A Brother's Words; A Sister's Thoughts by Cindy Campbell

Milestones. You use them as markers to measure success and motivate you to move forward. Chris had many of them on his mission to become a United States Navy SEAL. In order to achieve each one, he had to have a plan which required self-discipline and dedication. I am grateful I had the privilege to witness a few of these moments. Joining the Navy was only the first step. Upon graduation from Basic Training, there was "A" School. This is different for each Sailor and contingent upon their career path in the Navy. As a civilian myself, I consider it similar to choosing a college major. To give you an idea, a few of the programs focus on specialties such as meteorology, communication, culinary, engineering and even music! The reason for my sharing this is to let you know it's a process of steps on the grand adventure to become a US Navy SEAL. It requires investing an incredible amount of time, effort and hard work. It's an intensive commitment that pushed Chris to explor...

I opened a box a few days ago that had been intentionally tucked away. Keeping it in a corner, behind closed doors, gave me a sense of control. Although its contents were out of sight, when I opened the closet door, my heart lurched. I could feel my jaw clench, and I instinctively held my breath. I knew exactly what was in the box, yet the emotions that surfaced always took me back to August 6, 2011. But, it was time - time to revisit some beautiful memories so that I could share them with you.  Everyone's calendar is filled with dates that are meaningful to them... birthdays, holidays and graduations, to name a few. Many of these special moments are shared with those we love. Shortly after Chris turned 22, he joined the United States Navy. The date was Monday, November 25, 1996. I was living in Virginia at the time and decided to drive down to North Carolina that weekend to join my parents and take Chris to the recruiter's office. It was a BIG day! When I left for college, my ...