As Father's Day nears, focus is on family

  • Published
  • By Col. Dennis M. Layendecker
  • U.S. Air Force Band commander
BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. (AFPN) --  This past week, we in the 11th Wing here were privileged to help render final honors for our late, great President Ronald Reagan.

James M. Strock, in his wonderful book "Reagan on Leadership," quoted the president on one of the key elements of his vision for America -- family. Strock quoted the president as saying:

"The love and common sense of purpose that unites families is one of the most powerful glues on earth, and ... it can help them overcome the greatest of adversities. I have always wondered at this American marvel, the great energy of the human soul that drives people to better themselves and improve the fortunes of their families and communities. I know of no greater force on earth."

With President Reagan's inspiring thoughts on family in mind as we celebrate Father's Day this weekend, I'd like to share a story.

Not so long ago in a state far, far away, there lived a young college professor and his lovely bride. Having successfully completed their initial year teaching at the university, they were blessed with their first child: a beautiful girl. The new father beamed with pride at the gleam in his daughter's eyes, and her high spirits and engaging personality soon surfaced as a light in their life.

During the year following the baby's birth, it became evident the professor's family would face an uncertain financial future were he to remain in academia, and the additional responsibility of fatherhood weighed upon him.

He must have matured a good deal for, through a series of blessed events, he was offered a commission as an officer in the United States Air Force at the end of his second year on the university faculty. Until that first child and the subsequent difficult year, he had never considered the Air Force as a career.

The professor accepted the commission both for the "step up" the job offered and to ensure the security of his young family. Within four years, he was as "blue" as any Airman can get, fully convinced of our Air Force's important global purpose, and more smitten with love of country than at any time prior.

Fast forward almost 22 years later: That officer, now a "full-bird" colonel, stood on the altar of the Air Force Academy Chapel to raise his right hand and administer the commissioning oath to his Academy-graduate daughter while her mother and five brothers and sisters looked on.

That officer, of course, is me, and I beamed with pride at the gleam in her eyes, convinced that her high spirits and engaging personality would serve our officer corps, our Air Force and our nation very well.

Because our Air Force was the family she knew best outside of our immediate family, pursuing a commission seemed perfectly natural to our daughter. As a bonus, during her four years in Colorado Springs, she found not only one of the best educations in America but an additional 967 brothers and sisters as part of her Air Force Academy class of 2004.

Like me, she initially pursued our Air Force as an opportunity to better herself and improve the fortunes of her family. And during her four years, she became as "blue" as any Airman can get and learned how she and her classmates would have the opportunity to improve the fortune of the nation she loves so much.

At the graduation ceremony, my wife, Myriam, our children and I proudly stood and cheered as our eldest daughter, Manuela, a brand-new second lieutenant, crossed the stage to salute and shake President Bush's hand (as he did with each of the 968 graduates).

We couldn't help but swell with pride over her success and be moved to emotion in gratitude for the Air Force family of nearly 30,000 surrounding us.

For me, both as a father and as an officer, the love and common sense of purpose that unites all of us as one family in our U.S. Air Force has proven to be "one of the most powerful glues on earth," as President Reagan said. It drives us to better ourselves and improve the fortunes of our families, our communities, our service and our nation.

On this Father's Day, it gives me pause to wonder at this American marvel, "the family." Indeed, as President Reagan said, "I know of no greater force on earth."