The month of May is celebrated as National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM) in the United States. The country recognizes this month with tributes, ceremonies, benefits and discounts for the military. To appreciate them at our end, we have stories from fellow military children and teachers here at Briar Woods.
Daniel Buchanan’s Story:
Daniel Buchanan, the head of the science department and chemistry teacher at Briar Woods High School, served for over six years in the Navy.
“It [being in the Navy] was a wild mix of incredible pride, mind-numbing boredom, unforgettable adventures, and bonds you just can’t replicate in the civilian world,
It taught me a bizarre level of patience. You will find yourself sprinting to get somewhere, completely stressed out to meet a deadline, only to sit on a steel bulkhead for hours waiting because the pressing and immediate job has been delayed. Because of this, I learned a vital superpower: the ability to sleep anywhere, at any time, in any position, even standing up against a bulkhead,
The military will do this strange thing; it will balance a splendid experience with reality. One minute you are at low-drag enjoying the sun peaking over the horizon. This beautiful sunrise, as you float to earth, lasts for less than a minute. Then ten minutes later, you are standing in a dark, muddy field, shivering in the freezing dew, gathering your gear and realizing you still must carry 100 pounds of now wet gear on a six-mile march back to the assembly point, and the workday has not even officially started yet,
One important lesson I learned: In the military you do not have to like everyone you serve with, but you will absolutely protect them with your life, and they will do the same for you. In life you do not have to like everyone, but you must respect each other and realize we are on a journey together, so help each other to be better and “have each other’s back”
It molds you into something sharper and leaves you with a profound sense of pride and purpose. In my case, it also left me with creaky knees, replaced joints, and a permanent appreciation for a full night of uninterrupted sleep,” said Buchanan.
Briar Woods’ military children also have their own experiences, specifically with all the moving.
“It’s a little bit difficult, at least in my case, moving every two years to a new spot, I think it takes some getting used to,” said Alayna Gardner, a freshman at Briar Woods. “My dad’s been a pilot since he was 15 and I’ve been moving since I was 2,” continued Gardner.
“I’ve had to move through a lot of places, through multiple apartments, through multiple houses, whatnot and due to my dad being in the military, we had to move depending on where he was stationed,” mentioned Myra Walker, a Briar Woods freshman.
“It was decent, I had to get stitches and we didn’t have to pay anything,” said Kaitlyn Russell, a Briar Woods sophomore, when asked about her military experience. “My mom was in the Air Force, we went to the base a lot,” added Russell.
As for life on a military base, Gardner had some experiences there. “Usually I live on base, which is definitely different,” said Gardner. “It’s very closed in, you have your BX, which is kind of like your Target and Walmart, you have to show your ID and passport to get in,” continued Gardener. “You can just leave your door open because you know everybody on the base,” added Gardener.
The sacrifices from the members of the military and their family members is definitely something not to look over at. We, the Briar Woods community, absolutely appreciate them and hope they know so. Thank you for your unwavering commitment and honorable services!
