Each troop had its own identifying t-shirt color. His team’s color was a yellow-gold, so I designed a tee of that same color and had our surname and military logos printed across the back to match his. Every parent, sister, brother, aunt or uncle held their banners high for all to see and I could only hope Andreas could see mine against the bright sun. My heartbeat quickened as the rhythmic beat of their boots mixed with sand became loud and swift. They ran in unison, one group at a time, shouting out one of their cadence songs – “Two months ago I said goodbye! I kissed your lips and made you cry...” As each troop quickly ran passed, I stood high on my toes to make sure that he saw his Momma, but incredibly their run was over as quickly as it started! Every Trainee seemed to blend as one; it was almost impossible to identify race or gender.

  Since I hadn’t spotted Andreas, I quickly moved to the bleachers for the Coin Ceremony. There wasn’t much space to move around, but that didn’t stop everyone from reaching for their cell phones to record the pending event. The heat from the sun intensified with every passing moment, making it harder to see them as they approached on the field. Then a break in the sky opened, we cried and shouted as we watched our sons and daughters march in unison in their Service Dress Blue Uniform.

  It was hard to quiet down although we heard the buzz of the microphone. “We are here today to congratulate these Trainees and the parents who’ve supported them these last eight and a half weeks! They have undergone rigorous training and fought hard to stand here today to become one of the elites, a United States Air Force Airmen! They are committed to serve our president and to protect this great nation under God. We ask that you stand and sing the National Anthem with us.”

  “Furthermore, during these next few days, we will be watching our new Airmen. We have servicemen who will be dressed in civilian clothing that will go to the known places they will most likely want to visit. They are not allowed to stay overnight at your hotel. They are to be back on base by twenty-hundred hours sharp. They are not permitted to operate a vehicle. Trainees are not to engage in sexual intercourse with their spouse or girlfriend. They are not permitted to swim or go horseback riding, and most importantly when we release your Trainee to you, please do not bum rush them. Again, they have been under strict direction and training, so when you hug them, do so for no longer than three seconds. Thank you.”

  Wow, I thought, I bet husbands and wives had no idea that they would be told that.

  After we were given a fifteen-minute break, another commander came out to speak. He went on to break down what they had accomplished each week including the BEAST week and the gas chamber. Then he said, “Today signals the end of the official duty and serves as a ceremony for paying respect to the flag. Over the last eight-and-a-half weeks we have worked diligently to transform your sons and daughters into motivated world-class warrior-Airmen who are ready to serve in the world’s greatest Air Force. Now I invite you to take part in the Airman Challenge Coin Ceremony. These coins symbolize traditions and excellence each Airman brings to support their mission. Master Sergeants, you may begin.”

  After the last name was called, I ran out to the field and Andreas, and I met in the middle. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t stop crying. “Hey, Ma. It’s so great to see you!” I almost didn’t recognize him at first. He was about two inches taller, and the tone of his skin had bronzed over like the color of rich maple syrup from the sun.

  “Andreas, you can’t be happier than I am to see you. Are you okay?” I gave him a once over and then held him long and tight. “Okay, let me see it.” When he placed the coin in my hand, I didn’t imagine how heavy it would be. Embedded were the words, “Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do.”

  My son, a person of color in America, had beat the odds! He had graduated from the University of North Carolina with honors and was now a member of the world’s best Air Force. He introduced his Wing Commander and First Staff Sergeant to me, and they couldn’t stop singing his praise for the quality of leadership he had shown. Andreas had also forgotten to mention that on the fourth of July the General hosted an enormous cookout for his family, and that included one outstanding Trainee of his choice to commemorate the day with; that Trainee had been my son. Sometimes the feeling was so surreal. It was hard to believe the blessings that God bestowed on Andreas. The strength and determination that Andreas poured into everything he put his hand to were truly admirable.

  A hard rain started to fall shortly after, so we jumped into the rental car and headed toward South Park Mall since it was closest to the base. Downtown San Antonio was lined with tall skyscrapers, one seemed taller than the next, although the width of the streets was very narrow. Andreas kept mentioning that he was my wing-man, and I laughed inside as I had no idea what that meant. There were so many new things about him, and my jaw dropped when he told me that he no longer ate fast foods. When we got to the eatery in the mall, he marched straight to the salad bar. I wanted to laugh and scream out, WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY SON? In a good way, I meant. When he walked each step was purposeful, and when he laughed and joked with me, he didn’t use any slang.

  Time was racing faster than we could catch up, so we headed back to base so that he wouldn’t miss curfew. He gave me a full tour of his sleep quarters and the two drawers he owned were neatly packed with bright white socks and t-shirts that were shaped into small squares. Before lights-out I got to meet some of his new brothers for life; that’s what they called themselves, and I was happy for all of them. After a quick hug goodbye, I jumped into the car before I let out all that I was feeling. It was so much that I felt I would burst inside. As Andreas grew he had always tried to set an example, especially for little children, but it seemed that in the last two months something else had made a change in him.

