Kyle at Fort Leonard Wood

We drove to Springfield on Wednesday to move Alex back home from Missouri State University. While passing the exit for Fort Leonard Wood, which is where Kyle is currently stationed, we discovered that the base is only 3 miles South of I-44, so we stopped in and said hello.

San Antonio: River Walk

The River Walk is a must see location in downtown San Antonio, which is where we ended up on our last day with Kyle:

Sara and Kyle

Kyle and Sara with the band

Sara and Kyle

David, Kyle and Michele

San Antonio: Graduation

I didn't think it got very cold in Southern Texas, but I learned differently on the day Kyle graduated. Temps were in the low 30's, and with the wind, we experienced wind chills in the mid 20's. It was cold!

Team Gibson on their way to the graduation ceremony

 

A selfie of Team Gibson freezing, but still smiling

320 TRS Flight 111

Flight 111 passes by the grandstands

Karen, Kyle and Don

San Antonio: Touring the Parade Grounds

The day before Kyles' graduation, we took a walk around the parade grounds, which had many planes lining its border:

San Antonio: Coin Ceremony

Following the Airmen's Run, we watched as Kyle and the rest of his flight received the Airman's Coin:

Kyle's flight marches into position

Attention!

Distributing the coins

Lots of graduates

Salute!

Following the coin ceremony, the spectators were allowed to approach their airman:

Kyle and Sara reunited

Sara is holding on tight

Karen, Kyle and Don

David, Kyle and Michele

Kyle's Airman Coin

Sara and Kyle

It was great to finally talk to Kyle after 2 months.

Next up, we tour the graduation grounds with Kyle, and as one would expect, I took lots of pictures. Stay tuned...

San Antonio: Airman's Run

Last month, Michele and I flew to San Antonio to watch our good friend Kyle graduate from Air Force basic training. Aside from the weather being unusually cold for Southern Texas, we had a great time with Kyle, his girlfriend Sara, and Kyle's parents Don and Karen.

Naturally, I took lots of pictures.

Here are some shots from the Airmen's Run:

The Airmen enter the spectator viewing area.

Team Gibson smiles for the camera



Kyle makes eye contact with team Gibson

Kyle's flight makes their first pass

Kyle and flight approach for second pass

Kyle's flight getting closer 

Kyle's flight on the final turn

Team Gibson goes wild

I captured a ton of great pictures on this trip, and I'll be posting more of them over the next week or so. Stay tuned...

Saying Goodbye to Kyle

Today was the day that Kyle shipped out for the Air Force. It was a bitter sweet day for us. We couldn't be happier for Kyle as he begins the next stage of his life, but selfishly, we didn't want to see him go. Kyle has been like a son to us for the last year and a half.

Nick, Alex, Evan, Connor, Sarah, Kyle, Justin, J.T. Caleb, Brandon

Going Away Party for Kyle

Last night was Kyle's going away party. We were all hiding and waiting to yell surprise when Kyle surprised us by walking in a different entrance than the one we were expecting.

It was a great send off for Kyle.

Front row: Zak, Caleb, J.T., Justin, Brian. Back row: Kyle, Tyler, Austin, Alex, Jack, Drew, Alex, Nick 

Karen, Connor, Kyle, Don

Molly, Andrea, Kyle, Sarah, Regan



Belle, Justin, Kyle, Tyler, Paul, Arleta

David, Alex, Kyle, Nick, Michele

Tyler, Caleb, Justin, Alex, J.T., Nick, Austin

Hector, Katie, Nick, Alex, Austin, Justin, Andrea, Kyle, J.T. Caleb, Tyler, Mitch

Hector, Katie, Caleb, Justin, Kyle, Andrea, Tyler, Molly, Nick, J.T.,Regan, Alex, Maddie, Sarah, Mitch, Austin

Sarah, Kyle

Michele, Kyle, David

Kyle, Sarah