Part of Army tradition is the Hail and Farewell, an event where a unit welcomes new members and bids adieu to those who are departing. My JAG office at Fort Shafter is no different; we hold periodic Hail and Farewell events as new lawyers and paralegals rotate in and out. Our event on July 19th held special significance for me, however; I was not just leaving my old unit, but leaving my active-duty Army career.
For this event, my office took advantage of our location in Hawaii to go to Waikiki, Honolulu's famous tourist district. The morning started with an educational tour of the Fort DeRussy Army museum, which houses exhibits chronicling the history of the U.S. Army in the Pacific. Next, we headed over to a beach park for a barbecue lunch.
For the formal farewell portion, the Staff Judge Advocate (our senior attorney) presented me with a Meritorious Service Medal for my service during the past two years at Fort Shafter. My officemates also presented me with an American flag that had been flown over the USS Arizona on the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day--very cool.
Of course, the hardest part of the day was saying goodbye to my fellow attorneys, soldiers, and Army civilian employees. To use a well-worn cliche, my departure from the Army is bittersweet. I am leaving behind a career that has allowed me to travel the world, serve the public, and forge lifelong friendships. Fortunately, this sadness is tempered by my staying in the Army Reserve, where I can continue serving part-time as a JAG officer. Moreover, I am thrilled to be moving to Los Angeles where I can be closer to my family while attending a top-ranked business school.
So to my Army colleagues, I say thank you for your service and I hope we meet again soon. To my fellow classmates at UCLA Anderson, I say -- can't wait to meet you this fall!
-Ann Ching, '14
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