Ensign Christine Louise Mandor-Brackin

As each First Class Cadets name was called, they climbed the stairs, where they were first handed their diploma, and then handed another parchment which signified their commission. As the speaker read their name he also read the name of their first posting. Some were being stationed in Hawaii, some California. Alaska, Boston, Seattle and other places, including flight school in Pensacola were also common.
Our niece Louise was being sent to Australia? Now I know your thinking what gives with that? It turns out she had just found out that she had received a Fulbright Scholarship, from the Australian Government and was going there to work on her Masters. A well deserved honor!
We tried not to clap or yell in applause, as others did. The speaker had asked that all applause be held in honor of the graduates, but other parents had broke out in whistles and congratulations. It was so hard as we both wanted to yell out a Wyoming cowboy yee haw.
After the ceremonies we watched as Roger pinned on her ensign boards,(Roger is a retired Coast Guard Captain who has been a lifelong best friend of my brother and who had been instrumental in Louise's choice of the Academy). Mike and Mona beamed as their lifework had reached a highpoint. Mike asked me if I had heard that she was the only cadet whose name had been mentioned by both the Coast Guard Academy Commandant and the Head of Homeland Security.
Later we went through the Coast Guard Museum and then walked across the campus, before boarding our bus which took us back to where we had parked the car. What a day and what a blessing. Clear skies.