Kyle's Graduation from Boot Camp

Kyle graduated from Marine Corps. boot camp at Parris Island, SC on Aug. 25, 2006. Sixteen people traveled to South Carolina to witness this event. Tim & Jill flew in from San Diego, CA, so we were finally able to get a "real" family picture. (I usually have to paste someone into our family picture as it is hard to gather everyone together these days.) Other family and friends that were able to attend were: Uncle Charley, Aunt Margie & Jacob DeBoer from Wind Gap, PA; Aunt Dot & Julia Whitbeck from Glenside, PA; Nicholas from Camp Lejeune, NC; Grandma & Grandpa Williams from Hudson, MI; Kyle's girlfriend, Lauren and her mom, JoAnne Shaffer from Hudson, MI; and of course the rest of the family - Chuck, Barb, Michael & James from Pittsford, MI.

We had a great time. The weather down in Parris Island is HOT & MUGGY. It actually thunderstormed every day we were there (that's why Chuck has the umbrella). The weather did cooperate for both Kyle's Family Day ceremony on Thursday the 24th where he officially becomes a Marine by receiving his Eagle, Globe & Anchor and again on Graduation Day on Friday the 25th.

Kyle gets to come home for ten days of leave and then he is off to Camp Geiger in North Carolina for Marine Combat Training. That training will last for approximately one month, then Kyle's first school will be in Pensecola, FL. He has a year of schooling before he will actually be stationed somewhere. He's hoping to be stationed on the West Coast because he doesn't like the humidity on the East Coast and he would like to be stationed near Tim and Jill. We'll have to wait and see where he finally ends up.