Veteran's Day (of Service), 11/11/13

This year for Veteran's Day, I was able to join Blue One in another wonderful day of service before SPIKE to get more things done for America ('MURICA!). We were able to rehab the baseball field at the George Sim Community Center. Specifically, we worked on that Matt Cain Junior Giants Field and had a great time doing so.

Mira and I getting it done

Graham and Ryan fixing the diamond

Mira and I handled scraping the backboard, while Holly, Antonyo, ChiChi, Rachael, and Kestrel helped paint. But that was not before ChiChi and Kestrel raked leaves and weed. Toya also helped with leaves and weeding. Graham and Ryan helped with fixing the baseball diamond, and I joined them after finishing paint scraping when we ran out of rollers. Frank got his hands on some powertools, and we pulled together again for another wonderfully successful day. More pictures of our eventful day can be found here.

This was our second time really working together as a team, but now we had the added bonus of getting through C(orps members) T(raining) I(nstitute). Our official induction date was 11/14/13, and with only three days left of training (most of which was specialty role training), Blue One was more than prepared to start functioning as a unit. We had diversity training day, which bonded us on several levels - and goddamn was that an emotional day. Between the ridiculousness of lunch time (ahem, ChiChi jumping in bed with me, Holly, and Kestrel whaaat!?) and the powerful topics covered professionally and exquisitely by the two presenters, it was a really positive turning point for the team. The next day we had alcohol and sex education day, which showed the low levels of patience the team could have, but we made the best of it nonetheless. We also had our Red Cross CPR/First Aid/AED training, and first responder disaster training that week. It was necessary training for sure, and we all enjoyed a lovely nap in the sun during lunch both days. Hands of Peace training was another day of bonding for the team, and we made our Team Charter, which is our "living document" of team standards. CTI was intense, and condensed, because of the Government Shutdown, still somehow we always found ways to make the best out of every situation. Should've known then that Blue One was going to become my family away from home, on way too many levels.

Blue One after a hard day!

On Veteran's Day, it's difficult to not think about my grandfathers, both of whom served in World War Two. My father's father, Pop-Pop as all of his 9 grandchildren called him, served in the Battle of the Bulge. My mother's father, Grandpa as his only 2 grandchildren called him, served as a Sergeant in Italy. My mother still says phrases to my brother and I, bestowed upon her by her father when he was raising her (Let me hear your feet hit the floor! Good enough for government work!). Both men worked hard after the war for their families and I miss them both every single day. I often wonder what they would think if they were here to see me graduate from a 4 year university with high honors, and now with me running around the country with AmeriCorps. Oftentimes, I still feel like they're with me, keeping me safe, leading me in the right direction. I was more than happy to do service work on a day meant to celebrate the veterans of this country, and all the people they've impacted along the way.