is bigger and therefore a lot more accommodating than the Anzio (a cruiser), and also he really enjoys the work he is doing. However, he will be happy to get back to the Anzio when that time comes, as he has all his "stuff" there (he could only take what he could carry with him on the helicopter ride over to the Ike) and it just feels a little more like home. His Anzio email is forwarded to his email account on the carrier, so that address is good no matter where he is. Also, I found out yesterday that his deployment got extended 3 weeks :( It is part of President Bush's plan to increase the troops...He wants 2 carriers (therefore 2 strike groups) in the Persian Gulf at all times now. Sooo, he'll get home at the end of May rather than the beginning of May. That makes the deployment almost 8 months instead of 7. It's a bummer, but not as bad as it could be so I'm thankful for that! Plus, Sean sounds pretty positive about it--they are doing a great job and making progress in the war on terror, so that makes it worth it. Hopefully we'll get to see everyone shortly after he returns...I know he'll be ready to see all of you! In the meantime, send him an email and let him know what's going on in your life...I'm sure he'd love to hear from everyone! (And of course I would, too!)
I'll continue to live with my parents here in TX until I move back to Virginia, which will probably be around the beginning of May. Let me know if you're ever passing through the thriving metropolis of San Saba, TX ... A visit would be greatly appreciated, as it gets a little boring here at times! My cell phone number is 757-412-9618. Take care, and I hope to see yall soon!
Love,
Shayna
He is currently on the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower. He is just on the carrier temporarily (about a month total...1 or 2 more weeks to go) as a liason officer. He likes being on the carrier, as it is bigger and therefore a lot more accommodating than the Anzio (a cruiser), and also he really enjoys the work he is doing. However, he will be happy to get back to the Anzio when that time comes, as he has all his "stuff" there (he could only take what he could carry with him on the helicopter ride over to the Ike) and it just feels a little more like home. His Anzio email is forwarded to his email account on the carrier, so that address is good no matter where he is. Also, I found out yesterday that his deployment got extended 3 weeks :( It is part of President Bush's plan to increase the troops...He wants 2 carriers (therefore 2 strike groups) in the Persian Gulf at all times now. Sooo, he'll get home at the end of May rather than the beginning of May. That makes the deployment almost 8 months instead of 7. It's a bummer, but not as bad as it could be so I'm thankful for that! Plus, Sean sounds pretty positive about it--they are doing a great job and making progress in the war on terror, so that makes it worth it. Hopefully we'll get to see everyone shortly after he returns...I know he'll be ready to see all of you! In the meantime, send him an email and let him know what's going on in your life...I'm sure he'd love to hear from everyone! (And of course I would, too!)
I'll continue to live with my parents here in TX until I move back to Virginia, which will probably be around the beginning of May. Let me know if you're ever passing through the thriving metropolis of San Saba, TX ... A visit would be greatly appreciated, as it gets a little boring here at times! My cell phone number is 757-412-9618. Take care, and I hope to see yall soon!
Love,
Shayna
Friday, January 05, 2007
Chad Update #2
Hello again...
i just thought i'd let everyone know, i got an email from Chad... he
is out on the sub but will probably be able to read his emails for the
next couple of days yet.
he is very busy, working hard trying to qualify for a bunch of
different positions. he's making some friends and learning who to
steer clear of he says.
so i think he's enjoying himself as much as he can... and i know he
misses all of you guys.
i don't know when i will hear from him again but i will let you know.
I hope life is good for everyone down in Texas. And as always, feel
free to email me at any time if there is anything i can help you with.
~Stefanie
Monday, January 01, 2007
Chad Update
So the first update i have on Chad is that he was in Japan for the
last week - doing some work and having some fun... he did get to take
a trip to Tokyo and see some sites and i got to talk to him on the
phone a few times.
as of now however, i believe the sub has left or will be doing so VERY
soon. He will check his emails as soon as he can, the sub has to
surface in order for them to do that.
as far as i could tell he was doing well and working hard! I probably
won't here from him for 3 or 4 weeks but i will post an update as soon
as i do.
