by Kurt Winans
The flag was then presented to Hank’s son Lieutenant Colonel Robert Martin on behalf of a grateful nation, while Ross comforted his little sister. Robert then stood in front of Ross to present the flag to him, and whispered into his ear a message that would resonate for years to come. He told Ross that his wish was for him to keep this flag for the remainder of his life in remembrance of the sacrifices that his grandpa had made for America, and that he someday pass Robert’s burial flag onto one of his own children in similar style. Ross stood and saluted to accept the honor of the flag, while pledging aloud to fulfill the desire of his father. It became crystal clear to him at that instant what his destiny would be, and he had his grandfather to thank for the motivational inspiration.
ON THE MORNING of June 7th, 1968, Ross made sure the necklace that once belonged to his grandpa was safely tucked inside his shirt collar, as he fastened the top button and adjusted his tie. Due largely in part to the upcoming event, this particular Friday was going to be better than most, and he wanted to get on with it. Now standing a few inches over six feet tall, the seventeen year-old was about to complete the last compulsory event of his high school years by delivering a speech during commencement as the valedictorian of his graduating class of fifty-one students.
Jessica soon appeared at his bedroom door to see how her older brother was doing, and gave him a big smile and kiss on his check before fine tuning the knot of his tie. Even though the tie was already perfect, she couldn’t resist the temptation because Ross had done so many things over the years to assist her. The team of brother and sister had grown even closer throughout the past seven years, and had learned how to rely on each other more than their father. That in effect made this day of celebration for Ross somewhat bitter sweet for Jessica. Her big brother was about to graduate high school, and in a few weeks’ time would leave town for his appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Although that represented a tremendous opportunity for him, she was concerned about how she would do without him being around. At least Patty would still be in town for one more year to help Jessica with the transition into high school.
As the two of them made their way downstairs, their father Robert was waiting for them. He smiled and said how proud he was of both of them for how mentally strong they had become. Although there had been times in the past when he had let them both down, today he was completely sober and focused on the upcoming graduation and ensuing celebration.
Robert informed the two of them to let Elizabeth Wright know he would be along to pick her up in a few minutes, as she had agreed to sit with him during the ceremony and then be his date for the party afterwards. Although no romance had ever blossomed between the two of them over the years, they had become closer friends as the relationship between Ross and Patty had become romantic. Elizabeth had also been a tremendous help in raising his daughter Jessica since Grandpa Hank had passed away, and Robert was grateful that she was around to help with some of the challenges that a girl goes through as she becomes a young woman.
For what would be the last time, Ross and Jessica climbed into grandpa’s old pickup to go retrieve Patty for the ride to school. In spite of still wearing the brace on her right leg, Jessica no longer needed help getting in and out of the truck as she did when she was a little girl. Even so, Ross still held the door open for her as he had been taught by his grandpa.
As they slowly approached Patty’s house to avoid kicking up a lot of dust, she stood from the bench on the front porch where she and Ross had spent so much time talking about the future. Patty was wearing the same light blue dress that she had worn to the prom a few weeks prior, and looked beautiful with her long blond hair pulled up and back for the special occasion. Jessica climbed down from the truck to greet her while Ross delivered the message from his father to Mrs. Wright, and then returned to hold the door open for his girlfriend and little sister. During the previous few years after Ross had learned how to drive, the three of them had gone to school every day in the old pickup as they had done before Hank had passed away. The only difference now was that Jessica had a window seat because Patty wanted to sit next to Ross as he drove.
Once they arrived at school, Ross headed for the gymnasium to gather with his fellow graduates, while the two girls made their way through the crowd to locate four good seats for the commencement. Their path was not a direct one, as a few young men wanted to speak with Jessica along the way. She had just completed the eighth grade and was beginning to turn all the boys’ heads. The long curly brown hair, big smile and dimples that had made her such a cute little girl, had now been enhanced by the development of some curves on her body and additional height. All the attention Jessica had been receiving lately made her feel good inside, because it wasn’t just about the leg brace like it had been when she was little. Patty informed her that some of the boys in high school would be mature enough to look beyond the leg brace, while others still needed to grow up some, and it would actually be a great way to find out if they really liked her or not.
Robert and Elizabeth soon joined the young ladies in the seats, and a few minutes later the procession of graduates walked down the center aisle. This was one of those mornings when most local businesses in town were closed, because seemingly everyone wanted to be at the ceremony. Amidst all the other pomp, an introduction was made for Ross as the valedictorian of the class of 1968, and he rose to deliver his speech.
Deep down Ross knew that most of his classmates would remain close to this little dusty town of Rumley, or perhaps venture to other parts of Texas, but he couldn’t wait to spread his wings. His speech brought forth the possibilities that lay within each of the graduates if they only gave themselves a chance to succeed, and that some of the terrible social events that had recently occurred within the country should not dampen the spirit of this youthful generation.
