Pentagon ceremony

Other than meeting Lexie, the other reason that Norma Jean, Pete and I were all here in Alexandria with Allison was to attend the Pentagon ceremony honoring her for becoming a Lt. Colonel in the Army. She paid for my ticket here using her Alaska Airlines miles; Norma Jean and Pete drove here from Florida, and today we participated in a very moving ceremony at the Pentagon, where Allison works.

As we entered the Pentagon to get our Visitor badges, I took this picture of BIL Pete and sister Norma Jean holding niece Allison's Class A jacket with Major oak leaves on it. These very same insignias belonged to our father, who was a Major in the Air Force. After Allison treated us to a wonderful lunch in the Pentagon dining room, we all gathered in her office for the ceremony, which was very touching, to tell you the truth.

The colleagues that Allison works with here in the Pentagon gathered on a Friday afternoon to honor her, with perhaps 30 of us there, along with her family. I met some really wonderful people. Allison also brought Lexie, and many of the women vied with each other to hold her during the ceremony.

General Farrisee spoke to us about Allison's achievements, how she was singled out to be the only person in her specialty to receive this promotion before her peers. After the General spoke to us about why Allison stood out from the crowd, Allison had arranged for the three family members to participate in the ceremony: Norma Jean and I removed our dad's Major leaves and replaced them with the silver Lt. Colonel leaves, while her father replaced the insignia on her Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and her beret. Then General Farrisee administered the Oath of Office, and I have to say I teared up and tried hard to keep from crying.

Then Allison, the newly minted Lt. Colonel, spoke to all of us about what it means to her. After this final part of the ceremony, everyone was invited to have cake and refreshments, and we all chatted with each other. Lois, a wonderful older woman who is the primary Executive Assistant to General Farrisee, expertly calmed Lexie. Allison received a handshake from all of her peers: a receiving line, if you will.

This picture of the family was taken by one of the soldiers: me, Pete, Allison and Lexie, and Norma Jean. Although I was dubious about this ceremony, I cannot tell you how honored I felt at the end of it to have been part of it and part of this family. Many times during this afternoon, I thought of my son Chris and how he would have loved to be here, and I was proud of him once again and his service, as well as my beautiful and accomplished niece, Allison.
:-)