Hope everyone had a great new year and i wish everyone all the best for 2007!
Love,
Stefanie
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Hi : )
Hey Guys and Girls -
I'm not sure if this will work because i haven't mastered this whole
blogging thing yet... and i think i accidentally posted it as a
comment somewhere... so if it shows up in two places im sorry - but
anyway i just wanted to say if anyone needs any information or wants
to email or send mail to chad PLEASE feel free to email me and i will
be glad to give out all the information i have.
i'm sure he'd love to hear from you while he's gone and i know he
misses you all!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas...
HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR!!
-Stefanie
Saturday, December 09, 2006
OK...for all of you who missed the preparty (aka tonight...) I will give directions for tomorrow night--because it's going to be one freakin' happhy Christmas.
Tonight Ben had his womnan here. She's a cool girl--GO BENNNN!!!! She should be here tomorroe night too!!!!
From Greenville (Matt-I don't have cell service at the land and never will b/c this is East Texas)--hit Greenville from McKinney and go south on Highway 69. After Alba you will see a Chevron station on the left and a sign for Golden on the right. Keep going straight and you hit the farm(4020 US 69 across from Smith Produce...a non descript little culvert) or take a left down FM 779 and you will see the cabin eventually on the right at the bottom of a big hill--where Olk' Red was hit last year---this party should be in dedication to him.
From Dallas--take IH 635 South/East until you hit HWY. 80 towards Terell. Stay on HWY. 80 (you have to take a right to stay on before Terell) until you go through Grand Saline. Right after this terrible town you will see FM 1799. Go north until you hit Golden and you will see FM 779. Take a right which will take you to US Highway 69. Take a right to get to the farm (4020 US 69 just about 30 seconds down the road on the left) or go straight pass the Chevron station down 779 until you go down a big hill and see the littler red cabin on the right.
FROM HOUSTON: WARNING!!!!! ONCE north of Kingwoood there will NOT, I REPEAT NOT, be another place to buy alcohol before reaching the land. Go north on 59 until you hit Lufkin. Take a right on the loop and hit 69 North. Stay on 69 through Tyler and Mineola. The farm is about 6 minutes north of Mineola on the right at 4020 US 69 North. To get to the cabin, go abuot 30 seconds more until you hit FM 779 before the Chevron station. Go right and follow the road until you go down a big hill after a baptist church. We are on the right.
Bring friends, shotguns, and alcohol!!!! It's going to be a big bonfire and a verry verry Merry CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tonight Ben had his womnan here. She's a cool girl--GO BENNNN!!!! She should be here tomorroe night too!!!!
From Greenville (Matt-I don't have cell service at the land and never will b/c this is East Texas)--hit Greenville from McKinney and go south on Highway 69. After Alba you will see a Chevron station on the left and a sign for Golden on the right. Keep going straight and you hit the farm(4020 US 69 across from Smith Produce...a non descript little culvert) or take a left down FM 779 and you will see the cabin eventually on the right at the bottom of a big hill--where Olk' Red was hit last year---this party should be in dedication to him.
From Dallas--take IH 635 South/East until you hit HWY. 80 towards Terell. Stay on HWY. 80 (you have to take a right to stay on before Terell) until you go through Grand Saline. Right after this terrible town you will see FM 1799. Go north until you hit Golden and you will see FM 779. Take a right which will take you to US Highway 69. Take a right to get to the farm (4020 US 69 just about 30 seconds down the road on the left) or go straight pass the Chevron station down 779 until you go down a big hill and see the littler red cabin on the right.
FROM HOUSTON: WARNING!!!!! ONCE north of Kingwoood there will NOT, I REPEAT NOT, be another place to buy alcohol before reaching the land. Go north on 59 until you hit Lufkin. Take a right on the loop and hit 69 North. Stay on 69 through Tyler and Mineola. The farm is about 6 minutes north of Mineola on the right at 4020 US 69 North. To get to the cabin, go abuot 30 seconds more until you hit FM 779 before the Chevron station. Go right and follow the road until you go down a big hill after a baptist church. We are on the right.