  We spent the next few days talking and praying about his future. After graduation, he would be shipped to Tech School in Sheppard, Texas for four months of training, and we hoped after that the Air Force would assign his permanent duty station in Aviano, Italy instead of Afghanistan. There was nothing I would hate more than knowing my flesh and blood would be in such an ungodly place.

  “Ma, I’m in the military now, this is not high school or college where you can call the principal or dean. Stop worrying, please. We’ve prayed about this, now it’s time to leave it in God’s hands. Isn’t that what you always tell me?” His smile broadened as he took my hands in his.

  “I know you’re right, but you can’t keep a Momma from worrying,” I smiled back.

  There had been pitfalls in my life that I was subjected to, most of them unwilling and sometimes even unknowing. I didn’t have a protective shell around me, no silver lining at the end of a rainbow, and this often left me feeling abandoned. Not long after graduating high school Andreas’s father and I got married, this experience became my joy and my pain. We tried to make the best of it until our best brought out the worst in us and we split. No matter what obstacles Andreas faced, he continued to build on the seeds of excellence that were planted before him.

  “Ma, are you listening? You’re the one who’s always saying that if you pray don’t worry. So, please don’t worry, Sandra Dee. I’ll be okay,” he smiled.

  “Yes, you’re right,” I smiled. “But don’t start acting like you to grown, calling me by my name and everything.” We chuckled and finished our lunch.

  On the drive back to the hotel my mind started to reflect again on the past. Over time I’ve come to accept the good and the bad without breaking down. The recollection of a few past events wouldn’t have allowed me to chuckle as I did now. Andreas was like most children; adventurous and sometimes mischievous. He would get caught trying to jump down a mountain of stairs, thinking he could turn the bathtub into a pool, and one time I even caught him attempting the unthinkable; the events of that day would never be forgotten. It started out as an ordinary Saturday. I sent Andreas outside to play with his friend so that I could get some cleaning done, but my body must have been more tired than I thought because I dozed off with a laundry basket hugged in my arms. A tug or pull of my shoulder startled me awake, but no one else was there. Then I heard a still voice ask, “Where is your son?” Considering nothing else, I immediately ran outside to find Andreas attempting to leap from the top garage deck down to the next level. Everything in that moment stood still, I tried to run to him as fast as I could, but soon I realized that I wouldn’t get to him in time. My knees gave way as I watched him fall. He lost his footing on the platform, but somehow his shoe strings became entangled with a piece of its structure, he was suspended upside down, unharmed and saved by God’s grace.

  There were so many times that God had graced Andreas’s life with favor. When he was twelve, North Carolina State University offered him a program that took him on visitations to major universities across America, mentoring, trips to Disney and much more. Being a part of the program guaranteed his admission to the boarding school of North Carolina Science and Mathematics for his eleventh and twelfth grade. In his senior year Andreas had completed most advanced core classes so he thought he would ease his way through but his principal Mr. Key, who had been a gifted addition to his life, expressed sincerely to Andreas “No.” I laughed because although Principal Key had been stern in his voice, I knew that it came from a place of love. So, when Mr. Key turned to his computer and assigned Andreas to all college core classes, I did not say one word.

  There was also a scarier time back then for both him and me. Andreas was about the age of eight. He loved attending church and one Sunday he ran up to our pastor and shouted out, “I know who’s the head of my life! I want to be saved and get baptized so that I don’t go to Hell!” Well, one night not long after his baptismal he came running from his bedroom screaming that there was a man with a “white-face” in his room, and that next week he cried that the man with the white face was staring back at him in the shower! I quickly grabbed him and pulled him down on his knees to pray that evil spirit away. When Andreas and I held hands in prayer, I reached down into the pit of my soul asking God for a right-now blessing. Tears ran down both our faces in our quest for God’s mercy. I desperately needed Him to remove that evil spirit from my house. After I tucked Andreas in bed, I stood and declared the Lord’s grace and favor over his life. It took only seconds for him to fall asleep in God’s peace.

  When I walked back into the living room to thank God for his blessings, something so unbelievably happened. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’m not sure I would believe it. A clear but distinct jackal-clown came from the back hall doing somersaults all the way out the front door. That evil presence was never seen again. The impact of what happened that night elevated Andreas’s trust and faith in God.

  The fourth and final day of commencement had finally arrived! I stood among the crowd as the Airmen marched, dressed in their Blue’s, designed with a three-button down coat with silver mirror-finish US pins on the lapels, matching pants, and flight cap. Andreas told me that the cap must be worn on the right side of the head, with the front edge of the cap one inch above the right brow. Again, I watched patiently with the others as each troop marched ahead of us lead by their troop leaders. My eyes sprinted from one group to the other looking for my son’s face among the men and women being honored today. When the procession was over, and they turned in unison to face the crowds, I finally saw him! He was in the fourth troop, the third row, and second from the left standing before me. The Commander welcomed us again then charged them to recite the Airman’s Creed which began: I AM A WARRIOR!

  Later that day Andreas received his papers which stated he would be stationed at the base in Aviano, Italy. We were so thrilled and excited! Although I had never traveled outside of the US, I couldn’t wait to see the world through my son’s eyes. Hopefully, he would get to travel to Spain, Rome, and maybe even France. It had been a wonderful trip, a celebration second to none, and I couldn’t wait until he was settled in so he could tell me all about it.

