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Home > Fellowship Plaza Apt. A202 |
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USAFA
While I am writing this, I am wearing a shirt that says USAFA in dark navy colored writing (the writing’s size is 2.5cm by 3.3cm by 7mm).
June of 1990, I remember sending my son to the airport to sending to the
Air Force Academy. Thought he had slightly longer hair and looked very young (from our point of view as the parents,), seeing our son going in the departure line, walking and waving at us, I cannot express what kind of feeling my wife and I had felt. I was glad that he wanted to pursue whatever he wanted, but still had doubts about if had the ability to protected the nation with all the toughest trainings and to see if he would be able to finish all the program. Our son used to do lots of sports during high school in different teams, and in middle school he did jujitsu and taekwondo during high school, he really had nothing much to offer besides his height, physique compared to others.
Our skinny, 17 year old son had left with a small bag – it has been already passed 26 years. Before the entrance ceremony after the basic trainings, there was an “Open House Meeting”. About 1,200 cadets’ parents and family members had gathered in front of a large podium and each student were called out one by one. My wife and I were so proud of our son passing the trials of toughest training and being in the entrance ceremony. When his name was finally called, we ran towards him, calling out his name to give him a hug. But when we arrived in front of him, he saluted like he had been trained, then took off his white glove to offer a handshake. He was just like a soldier. We were so glad to see his darkened skin and toughened body. After handshakes, we hugged, when I saw that when he hugged his mother, there were some tears in his eyes. I knew that it would’ve been the toughest training he had in his life while at such a young age.
During summer time he still had to do some training so he would stay with us for about a week or two then depart, but 4 years passed and my wife and I attended his graduation ceremony. The graduation was held in the football field in the military academy. There were so many people that had arrived to congratulate all the cadets from graduation. One by one, individual cadets were called by their name and given their diploma, then after saluting to the guests, they had all returned to their seats. After the graduation ceremony was over, all the cadets threw their hats in the air with a shout. On the sky there were some flying stunt team flying with a loud sound. The view was a spectacle.
After the graduation we arrived at the motel. Our son brought his things he had used during the school days and after staying with us for 2 days he had left to Texas to learn how to fly a fighter plane. Our son gave us his school uniform (which he wore for 4 years,), his cap along with a thick jacket that would protect his body temperature after exercise during winter time, and a summer time jacket. He said that I would be able to wear it since it was clean, and also he gave me his running shirt that he wore during physical exercise time. His company number and name was written in black. While I type this, I noticed that the name is still black and clear as ever.
Even though he had gone to learn how to fly, after short time, my son had succeeded in MCAT testing and had gone to study at Maryland that had cadets who would study to be surgeon. After more difficult studies he had graduated then went to professional difficulty of training – which he had succeeded and had become an ER doctor. He had taken part in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. After coming back, he had passed the Flying Surgeon test and had worked as a staff up till 3 years from this time. Then his duty had moved him to Ohio during which time he had studied to learn many more duties. Recently he was transferred to England and had left the country with his whole family. My son’s family now has 4 children; his oldest is going to be 12. How fast time flies…
The reason why I write this is whenever I walk with my wife early morning from spring to autumn; I wear the white shirt that my son gave me (that has the USAFA logo on it) along with a light jacket. I have done this for 22 years after my son had graduated as a cadet.
Most likely when you wear a cloth this long usually the cloth would tear and become ragged. But there has never been a patch or hole in this shirt. On the neck and arm area of the shirt there is a sturdy navy material on it, so it never stretches and would get dirty. The jacket also has the USAFA logo on it. The logo is light navy along with light blue color. I still wear it to this day.
I think he had received this uniform on his first year. After one year of training, he was much more muscular and had grown in weight. His size on the old jacket was about the same size as I currently wear. This would’ve been 26 years, along with wearing these 2 clothing for almost 23 years now, but still is new as ever. What is the key in its longevity?
There is no lengthy explanation. A good, sturdy material was used, and made with utter care. The neck and arm area had been reinforced with another piece. The fiber of the clothing and the stitching was all done extremely sturdy. I believe this was made with utter most honest way with great materials. When I read the newspaper about Korea, the military materials being sent always gets in some sort of scandal, and many of the tools used to defend Korea is being wasted by being almost worthless. It makes the nation’s money bleed to waste – a stark difference between United States and Korea.
The hat and uniform that my son wore for 4 years was sent to a laundry to be cleaned, and then sent to my daughter in law to be told it was my son’s. The shirt and the jackets my son had worn, I am saving them to tell my oldest grandson about the history of it. In about 5 years, my grandson would take flight and leave to study somewhere abroad…
I have nothing expansive to save as a family treasure. Nothing but the clothes that my son gave me that I wore nearly 30 years that has been the same. Something so priceless that I would pass it on to my grandson.
(August 15th, 2016)
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The pair of Geese that left… 
USAFA