Bring friends, shotguns, and alcohol!!!! It's going to be a big bonfire and a verry verry Merry CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
This Saturday
Well it should be fun. I think the theme is "Creative Christmas Drinks." The only one I know is the egg nog recipe Lloyd and I perfected on South Padre this last weekend as we put up his Christmas Tree. Ol' Lady Harper has some fun people in his life...be sure to ask him about the newest arrivals! Go Ol' Lady.
There will probably be a very large bonfire with all the wood leftover from the harvest of many of trees. My brother and his wife will be coming driving through from Atlanta. It will probably be cold so come prepared!
There will probably be a very large bonfire with all the wood leftover from the harvest of many of trees. My brother and his wife will be coming driving through from Atlanta. It will probably be cold so come prepared!
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Bonfire in East Texas
Well it is that time of year again. When it gets a little colder and Christmas is near, and the boys from C-2 descend on a little farm in east Texas for a little drink and a little fire and a whole lot of fun.
From what I understand the festivities are set for Saturday night. We would love to see everyone there. Bring your tents, warm clothes, alcohol and a party attitude.
If you need directions let me know and I will get them to you. If you want to ride with someone I know there will be cars leaving from Dallas and College Station for sure. Post free capacity here and we will get anyone there that just wants to ride.
More details to follow.
Your resident geek,
Jonathan
From what I understand the festivities are set for Saturday night. We would love to see everyone there. Bring your tents, warm clothes, alcohol and a party attitude.
If you need directions let me know and I will get them to you. If you want to ride with someone I know there will be cars leaving from Dallas and College Station for sure. Post free capacity here and we will get anyone there that just wants to ride.
More details to follow.
Your resident geek,
Jonathan
Monday, November 27, 2006
Need ChadO's Address
ChadO, I need your address please! I sent ya some mail and it came back returned. : (
THANK YOU. Miss you and love you!
*Hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We're scattered all over the Earth right now...BUT I want you to know that I am so thankful for our friendships and that we remain close and in contact. OH, and I'm super thankful that the AGS BTHO tu!! WHOOP!
Love ya'll.
-Sarah
THANK YOU. Miss you and love you!
*Hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We're scattered all over the Earth right now...BUT I want you to know that I am so thankful for our friendships and that we remain close and in contact. OH, and I'm super thankful that the AGS BTHO tu!! WHOOP!
Love ya'll.
-Sarah
Monday, November 06, 2006
A note from Sean
It is good to hear from you. I won't be back in Texas for a while. I
am currently about a month into a seven month deployment here in the
Middle East. We are just here riding shotgun with the USS Dwight D.
Eisenhower (Aircraft Carrier). I should be back in May. I should get a
couple of weeks leave when we get back and you better believe I will be
making a trip back to Texas.
I hope that everything is going well for everyone back there. If you
talk to any of our buddies give them my best. I hope that the business
is booming for you guys up in East Texas. I can't wait to get back to
the greatest place on earth (Texas). Traveling the world makes you
realize just how great things are back in the states and more
importantly Texas.
So far things are going great over here. It has been busy but the time
is flying by. We stopped in Naples, Italy and Tivat, Montenegro on the
way over here. Naples is NICE but we took the train up to Rome
for a few days and had a great time up there. Montenegro was
surprisingly a great time. They just gained their independence from
Serbia a few months ago and I was expecting to see bombed out buildings
everywhere following the war in the Balkans a few years back. To our
surprise it was quite the opposite. The people there are great and it
is very cheap. You can get a beer for less that 1 Euro. While we were
there we hosted a reception for their President and many
ambassadors.
Well take it easy and drop me a line when you get a chance. It is
always good to hear how things are going back home.
Sean
am currently about a month into a seven month deployment here in the
Middle East. We are just here riding shotgun with the USS Dwight D.
Eisenhower (Aircraft Carrier). I should be back in May. I should get a
couple of weeks leave when we get back and you better believe I will be
making a trip back to Texas.
I hope that everything is going well for everyone back there. If you
talk to any of our buddies give them my best. I hope that the business
is booming for you guys up in East Texas. I can't wait to get back to
the greatest place on earth (Texas). Traveling the world makes you
realize just how great things are back in the states and more
importantly Texas.
