ROTC

Windhorse Salutes

U.S. Army ROTC Cadets

Especially Our Frank

He stands like quiet thunder

These are young wo/men on a mission...they are seriously pursuing a career with a purpose for protecting family, friends, community and country.

They have come to speak vows and walk their talk. Over these years Frank has shown me a side of the military I didn't realize could be. He studies, goes out on bivwack (do they still call it that?) excels at everything he tries and...has FUN doing it!

proud siblings

Task Force Thundering Pride!

Tuck that chin in, Soldier!

It's not all work and no play...especially for one who can use imagination.

For the second year in a row, Frank has assisted in the sending of trees to the troops in Iraq:

hmmmm...perks do come with serving!

Grandparents Theresa and Nick came out for the occasion. Nick also served our country as a Sailor just after the Korean War.

Many people of all ages and walks of life came in support of our troops in Iraq. May our men and women be safe and have a semblance of a Peaceful Christmas.

Frank and his proud parents after Awards Ceremony in May, 2011.

Frank serves in other ways, too. Here he runs for cancer awareness:

and finishes in record time! His Aunt Julie came in around the same time! But that's not enough for our Renaissance Man!

In 2011 he charged himself with running in full gear. He walked the last half, and how many would have been able to complete such a task? Pictures are below.

Frank is a Renaissance Man! I knew it when he was a small child...at around age two he could tell you every car, its color and model! From his car seat when I was driving while babysitting him, he said, "Nana! Lotus!" "What's a Lotus, Frankie?" I asked him..."That red car!" he answered. "DOHHH..." I thought...this kid knows more than I, and he's still a toddler!! He and his brother, around 5-8 years old, knew every baseball and football player, their team, position and a lot about their achievements!

Frank has gone on to excel in elementary and high school and in these last few years has learned Italian and Portugese languages...but he doesn't stop there! He adds Award after Achievement Award to his collection; has parachuted out of a plane, driven a race car...never drinks alcohol. Here is a happy, motivated fulfilled life.

He owes much of his success to his supportive Parents, who have provided many unusual experiences to initiate and satisfy his intelligence, curiousity and fortitude.

Frank decided to run the Marathon this year in full gear! Mother Nature decided to give him the best challenge She could, and cranked up the temperature to 76 degrees...he persisted!

His co-runner, Aunt Julie is a great support to him and he to her...and Dad and Mom were there as always, to support them both!

He walked the second half; still smiling...to complete his mission. He's one of those rare people who gives himself unusual challenges and enjoys it...and accomplishes it!

This page is a work in progress...just like these young men who have taken on a process that will change them forever...for most of them, and I know for our "Boy," their years in the ROTC will instill new aspects of the Honor they feel in their Hearts. They will be strengthened in their Intent, Skills and Wisdom. Judging by the choices our Cadet has made so far; he will continue to make his Family and Country Proud and lead us to Peace. One thing I've always seen about my Grandson is that he has had the fortitude and awareness to honor himself and to strive to learn and perfect all his interests. That is the most secure foundation anyone can perform out of.

With Great Love and Respect

Frank did a great service to his Great Grandfather; one that only someone like him or his cousin Angelo could have done, as Servicemen...how auspicious is that? His cousin Angelo, also Great Grandson to Peter, started off the opening in Peter to be able to talk about World War II. Frank's interest in the history and of archiving the Family History lead to many hours of conversation and scanning of pictures with his Great Grandfather...and he even researched the Theatres he was told about so he could then interview Peter to learn more, and thanks to him we have some videos of Peter talking about his WWII experiences.

We were all grateful and proud of our boys when they came in full dress to honor their Great Grandad as we laid his body to rest this past September, 2009. Frank arranged for Military Honors, and it was well-deserved...and so deeply touching to watch the Honor Guard fold the flag in a meditative, reverential way and then with attention, regard and kind words, to hand it to Ethelyn, our Matriarch. It won't be the same without Peter, but he was surely Honored.

While visiting in Cape Canaveral, Florida, I saw a TV story about the Army Ranger Volunteers Graduation. Several WWII Veterans attended and interacted with the Rangers, and I felt myself feeling a little envious that this hasn't happened for our Frank and his Buddies; but then he hasn't fully graduated yet...and then, I realized: Frank had the most wonderful interactions; deep and fulfilling for both he and his Great Grandad with all the sharing they did. Opportunities come in many ways, and I am so grateful that the Generations are communicating. It is the "Old Way." Get all of it that you can!

Frank Ferrara, Frank's Paternal Great Grand Dad was in the 65th Infantry division, us army from 1943-1946

He would have been as proud of our ROTC Cadet as my Dad and all the rest of us are.

I'm sure this came 'round to your mailbox several times, as it did mine. The little heard truths bear repeating:

You're a 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded, and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley, 11-14-1965, LZ X-ray , Vietnam .. Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8 - 1, and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in. You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns, and you know you're not getting out. Your family is 1/2 way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again. As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.

Then, over the machine gun noise, you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter, and you look up to see an un-armed Huey, but it doesn't seem real, because no Medi-Vac markings are on it... Ed Freeman is coming for you. He's not Medi-Vac, so it's not his job, but he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire, after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway.. And he drops it in, and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 2 or 3 of you on board. Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire, to the Doctors and Nurses. And, he kept coming back.... 13 more times..... And took about 30 of you and your buddies out, who would never have gotten out.

Medal of Honor Recipient, Ed Freeman, died October 2009 at the age of 80, in Boise, ID. Blessed is he.

I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing, but we sure were told a whole bunch about Michael Jackson, every other celebrity; and we still are .

*Medal of Honor Winner* *Ed Freeman* *Hero First-Class*

Shame on the American Media

An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Van...a serious hero of WWII

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With Love to You Like Hearts and Gentle Spirits!

Created 2007? when Frank Signed up

Updated May 22, 2011

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