An incredible weekend!

Friday we drove to Travis Air Force Base.  We had been invited to our nephew's pinning ceremony.  That would be Henry Hall Triplett III, aka Tres.  Tres was being promoted from Major to Lt. Colonel.  His father ( my brother) and mother flew in from Kentucky.  His wife, Casey, and their three children were there.  Other family present were Casey's Aunt; her cousin and husband, their two daughters;  and a cousin and her baby.  Many of Tres' squadron were there, several high ranking base officers, and some civilian workers.

The ceremony began with family escorted in, then the Color Guard marched in. The National Anthem was then played.  You have never experienced the Star Spangled Banner until you have heard it standing with 75 Air Force men and women.  I cried.  Most of them are so young and have been in the hell holes of the world protecting us.

The rest of ceremony told Tres' military history which was damn impressive.  I knew he was good, but he is better than I knew.  He has done the Air Force and the family proud. The best part was the actual pinning on of his Oak Leaf.  First they changed his rank on his coat epaulets, then they changed the ones on his shirt. Finally he was handed a new hat with his new rank on it.

After the ceremony his squadron put on a cookout for about 150 people that included Tres' family and their families.  Then we went home with Tres and had a Triplett reunion.  It was also Casey's 40th birthday.  The next day Casey and Tres left on a mini vacation and left their three children with the real grandparents and the pretend grandparents.

Below are some pictues from the ceremony.  The ceremony was held in the warehouse Tres is responsible for.  It is stocked with supplies that are needed when the Air Force takes supplies in for a crisis anywhere in the world.  This could be an earthquake, flood, hurricane, or a war zone.  Outside the warehouse are armor clad humvees and trucks, portable buildings, bulldozers, anything that they would need to survive on their own for four days.  That would be gasoline, water, food, everything. They have to be in the air within 12 hours from the time they receive the call they are needed.

From left Tres' parents, Ann Triplett, retired Lt. Colonel Henry H. Triplett, and Casey's Aunt Yvonne.

One aisle of the warehouse.  The blue on the right is a table for a small reception with cake, cookies, and punch.

             Tres on the right while the Color Guard marched in.

Casey and my brother pinning the Oak Leaf on Tres.  His son Hall, daughter Annabella, and his Mother wait their turn to pin.

Tres having his shirt rank changed.  Annabella had handed her Daddy his new hat.  As you can see she is a Daddy's girl.

                                           Tres taking his oath as a Lt. Colonel.

Tres thanking family and the military at the ceremony for their support.  He made a loving tribute to his wife Casey and how strong she has had to be.  Mitlitary spouses do not have an easy life.  They are mother and father.  They put their careers on hold as they move around the world.  My family thinks Casey is outstanding as a wife and mother.  And in her spare time she is a doctor.

We thank Lt. Colonel Triplett for his service and all the United States Military.