Grauation Day Part 2

Today was Graduation Day for the NEOCS. By this time of the evening they will be partying and celebrating. There were over two thousand guests at the passing out parade at HMAS Cresswell made up of family, friends, school mates and instructors. J and I stood at the side of the canteen watching as they accompanied their guests back to the car park, both struck by how mature and grown up they all appeared in their new junior officewr uniforms. We both turned to each other at the same time harbouring the same thought of how proud their families must be of them. I know that we certainly felt proud of them, we have come to know them so well over this past six months that it is hard to believe the officious young men and women who stood so tall and serious today were the very same. One young man who came in for breaky today walked his mother and grandmother to their car and I stood amazed at the difference in him. His mum gave him a huge hug and his grandmother wiped the tears from her eyes. I guess that said it all. Day after tomorrow he will report for duty to Watsons Bay where he will live on base; his best friend will report for duty to HMAS Albotros at Nowra in tow weeks. Out thoughts and best wishes go with all of the new young officers. I hope they have a wonerful life, a rewarding career and may they never see war.