So far things are going great over here. It has been busy but the time
is flying by. We stopped in Naples, Italy and Tivat, Montenegro on the
way over here. Naples is NICE but we took the train up to Rome
for a few days and had a great time up there. Montenegro was
surprisingly a great time. They just gained their independence from
Serbia a few months ago and I was expecting to see bombed out buildings
everywhere following the war in the Balkans a few years back. To our
surprise it was quite the opposite. The people there are great and it
is very cheap. You can get a beer for less that 1 Euro. While we were
there we hosted a reception for their President and many
ambassadors.
Well take it easy and drop me a line when you get a chance. It is
always good to hear how things are going back home.
Sean
Friday, October 13, 2006
Sad News of the Corps
This is worth reading:
For all Ags and Ags at heart:
Today, the commandant of the Corps handed down a direct order that no upperclassmen shall wear a Band Lyre or Corps Brass insignia on their uniform. Appearently, this is because of a fish parent who has complained directly to President Gates, and Governor Rick Perry about a video on her cadet's outfit website. The video covered a whipout party. For those not following this, her son was videotaped shaking hands with upperclassmen, in order to meet them. I will admit that this is done in a rather intense fashion, but it is nothing compared to other things that go on out in the
open for all the world to see, such as smoking, or crap outs as the old ags call them.
For those of you who are familiar with the Facebook, several groups have been created to protest the decision, but we have been told by members of Corps staff that we should not join, or leave these groups, because the Commandant's staff likes to use facebook to police cadet behavior and the consequences maybe unknown.
Right now, anyone found to be wearing the prohibited brass with receive two automatic restricted weekends, and threats have been made that all chains of command will be held responsible for the noncompliance of subordinates. This is something a Q pisshead put together. I have encouraged him to send it to the Battalion, which will probably get me into as much trouble as he. "In the corps of cadets there are certain things you earn in your corps career. The CT's it's corps brass and to BQ's it's the band lyre... When you receive this piece of your uniform, you are told that it can never be taken away from you. Also stated in the standard (rules and regulation of the corps) and the cadence, it states that the band lyre is the most important
piece a Q can attain while a member of the corps. Through certain circumstances, the commandant of the corps has decided or at least been the messenger of ALL outfits whether guilty or not to remove these pieces of brass from their uniforms and they are not to be worn until further notice. Also, outfit guidons will be rolled where the field is not visible. This is a direct attack on everything we have worked hard for and everything we have come to have extreme pride in. They didn't take away a piece of shiny metal, but a symbol, that shows family, belonging, and unity. They didn't take away a flag, but our right to represent our respective outfits. This decision whoever it may have come down from is a stab to the chest of the corps and
strikes deep in its heart. So to whoever the parent or person in upper management is that decided this, thank you for taking away from the corps experience and bringing the corps one step closer to extinction."
What makes this so sad, is that freshmen cadets in the corps are about 18 years of age. Legal adults. If you can not handle the situation that you have volunteered to be a part of, you have no place in the Corps. Hazing is unacceptable behavior, and as such should be punished, but cadets coming into the corps must understand that respect can be gained by standing up for themselves and making an effort to fit into the environment. They must also learn to respect the traditions that the Corps holds dear. These include meeting upperlcassmen, and earning your place in the Corps.
Recently the Corps has been making great steps in recruiting freshmen, but at what cost? When the Roman republic began to crumble, they were forced to swell their army's ranks with mercenaries and the unqualified, just to protect their home city. They also offered lighter duty, and faster promotion. We all know what happened to the Romans. What can we expect to happen to the Corps? Perhaps sacrifices in number can be made up for by the quality of person the Corps turns out.
Please pass this around to all the old ags that you know, and help the current cadets take back something that they spent blood, sweat and tears earning. The Corps is a student organization, no one should be able to take it from us.The brass we earned is ours and no one should deny us the right to wear it. It is what sets us apart from those who were not up to the challenge.
