Nick | Becoming is Superior to Being

Nick and Kate

Kate, Matt and Nick are visiting from Ft. Collins and we were able to do some family time yesterday. (Photo set.)

kenne

Memorial Day, May 26, 2008 1 comment

Matt Bailey (In Center)

(On this Memorial Day, I share the following from daughter, Katie Bailey.)

A short story for everyone…..

Shortly after Matt started going to classes this spring at CSU he decided to check out the Air Force ROTC program. As some of you guys know, last spring Matt tried to join the Air Force Reserve. He had to lose about 40 lbs and he did so. He went back to get weighed and measured knowing he was going to make the weight and the recruiter said there is a new rule this year….No tattoos below the elbow that can be seen but if you already have some they can not be vulgar or cover more than 25% of the arm. Matt as you know has a couple of tats below his elbow….one being a cross with Nick’s bday and the other a tribal tattoo down his arm that he got while serving in Saudi Arabia, which was the one in question. He had to get pictures taken so the recruiter could send them to the higher ups to be approved or not approved. A week later she calls and says “No, you can not join because of your tattoo.” Matt, as might have guessed, was pretty ticked off with all the work he had done to lose the weight and to have them say no. Even though he was also prior military service it didn’t matter. So life went on….we moved up here and he talked to the Captain, Major and Colonel here at CSU for the Air Force ROTC program. He then had to lose the weight again and they told him that his tattoo was not vulgar and didn’t cover up 25% of his arm so he should be fine. So he made the weight and joined the Air Force ROTC program this spring. He also decided to join the Wing Walker Pershing Rifle Honor Guard. For those of you that don’t know they are the group of people that honor CSU, UNC, and surrounding areas. Today, they honored soldiers that were lost in battle at the Rest Haven Memorial Garden in Fort Collins. And I wanted to share a few pictures from our chilly morning. I am very proud to be the wife of a man that has the biggest heart I know and sacrifices his time for others!