Mom watches boy become a man

By Colleen O'Callaghan-Miele

Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008 | midnight

Colleen O'Callaghan-Miele

Wow! The day has come. Justin, my second eldest son, is enlisting in the U.S. Army.

As I write this column, I am filled with fear, heartache and an enormous amount of pride. I don't ever recall having such an array of emotions all at the same time. Is this what every mother experiences as she listens to the words, "Mom, I'm joining the military?"

As my son unveiled his newest adventure, these words were coming not from my little boy who was a quiet soul until the day he chose to speak at the age of 3 and, when he did speak, it was a full sentence. The little boy who was independent and was comfortable leading and following, a true team player. The little boy who always wanted his brothers to be the best they could and often set the tone with fun and laughter.

Yes, he was a jokester and usually at mom's expense — a slithering snake into my shower, convincing his friend David into dyeing his hair and eyebrows purple.

No, these words came from a man who no longer is a little boy.

So, where is my young man going from here?

His first journey is to basic training in Georgia, where he will learn to walk and talk (yeah, I thought I had already done that job. Apparently there is a mom way and the military way.)

In addition, he will learn to properly fold his clothes. Oh my gosh! Good luck on that one, drill sergeant. I have tried to teach him how to fold clothes since he was 6 years old.

He will learn to be part of a team (heck, he has been part of a squad for the last 26 years with five brothers).

Justin's next journey will be off to jump school. This one has the entire family shaking their heads. Justin hates to fly. His last flight was to bury Grandpa Chief in New Jersey, and we all took turns holding his hand.

Our question to him was, "So, Justin, you are going to jump out of an airplane?" His response to this was, "Well, I'll be OK. I'll have a perfectly good parachute."

His next goal is to qualify for something called HALO training. Apparently, there is an elite group of military jumpers who jump from the outer atmosphere and open their "perfectly good" parachutes at the lowest point possible.

Then its onto Justin's ultimate goal: to qualify and graduate from Ranger school.

Yes, I have found humor in sharing my son's story. So, I will add smiles and laughter to the bag of emotions that I have as I watch my little boy become my little Ranger.

Good luck, son. I'm proud of you as you begin your journey and continue your grandfather's legacy of love of country and of those who put their lives on the line to protect it.

I will keep the home fire burning and continue to fight for the rights of those of you who are serving our country now and for our veterans who have gone before you.

Colleen O’Callaghan-Miele, co-publisher of the News, can be reached at 990-2653 or colleen@vegas.com.