PIR on 10/29/10---One of the proudest days of our lives

[MMB Sr.]

My son Michael graduated at Great Lakes on 10/29/10 with division 823 and has just moved to NTC for his BUD/S prep that will last until about Feb 2011. PIR was awesome, it was so great to see him after being away from him for two months. He is only 19 and it is the first time in his whole life that he has been away from the family for more than a week or so. My wife, my daughter and my sister-in-law(Michael's Godmother) all went out to Great Lakes last weekend from our homes on the East coast. We had such a wonderful time and none of us would have missed it for the world. While at the graduation ceremony I saw an officer, or maybe he was a chief who was wearing a Trident on his dress blues. I noticed it from almost 100 feet away, and it stood out like it was the sun! I had to go over and say "Good morning" to him, he congratulated me on my son's graduation as I congratulated him on his son's as well. That meeting was one of the highlights of my time at Great Lakes because I knew in my mind what kind of person it takes to earn the right to wear a Trident on your chest, I was in awe of him and I know in my heart that my son Michael has that quality in him and I am certain that he will wear the Trident proudly in the near future. God Bless all of our sons who are on their way to become U.S NAVY SEALS and to all our sons and daughters for their military service to our country, no matter which branch they choose to serve.

[Jerry M]

MMB, Good luck to your son! My youngest is in pre-BUD/S right now (he graduated Sep 24, Div 820) -- so perhaps they've crossed paths at Great Lakes by now. Your post really touched me -- because my oldest son is today a SEAL (he was Div 807, graduated Jan 2, 2009, and rec'd his Trident with SEAL Class 278 on Aug 6, 2010). Jerry M