Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Graduation and back home.
Glenn Hutchings...we've got some roads to ride when you get out this way.
Glenn Riddle...get that knee healed up. when you decide to come back and finish the YBR, don't forget to give me a shout. I'll go back and run it with you.
Stevie DeMarco...thanks to you and your wife for going out of your way to get those shirts. And thanks for waking me up in Philly.
Marc and the "7th Floor Mafia"...you guys are hilarious.
Brian Johnson...congrats on your promotion. I'm sure I''ll see you sometime in Nashville.
And to the rest of my classmates, especially Section 2...its been a pleasure. You all are great!
To my instructors: Paul Bertrand, Ken Myers, Buddy McGinnis, Bob May, Lt. Col. Jim Vance, and Kevin Chimento. Thank you!
To my family, friends, and colleagues who encouraged me and supported me and never lost faith in me...Thank you so much. I couldn't have done this without you.
I'm back to work now, packing up my office, planning the transition back to Patrol as a Lieutenant, and preparing for the next challenges that the job and life bring me.
So that's it. This blog is officially done. Thanks to all of you who followed and offered advice and encouragement.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Marine One
Graduation practice is in the morning. After that, we're pretty much free until graduation Friday morning. Thursday is Family Day with a couple of planned activities. It looks like I'm going to have a pretty good size cheering section for me on Friday. In addition to my family, I've got two Captains, one Lieutenant, and two of my Detectives coming to make sure that I actually was here and not somewhere else taking an eleven week vacation. I wish a couple of other people could be here as well but I guess I'm lucking to have people coming. Some of my classmates, especially some of the International Students, don't have anyone coming to see them graduate.
Almost done!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Graduation Week
This morning was also my final fitness assessment. We had an assessment when we first started 10 weeks ago and this was to see if there was any improvement in our overall strength, endurance, and health. Officially, I lost 9.3 pounds, 1/4 on my waist, body fat percentage went from 18 to 15, grip strength increased, push ups went up by 11, plank time increased by 1:00, and my 1.5 mile time deceased by 56 seconds. Afterwards, we were presented with our bricks.
This past weekend, it was back to DC for some more sightseeing. First stop was The Pentagon Memorial. I got to see the indoor memorial when we had our tour of The Pentagon several weeks ago but didn't get to see the outdoor memorial.
The Memorial starts with the youngest victim, in this case, a three year old girl, and move chronologically to the oldest victim. The way it is laid out, it also runs in the same direction as the plane when it struck The Pentagon.
Also went to Arlington National Cemetery. I have always seen pictures in books and on TV and films but, until you actually go there and see the grave markers, you just cannot comprehend it. I also made it in-time to see the Changing of The Guard at the Tomb of The Unknowns. Talk about something that is impressive and powerful, this is it. The Guard is changed every hour, on the hour. Its a must see.
Graduation practice is Wednesday. Thursday is the NA Family Luncheon and Thursday night is The Social. Friday morning at 10:00 is graduation. First thing first...Forensics final tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Yellow Brick Road
Today was the day we've all been waiting for...our Yellow Brick Road challenge run. I have to say that we've been lucky the entire time we've been here. We've always had good weather for our challenges. With that being said, today's weather sucked! Rainy and cold. And it only rained more and got colder as the day went on. The trail was nothing but mud by the my group started. Sorry guys...no pics from me on this one. Couldn't risk ruining the camera and I wasn't smart enough to think about buying a waterproof disposable one. My bad. There were a few reports of injury and I think they actually had to med evac one out but for the most part, everybody came out okay and everybody had fun.
Right now, I'm in the basement of the Madison dorm doing laundry and trying to salvage my shoes and clothes that I wore. So is everyone else...that's why I'm at Madison. A lot of people just gave up on their shoes and clothes and just trashed them. I'm going to at least try to save them.
Just two days of class this week and two next week before we're finished. Graduation practice on Wednesday, graduation on Friday morning. When we started, I thought it would never get here. Now that its here, its like where did the time go?
For those of you who know me, you know that I'm about as techno stupid as they come. I just figured out how to do this post from my phone so I've been writing this while waiting on my laundry. Laundry (round 1) is done now so I guess this post is too.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Week #10
On Saturday, a group of us went up to DC to the National Museum of American History and also to some of the monuments. This was my first visit to the Vietnam War Memorial.
You don't realize how many lives were lost during that war until you actually see "The Wall" and all the names etched on it. I know that many lives have been lost during all of the wars but this memorial really puts its into perspective. I encourage everyone to visit all of the war memorials and remember the servicemen and women who gave their lives for our country so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have.
The final tally was posted from the Silent Auction. The 247th set the record with over $21,000 raised. $13,000 will be donated to COPS Kids and $8,000 will be donated to the Law Enforcement Memorial Building Fund.