Just two months before, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee and much of the nation was still currently in shock over the assassination of United States Senator Robert Kennedy. That tragic event had been recent enough that the funeral had not yet taken place. Little did anyone in attendance know that the social unrest to which Ross spoke of would be magnified in the upcoming months with riots in several cities across America including a large one surrounding the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
At the conclusion of his speech, his two favorite girls stood to applaud and most of the gathered crowd followed suit. Ross had become the first student from Rumley to ever receive an appointment to attend one of the military academies, so it was quite fitting that he be given the honor of a standing ovation. He graciously accepted the honor with a hint of blush in his cheeks, but was more gratified with the free apple pie a la mode that he had received from Mable at the diner the previous afternoon.
With the graduation ceremony complete, many of the townspeople gathered for a large picnic on the football field, while others, such as Mable, needed to return to their jobs. Perhaps for the first time Robert realized that his little girl was growing up, as several different boys gathered around Jessica while Ross and Patty stood close by. Elizabeth reminded him that Patty would help look out for her in school, but that Jessica would be just fine because Ross had prepared her with some sage advice about many of the boys. The celebratory picnic was scheduled to go on for several hours in the hot Texas sun, but eventually the Martin and Wright families would slip away for a more private celebration.
THE NEXT FEW weeks went by in a flash. Ross and Patty had joined most of the graduating class for a three day camping trip to Proctor Lake that began on the day after graduation, which was a journey of slightly less than one hundred miles to the north of Rumley. They had been there privately, or with a small group of friends, for camping several times in the past, and it was a place that Ross and Grandpa Hank had planned on visiting before he passed away.
At the time of his death seven years prior, the dam was under construction to creat
e the man-made lake, and the two of them couldn’t wait to try the fishing. Instead the memories of the campground by the lake belonged to Ross and Patty, and it would always hold a special place in their hearts as that was where they had both experienced physical love for the first time. Proctor Lake had also been the location of several deep conversations about plans for the future, including Patty’s hopes to attend the University of Maryland when she concluded her last year of high school.
At least fifty people showed up for the after-graduation camping trip, with the majority of that number being represented by couples. It was somewhat like attending the senior prom wearing bathing suits instead of formal attire, but Ross and Patty had a wonderful time during what they knew would be the last days of innocent freedom with this group of people. One night while sitting on the beach stargazing, Ross made the comment to Patty that he wanted to go into space someday. The Apollo missions of the current day were making tremendous progress, and it would only be a matter of time before NASA fulfilled President Kennedy’s dream as put forth in his speech that Ross had listened to with Grandpa Hank in 1961.
Upon their return to Rumley, Ross did all that he could with his few remaining days helping out around the ranch. He wanted to get Jessica set up correctly for life without him being around, and that meant doing as many heavy chores and repairs as possible. He saw very little of his father Robert during those days, and spent as much time with Patty as he could. Knowing how in love with Ross her daughter was, Elizabeth Wright gave them as much space as possible during those final days.
Before he knew it, Ross was standing outside of the general store waiting for the bus to arrive. Many people had come to wish him a fond farewell, and he had plenty of snacks for the long bus ride from kindhearted souls such as Mable and Elizabeth. He shook his father’s hand while asking him to be patient with Jessica, then turned to her and hugged her tightly while lifting her off the ground as he had done so many times over the years. She giggled when he tickled her ribs, and then smiled as she wished her big brother a safe journey. Jessica had promised to keep the fishing pole and their grandfather’s American flag safe for as long as Ross needed, and he knew she would protect them. Because of Grandpa Hank’s death just two days after giving Ross the fishing pole, it had never been used. The red ribbon was still attached, and Ross had secretly vowed to keep it that way for as long as he lived.
The final goodbye was the most difficult of all, and everyone else knew enough to back away and give the two young lovers some private space. Patty was doing her best to hold back the tears, but she was losing the battle. They held each other in a long embrace while sharing a passionate kiss, and then she presented Ross with a letter that he could open after the bus pulled away.
When the driver informed Ross that it was now or never, he gave Patty one final kiss goodbye and stepped onto the eastbound bus. He found a window seat near the back, and slid the panel open to wave as the bus began to move away. With luck he would see all of these people when he returned for Christmas break, but that was several difficult months into the future. His final glimpse of Patty and Jessica provided Ross with some comfort before the bus turned the corner, as the two of them stood together in a sisterly embrace.
INDOCTRINATION DAY AT the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland was intense to say the least. The first of what would become perhaps several thousand lessons over the next four years was that Ross Martin was now a small fish in a very large ocean. Everyone associated with the academy, be it administration, faculty, or midshipmen, were incredibly bright, and he was at the bottom end of the food chain. Ross now understood part of why his father had said he was proud of how mentally tough he had become, because he would need to keep his wits about him if he hoped to pursue his dreams.
