As a parent of 3 (it will be 4 any day/hour/minute now), I've bragged on my kids before, but this time I am exceptionally proud, as it appears that we have a budding writer in the family. (Please let me preface this post by saying that I have never pushed my interest in writing, or history, or even the New York Yankees on my kids. The two that are in school, 11th and 5th grade, are both perennial Honor Roll Students, in fact my son has lettered in Academics, and just this week received an invitation to apply for the National Honor Society. Once again, I have ZERO credit to do with their scholarly achievements as they both have my wife’s brains. She too was an academic super-achiever. I on the other hand… well let’s just say that it is by the grace of God that I ever graduated High School, although I was stellar in college).

That said… it is with great pride that I announce that my oldest daughter, Madison, has won First Place in her school’s D.A.R.E. essay contest. D.A.R.E. stands for “Drug Abuse Resistance Education” and is an anti-drug campaign that teaches children about the dangers of using drugs and drinking alcohol. She will be receiving some nice prizes and an opportunity to read her piece at the elementary school’s ‘graduation’ ceremony at the end of the school year. I myself have not read her final essay, but I am looking forward to hearing it for the first time in front of a live audience. It’s nice to see your children ‘follow in your footsteps’ from time to time. Madison accompanies me on most of my research trips and battlefield hikes and has charmed the people at the NPS on more than one occasion.

Maybe if I can get her to start writing my books I can retire?
Well-done sweetie. I am so proud of you. Love, Dad.