Per Unitatem Vis, through unity strength,
Cody Leigh Powell
A-Battery Class of 2008
For all Ags and Ags at heart:
Today, the commandant of the Corps handed down a direct order that no upperclassmen shall wear a Band Lyre or Corps Brass insignia on their uniform. Appearently, this is because of a fish parent who has complained directly to President Gates, and Governor Rick Perry about a video on her cadet's outfit website. The video covered a whipout party. For those not following this, her son was videotaped shaking hands with upperclassmen, in order to meet them. I will admit that this is done in a rather intense fashion, but it is nothing compared to other things that go on out in the
open for all the world to see, such as smoking, or crap outs as the old ags call them.
For those of you who are familiar with the Facebook, several groups have been created to protest the decision, but we have been told by members of Corps staff that we should not join, or leave these groups, because the Commandant's staff likes to use facebook to police cadet behavior and the consequences maybe unknown.
Right now, anyone found to be wearing the prohibited brass with receive two automatic restricted weekends, and threats have been made that all chains of command will be held responsible for the noncompliance of subordinates. This is something a Q pisshead put together. I have encouraged him to send it to the Battalion, which will probably get me into as much trouble as he. "In the corps of cadets there are certain things you earn in your corps career. The CT's it's corps brass and to BQ's it's the band lyre... When you receive this piece of your uniform, you are told that it can never be taken away from you. Also stated in the standard (rules and regulation of the corps) and the cadence, it states that the band lyre is the most important
piece a Q can attain while a member of the corps. Through certain circumstances, the commandant of the corps has decided or at least been the messenger of ALL outfits whether guilty or not to remove these pieces of brass from their uniforms and they are not to be worn until further notice. Also, outfit guidons will be rolled where the field is not visible. This is a direct attack on everything we have worked hard for and everything we have come to have extreme pride in. They didn't take away a piece of shiny metal, but a symbol, that shows family, belonging, and unity. They didn't take away a flag, but our right to represent our respective outfits. This decision whoever it may have come down from is a stab to the chest of the corps and
strikes deep in its heart. So to whoever the parent or person in upper management is that decided this, thank you for taking away from the corps experience and bringing the corps one step closer to extinction."
What makes this so sad, is that freshmen cadets in the corps are about 18 years of age. Legal adults. If you can not handle the situation that you have volunteered to be a part of, you have no place in the Corps. Hazing is unacceptable behavior, and as such should be punished, but cadets coming into the corps must understand that respect can be gained by standing up for themselves and making an effort to fit into the environment. They must also learn to respect the traditions that the Corps holds dear. These include meeting upperlcassmen, and earning your place in the Corps.
Recently the Corps has been making great steps in recruiting freshmen, but at what cost? When the Roman republic began to crumble, they were forced to swell their army's ranks with mercenaries and the unqualified, just to protect their home city. They also offered lighter duty, and faster promotion. We all know what happened to the Romans. What can we expect to happen to the Corps? Perhaps sacrifices in number can be made up for by the quality of person the Corps turns out.
Please pass this around to all the old ags that you know, and help the current cadets take back something that they spent blood, sweat and tears earning. The Corps is a student organization, no one should be able to take it from us.The brass we earned is ours and no one should deny us the right to wear it. It is what sets us apart from those who were not up to the challenge.
Per Unitatem Vis, through unity strength,
Cody Leigh Powell
A-Battery Class of 2008
Thursday, September 14, 2006
News from "The Farm"
Hey Gang,
Just a quick news flash. Erin and I will be in College Station next week Sept 18-24! We originally planned to fly down on Thursday and stay through the weekend for the football game. Now Rockwell has asked Erin to help recruit at the career fair on Monday, so she will get in town on Monday and I'll be joining her on Thursday. Post a comment if you will be close and want to hang out.
Later,
Brinson and Erin
Just a quick news flash. Erin and I will be in College Station next week Sept 18-24! We originally planned to fly down on Thursday and stay through the weekend for the football game. Now Rockwell has asked Erin to help recruit at the career fair on Monday, so she will get in town on Monday and I'll be joining her on Thursday. Post a comment if you will be close and want to hang out.
Later,
Brinson and Erin
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
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