The Graduate... The Officer

CODE OF HONOR
I, a member of the California Highway Patrol, subscribe in word and deed to the following:
To serve the State of California honestly, and conscientiously; and fulfill my oath as a soldier of the law;
To uphold and maintain the honor and integrity of the California Highway Patrol;
Be loyal to my fellow officers; respect and obey my seniors in rank;
and enforce the law without fear, favor, or discrimination;
Assist those in peril or distress, and, if necessary,
lay down my life rather than swerve from the path of duty;
My personal conduct shall at all times be above reproach and I will never knowingly commit any act that will in any way bring discredit upon the California Highway Patrol or any member thereof;
To all of this I do solemnly pledge my sacred honor as an Officer of the California Highway Patrol.

Prior to the graduation ceremony, was the Commissioner's Inspection of each Cadet.

It was an opportunity for each cadet to speak individually with the Commissioner prior to graduating and taking the CHP Code of Honor. (These were taken from a great distance... so a little fuzzy.)

Following the graduation ceremony, was the badge pinning ceremony. Until very recently, it was always tradition for badges to be pinned by only family members who are active or retired officers - - it was an honor reserved only for them. Recognizing the significance of the accomplishment and the hand that supportive family members (such as spouses/significant others) have in the cadet's success, the decision was made to allow the new officer to select the person who would pin their badge.
Knowing that John has two cousins who are active officers and an uncle who is retired, I was deeply honored that he asked me to pin his badge. Without doubt, one of my proudest and most memorable moments as his wife.

John (center) with his cousin, John (left) and James (right)

I will, most likely after the move, be posting a detailed slide show of the day. We have so many great pictures... and many more to come from all of whom took pics that day! I just couldn't let another day go without paying tribute to his accomplishment!

(Don't forget... you can click on the pictures to enlarge them!)

Halloween

Halloween Night 2008

Friends' festive front-yard decorations replaced
a pumpkin patch photo this year.

The Monkey, the Halloween Fashion Diva
and the Officer (in his "civies")

We took the kids over to their Auntie's neighborhood to trick-or-treat. Gracie chuckled at a few of the costumes she saw... and yet seemed completely unphased by Preston's costume - - perhaps because she already sees him as the monkey he is! He had fun running around, but was very unsure of many of the costumes he saw. This was a very relaxed evening (as relaxed as chasing a toddler can be!) after an exhausting and long-awaited graduation day.

For fun... here are a few favorites from previous Halloweens...