You know that you have been in the military a long time when teammates of yours or your spouses have children that are now in the military. This has been the case for us for some time now. We have attended two graduation ceremonies over the past two months. Both have been graduations from the Special Forces Qualification Course, and both graduates have had fathers that have served with my husband.

First let me say that the ceremonies we attended were exceptionally well put together. Sgt. Maj. Sinko, or as I call him, Bobby, has really given these young men the honor they, and their families, deserve. It is clear that his 28 years of service are well reflected in his attention to detail. Thank you Sgt. Maj. Sinko for giving these ceremonies, and everything else you do, the respect they deserve.

Just last week we stood in the rain and watched the Regimental First Formation. This ceremony comes the day before the graduation and marks the official “donning of the Green Beret.” This is the official entry into the Special Forces for these young men. My husband and I stood amongst other friends and family all there to honor and celebrate their graduate.

It was Staff Sgt. Ronald L. Bucca that we came to see. Ronnie’s father had served with my husband in the 11th Special Forces Group. This is a now deactivated army reserve unit that was situated in Newburgh, New York, about 60 miles outside of New York City. Bucca’s father was a New York City fire marshal who died on Sep. 11, 2001. He was rescuing people from the south tower and had made it to the 78th floor. To put that in perspective, he was one floor below where the plane had crashed. He is said to have been one of only a few firefighters to have made it that high up the tower.

In the ’80s, Ron was at a fire in New York when a backblast blew him off a fire escape. He fell several stories and broke his back. Instead of retiring when some were telling him he could not recover fully, he rehabilitated himself and returned to firefighting, earning the distinction of being called “the flying fireman.” That was the kind of man Ron was, and that is the type of fine young man Ronnie has become.

I looked over at my husband last Wednesday as we stood drenched in the rain. As the young Special Forces soldiers placed their green berets on for the first time, I noticed a few tears in my husband’s eyes. I followed his gaze to young Ron, and I immediately understood the reason for the tears. Staff Sgt. Ronald L. Bucca had placed his father’s beret with the 11th Special Forces group flash on his head. Young Ron was honoring his father, his legacy, and the men of the Special Forces, by reminding us all of the very real cost of freedom.

Many members of the NYC Fire Department were in attendance for the Regimental First Formation, the graduation, and for a ceremony at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, where a memorial stone was unveiled in the front walkway to the entrance of the museum. The stone is in honor of the flying fireman, Ronald P. Bucca. At a dinner later that evening, young Ron thanked all the firefighters for their unwavering support of his family. He said he lost his father on Sept. 11, but gained many “uncles.”

Ronnie has become an honorary member of the O’Connor clan. He has shared a plate or two of corned beef and cabbage at our home and sipped a few glasses of Guinness by the pool. I am sure that both Brendan and Ronnie’s fathers are doing the same somewhere. Undoubtedly toasting their sons and their honorable service. Peace to all.