When room assignments were handed out to the incoming class of midshipmen, Ross found himself placed with three other plebes, or freshmen, that had come from various backgrounds. He was the last to arrive at his typical four person living quarters, so his choice of bunk was pre-determined. As Ross said hello to introduce himself, one of his roommates stepped forward with outstretched hand. James Franklin seemed like a friendly guy from Seattle, Washington who was a couple of inches shorter than Ross, but probably outweighed him by twenty pounds. He was a soft spoken black man who had grown up in an area of the country that had far less racial tension between blacks and whites than the other two of his new roommates.
Next to approach was Shaun Jamison who was from a tough Irish neighborhood on the south side of Boston, Massachusetts. The street smart kid was small and thin in stature, but Ross instinctively knew he could probably hold his own in a fight. He also figured that Shaun’s focus on succeeding would be intense, because the academy may have been his best chance to escape from the negative aspects of his home town. At least in that regard, they already had something in common.
The last of his new roommates to step forward was Davis Lee Wakefield III from near Charleston, South Carolina. He came from a wealthy family, and was the only one of the group that surpassed Ross’ six foot-two inch frame, but his introduction made Ross well aware that he had more growing up to do. Davis Lee, as he insisted on being called, said he was glad to have another “southern man” in the room, and claimed that he and Ross had to stick together because the other two roommates were “Yankees!” His next statement made even less sense, as he informed Shaun that he needed to switch bunks because the two men from the south should be on the same side of the room.
That sentiment did not sit well with the young man from Boston, who had been the first of the four to arrive and had already squared away most of his gear. Ross immediately quieted the situation by saying, “We are all going to be living together for the next four years, and this is not the best way to start things off.”
With the peace temporarily restored, Ross took the empty bunk next to James and began to unload his gear. He thought to himself that this plebe year would already be difficult enough, but it could become next to impossible if the four of them couldn’t get along. He had been in his quarters roughly five minutes, and had already learned another lesson of diplomacy while also demonstrating leadership abilities. Those were facts that had not gone un-noticed by their squad leader who had been listening to the introductions while patrolling the hallway.
It didn’t take long for Ross to acclimate to academy life. He enjoyed the rigors of the academic pace needed to survive, and seemed to fit in well with many of the other midshipmen. The days and weeks went by quickly, with the help of multiple letters and care packages from Patty and Jessica, and soon he was stepping off the bus in Rumley for a short Christmas break. Jessica tried to give Ross and Patty as much space as possible during their limited time, but the three of them enjoyed some fun times together. She and Patty had really become more like sisters since Ross had left for the academy, and because of that Jessica had transitioned into high school with relative ease.
Elizabeth Wright invited Robert Martin and his two children over to her house on Christmas Eve for a good home- cooked holiday meal that had been prepared by Patty and herself. The five of them had a really good time, but the highlight of the evening was gathering around the television set after dinner to watch the broadcast from Apollo 8. That mission had just become the first manned spacecraft from Earth to orbit the Moon, and Ross was saddened that Grandpa Hank had not lived long enough to see it happen. The event in itself was the next big step in the effort to eventually land a man on the Moon, so Ross was watching with great enthusiasm. The broadcast from the three astronauts further solidified Ross’ intent to someday travel into space.
During the last evening before his return bus trip to Annapolis, Patty informed Ross that she had been accepted to the University of Maryland in College Park just outside of Washington D.C. It was great news as she would be much closer to Ross again starting the next fall, and as he earned liberty from the academy they could spend time together.
Upon his return to A
nnapolis, Ross and his roommates quickly readjusted to the disciplined environment of academy life. There were some difficult moments as would be expected with four young people from various backgrounds, but for the most part the remainder of the school year went by without any problems. Eventually every plebe has to arrive at the realization that a team effort is needed in order for everyone to survive. Some struggle with academics, while others face challenges with the physical aspects that are required, but with some help from the team all can pull through.
The only one of the group who seemed to occasionally have difficulties with that concept was Davis Lee, as he had been raised to believe that someone of James Franklin’s color, or Shaun Jamison’s heritage, was inferior to his own. He had let it be known to all who would listen that he, along with his father and grandfather, had been named after Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The socialization, or brainwashing, of his outdated southern belief system had been firmly embedded throughout his youth, and it represented the negative side of what otherwise could be a nice bright young man.
Ross took the opportunity during every skirmish between his roommates to impart wisdom and show leadership abilities, but was also careful not to overstep his boundaries. After all, they were all grown men and it wasn’t his responsibility, or right, to dictate their actions.
SOON THE PLEBE year, or what’s generally known as the toughest of the four at a military academy, was over and Ross was headed home to Rumley for another short break. His bus arrived in town the evening before Patty would celebrate her graduation from high school, but she was unaware of that fact. In what had been an acceptable lie, Ross had informed her that he would be in town in another week.
