– Time For A Tiara: Column by Ginna Young – - I’ll never be prouder

– Time For A Tiara: Column by Ginna Young –

It’s that time of year again. No, not to hunt da turdy point buck. I mean graduation season.

Each year, I proudly watch the kids I’ve witnessed grow up, walk across the stage and accept their diploma.

Some are excited to see what the future holds, others are just glad to be done with school and still others are bored, waiting to bolt out the door, and shuck off that uncomfortable and unflattering robe.

These are “my kids,” what makes me get up in the morning and keeps my world spinning. Without them, I don’t know what my life would be.

Even after they graduate, I still see many of my kids frequently, whether they stay in the area or are back on vacation from school. Still others, I keep in contact with through Facebook, no matter how far they roam.

I’m always proud of them, as they see successes, and work their way through heartache and struggles. I watch as they get engaged, start a business, get a promotion, have kids of their own and sometimes, lose their own parents.

It’s incredible to watch these young adults give back to their community in some way, whether through food drives or clean-up initiatives, making the world a better place.

Yet, the most proud I’ll ever be, is when one of my kids gives their life over to serving their country. Some make the decision a few years after they finish high school, while others know as young as their junior year, what they’re committing to.

This year, my heart bursting with pride, I watched not one, but three of my kids enlist in the military. If I wasn’t so emotional over it, it’d be funny, because I had one each from Cadott, Cornell and Holcombe enlist, and they each chose a different branch to serve in. One is in the Army, one in the National Guard and one in the Air Force.

I’ve seen each of these kids excel in school – academically, athletically and musically, along with being a very popular part of the student body and they’ve made me proud because of all that. But this decision to serve their country, makes me the proudest of all of them.

While I am so proud I think I’ll bust, Memorial Day is also a sobering reminder, that these kids are literally putting their lives on the line every day. Even if they’re not in active duty overseas, many training accidents occur each year, and just by wearing that uniform, they’re a target for terrorists, radicals and apparently, those who have nothing better to do than stir up trouble.

Troops are also deployed when there are natural disasters, putting themselves in harm’s way of disease, injury and, if need be, death, to save someone else.

You can see why it’s emotional for me and for their families.

Despite all that, my feeling of pride overrides all. I hope my kids know that, but if they don’t, I hope everyone feels the same pride I do and tell the kids that, every chance they get. It’s the least we can do, when they’re sacrificing everything they have for us.

And please, remember, Memorial Day isn’t about cookouts and fun, it’s about honoring those who gave their lives, so you and I could have those cookouts.