Leslee BMT Graduation

I am an American. I love being an American. I enjoy having all the rights and freedoms that come with being an American. I have always stood tall and proud when our flag is presented and I get teary eyed whenever the "Star Spangled Banner" is played. But I have never had the same feeling of pride and devotion as when I attended the Air Force Basic Training Graduation. On Friday, February 5, Dad, Kody and I attended Leslee's BTG at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

These young men and women had just been through 8 1/2 weeks of grueling and intense training, stressing them physiologically, physical and mentally. I'm sure they were often lonely, homesick and exhausted. But through their personal focus, effort and team work they stood before family and friends full of confidence and pride. They had been transformed from civilians off the street into Airmen "fit to serve anywhere around the world, wearing the blue uniform of the most powerful Air Force in the world".

It was truly an awe inspiring and amazing scene to witness. We are so proud of Leslee for her decision to join the Air Force. She has shown such discipline and perserverence despite being away from her little family for so long. She is now at Sheppard Air Force Base for an additional 8 weeks at the Munitions Training School. We are so proud of you and love you, Les!

Her address is:

A1C Leslee A Williams, 9635, 527 I Avenue Unit 1866, Sheppard AFB, TX 76311-9999

I now have the honor of saying that I have two children in the Air Force, Scotty and Leslee. I also have one son-in-law, Kody who is security forces in the Air Force. My car bears the Air Force logo, and my prayers always include the men and women fighting for our freedoms all over the world and for their families who sacrifice for them to do so.

GO AIR FORCE!

Leslee and Kody, after 8 1/2 weeks apart. Pictures from Scotty's training in 2007:

Dad and I would like to believe that some of the motivation for Scotty and Leslee joining the Air Force came from their grandpa, Colonel Walter T. Stewart. Here he is being inducted into the

Utah Air Force Museum.

Excerpt from Leslee's letter dated 12-25-2009.

Merry Christmas! Got up at 4:30 am, but got to watch two movies which was cool, "4 Christmases" and "GI Joe". We even got a snack size bag of chips, crackers, a candy cane and orange soda. . . My flight is up for warrior flight, which is like the best in the squadron. We had our first drill evaluation and we received a 10 out of 10. Our brother flight got a 5. . . so yeah, pretty cool.

Song we sing while marching:

Momma momma look at me

Look what the Air Force done to me

I used to be a beauty queen

Now I shoot an M16

Wooohoooo, whooahhhh

Momma Momma look at me

Look what the Air Force done to me

I used to eat at MceDees

Now I'm eating MREs

Wooahhh, woaahhh

Momma Momma look at me

Look what the Air Force done to me

I used to drive a Cadillac

Now I'm marching there and back!

Hut, 2, 3, 4