Ann Kelley Photography: January 2009

Way to go Christian

Christian,
Congratulations for this very important milestone in your life.

On January 23, 2009, Christian graduated from the Navy Recruitment Center (better known as boot camp) in Great Lakes, IL. On Jan 27th he will be moving to Conn to start sub-school. He is going to be training as a sonor tech for a nuclear submarine among other things. His education will take around 1.5 years. During this time he will also be earning a two year associates degree. After training he will be stationed with the Western Fleet, meaning that he will end up in Hawaii, Washington or San Diego.

Christian is third generation to join the Navy. How things have changed since my father was assigned to an aircraft carrier, The USS Lexington. My father did experience WWII first handed. He was just outside of Pearl Harbor on Dec 7th 1941...now named Pearl Harbor Day. He was on the Lexington when it sank.

My brother was on the USS Constellation, also an aircraft carrier, from 67-72 fighting the war in Vietnam.

And yes, Christian can stand up straight, do his own laundry, fold his clothes, iron, make a bed, be on time, eat with exceptional manners, scrub a bathroom (that was his assigned duty)....most of all he has grown up and taken responsibility for his life as well as for all of yours by choosing to protect this great country.

The part that pleases me the most in his own words was, "Joining the Navy was the best choice I ever made."

He looked really happy and very proud that he was able to successfully complete such a tough job. Believe me they do not go easy on those kids...

From Ann Kelley Photography

The start of the ceremony

This is Freedom Hall where the graduation took place. As you can see from the snow the weather was very cold. It was around 10 degrees. Christian said that they made them march from one end of the base to the other when it was -30 degrees/-40 degrees with the wind chill factor.

Scot, Christian's Dad.

Flags from all the states are represented here.

The Navy band entertained us before the recruits/soon to be graduates came in.

The Ceremony

The recruits marching in. About 900 people in all. Around 20% didnt make it. 10% sent home and another 10% held back to graduate at another time. The recruits are given 12 months to prove themselves.

This is Christian's group, although he is not pictured because I could not find him. They all looked alike.

I thought these guys were special...they were, they were the ones who didnt earn graduation.

The Chaplin lead a prayer. Christian got really religious during the past eight weeks because it allowed him to be in a place of quiet. So on Fridays he became Jewish, then on Saturdays Muslin, on Sunday Catholic, Mormon, Christian and Baptist. I asked him if that was allowed and he said the Navy couldnt question his religious beliefs so yes he got to make the rounds each weekend.