This is mom and I at the retirment ceremony. It was a sad happy time. Mom received an award for her accomplishments. In fact it was a medal. It was all very nice. You can also see that i am addressing the troops with my classic hand pose. It was nice. We had root beer, pizza, ice cream and apple pie. The root beer was in glass bottles, very classy.

My assistant made me a beautiful stain glass cross in a mahogany frame. He also made mom a stained glass turtle. Mom was impressed with the artwork. It was all quite nice. It was an exhausting day. Saying goodbye is not easy. After almost 25 years, it all came back to perspective as I stood there and tried to talk. I must have stood there for about 15 seconds before I said anything. I was trying to control my emotions. I said things like its the assignments that help you grow and its the people that lets you serve. I was grateful for the opportunity that I had to serve God and Country.