Veteran's Day!

I know, I know...I'm behind on the blog. I need to download pictures and post some new pics. Madeline has discovered her tongue and is smiling all the time now. She also rolled over, but I missed it. Boo.

At any rate, today is Veteran's Day and a year ago, I wrote the below post without Craig knowing it. He's a West Point graduate and I'm so proud of his service. Yes, I am a veteran too, but he served longer and in a much different capacity. I'm not diminishing my service, but he has inspired me.

Pics and a more detailed post coming soon - I promise!

Original post:

It's Veteran's Day! I wish Baylor got today off, but they don't, so I will be working. I will remember the veterans though.

So I call upon my blog readers to hug, smile to, thank or remember a veteran today. I'm gonna thank my husband.

Yes, this is Craig underwater welding. Intrigued yet?
Since I do the majority (ok, all) of the writing on this blog, and I know most of the readers are my friends, so they know me. So, how about a little about that man of mine...

He's the one on the left.
- He's a 1996 West Point graduate (yes, do the math and realize that he graduated college before I even graduated high school).

This is the day of his graduation. His mom (Gaby), new LT (Craig), junior cadet and brother (Jeff), dad (Jerry).
- He was walking off demerits almost up until the day of his graduation! But he did graduate.

I don't know when or where this picture was taken, but it's him and his West Point buddy, Greg Sovich. They got in a TON of trouble together and some of Craig's demerits could be attributed to Greg.
- He was in the Army Corps of Engineers Divers. Army Divers are a specialized sub-set of the Corps of Engineers responsible for underwater surveys, construction, and demolition. There are only about 150 in the Army and only eight or nine officers - and he was one of them. Basically, anything that happens underwater, up to 200 feet, they can handle.

Nice legs, Craig!
- His assignments took him to more than 10 states. His favorite assignment was in Panama City, Florida.
- He was a platoon leader and an executive officer during his military service.

This is another West Point picture. Jeff, Craig's younger brother, was also in the army. Thanks for serving, Jeff!
- He was a company commander for two years in Panama City. He commanded a 100-man training company responsible for initial and continuing training for all levels of Engineer Divers in the US Army. He rewrote army diving doctrine to reflect a more “mobile” force structure and modernized equipment for all active dive teams to increase capabilities. He was also hand-selected by the Chief of US Army Engineers to command on a Naval base and teach students for the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. Led a multi-service disaster recovery mission in support of the US Navy. Incidentally, this is the assignment where Craig and I met. Awww, love!

This is what a diver change of command looks like - it's UNDERWATER!!!!!!!! The most amazing change of command I ever attended was his - and I attended dozens.
I will tell you that this doesn't even begin to touch the scope of Craig's military career. I am constantly learning new things he was part of through his amazing stories. Thanks for serving, Craig!
Phew! I'm tired now! What a story!