  About a month or so after I had returned home I received his first package from Sheppard, Texas. Seeing the pictures of the fighter jets that he would be working on and pictures of Andreas sitting in the pilot’s seat amazed me. He wrote that he was doing well in his courses and training and that he was looking forward to going to Italy. He had never been out of the country, but I was glad that the military was helping him transition.

  As for me, it was like I could see it, the city of Venice, known as the “floating city” and the small surrounding towns. I couldn’t wait a minute more, so I flipped open my laptop and began my research. The base in Aviano was surrounded by snow-capped mountains and nearby vineyards, and the towns nearest that location were Udine and Pordenone. Reviews stated that most people preferred to shop in these town markets instead of the large grocery stores for fresh fruit, meats, and cheeses.

  Once Andreas arrived in Italy he shared more of the sights and sounds of the places he visited. Soon he was elevated to Senior Airman, which added to his duties. There were things we could talk or text about, but I understood the secrecy around some missions that he was assigned to. All I knew was that he sounded happy and was proud of the work that he was doing. He also shared that he purchased a new car and was learning to drive on the left side of the road; didn’t know if I could ever get used to that.

  Before I knew it, he had been away for a year. The warm air of autumn had turned cold, Christmas was just weeks away. This was my favorite time of the year, and the first one Andreas would spend away from home. His college days were a lot easier, it only took two short hours to pick him up and take him back; now he was literally four-thousand and ninety miles away. Who wanted to do the math on that?

  It was December 5, 2013, and I had spent the entire day at the mall picking out gifts for loved ones and friends, but I still hadn’t decided what to get Andreas. Before my brain got as tired as my feet were, I sat down in the Food Court surrounded by a circle of fast food places. I wasn’t sure what direction my taste buds would take me, but a sweet and spicy smell guided my nostrils to the eatery on the far-left end-it was Pollack Johnny’s. Not too many years ago Andreas’s Pop-Pop Herman would meet us here, and we’d chow down on smoked sausages covered with chili onions and mustard, but a sudden impact of walking pneumonia took him away until then Herman had been a constant in my son’s life, and his absence would always be missed. The pleasant reminder of Andreas’s grandfather helped me decide the perfect Christmas gift to get him. I ran to Things Remembered and ordered him a 14kt. gold hand-clock. Since Herman had been a sergeant in the Army, I asked them to engrave the Army and Air Force seal on the back along with the inscription “Two Great Men of Service.”

  Just two days after shipping off my packages I received one from my son. Not wanting to spoil his surprise by peeking, I tucked the envelope underneath the Christmas tree. Although we wouldn’t be in the same time zone when we talked on Christmas day, we could still open our gifts together via video chat.

  “Ma, I’ve been waiting for you to call. Please tell me you got the envelope!” Andreas said the next time I spoke to him.

  “Okay, where’s the fire?” I laughed hard. “Yes, I got the package.” My momma antennas went up. “Is everything okay, Andreas?”

  “You’ve got to open the envelope now, it can’t wait until Christmas day.”

  “Ok, now you’ve got my nerves on edge. Hold on!” I slid on my robe and ran downstairs to rip the envelope open. “Oh, my goodness, Andreas, I know you didn’t do this! You’ve got to be kidding me. A trip to Italy, for me?”

  “I sure did, and everything’s set to go. All you’ve got to do is pack your bag because you’re plane leaves in five hours!”

  At first, there were no words. No one had ever done something so grand for me. Tears of astounding disbelief poured down my face. Inside the envelope was a lot of cash and round-trip tickets to fly to Venice Marco Polo Airport. “Andreas, how were you able to? When did you... why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Mom, if you keep asking me all of these questions you’re going to miss your flight,” he laughed into the phone. “And please don’t stress, I’ll be waiting there at the gate. You should arrive here my time tomorrow between six and seven in the evening.”

  “Really, that quick?”

  “You’ll be losing time as you cross the Atlantic. Now go get ready, Woman.”

  Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the airport as quickly as I had hoped. It took me longer than I thought to pack and secure the house, and the traffic that morning was a nightmare due to a sudden rainstorm. After I received my boarding pass, I starred at the long lines waiting to be cleared by a TSA Agent. It looked like it was going to take forty minutes or longer to get through the line, which meant I wouldn’t make it to my gate in time. Before I panicked, I stopped in my tracks to pray. Lord knows I didn’t want to miss my flight, so I prayed to the Lord for grace and mercy, not because I’d done anything to earn it, but because I didn’t want my son to worry about where I was if I didn’t make it there on time. My eyes were still closed in prayer when I felt the light tap on my shoulder from the gentleman standing behind me.

  “Ma’am, can I see your boarding pass and identification?” The TSA Agent standing in front of me asked while smiling cheerfully.

  They must have just opened a new line while I was praying. I silently thanked the Lord and smiled back at the gentleman. Whew, God was good like that, you just never know when He was going to show up and show out.