Oh the places we went and the people we met.....

What a year the past twelve-plus months have been. Tom always wanted his Dad and I to travel. As soon as Tom reported in to his first duty station in Anchorage, Alaska in June 2006, he signed on to have the Alaska tourism department send us a packet of information! Travel was important to Tom and something he always wanted to share with us. Share he did. We have been so many places this past year as a direct result of Tom and have met some fantastic people we would not have had the opportunity to meet. As one door closes, another opens. It certainly did.

March took us to Hawaii to visit Tom's terrific friend Jason (and beautiful family!). We spent a few days with the Hillman family, then onto a cruise ship for a relaxing seven-night cruise around the islands.

In May we found Anchorage and enjoyed driving around the last place Tom called home. We had the opportunity to meet "Tom's guys" at the 4/25 Infantry Division Memorial Service, honoring the 53 who were unable to answer the role call when the unit returned from their year-long mission in Iraq. It was a bitter-sweet weekend to share Tom stories with those who lived and shared his last year of life. Good laughs.....tears......stories.....and a little bit of healing.

May also found us travelling to Cabot, Arkansas, where our family presented the first 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Scholarship to Jared Santiago, a very deserving graduate from CHS, class of 2008.

June we met our first Grandson -- Colt Edmund Hood. His Mom posts a regular blog and you are encouraged to read all about a fantastic little boy!

July 4th was celebrated at the VFW Post 76 in downtown San Antonio, where a paver with Tom's name was laid along with other fallen heroes with San Antonio connections.

In August, we found ourselves in Thibodeaux, Lousiana were we witnessed the beautiful marriage service of another of "Tom's Brothers" -- Les Minges. Les and Corrie had a beautiful service and make such a cute couple. Erika made the wedding trip with us!

September, we met Mr. Tom Davidson, an honorary USMA graduate, who is working on a living history project. Mr. Davidson is a fabulous man who is trying like all of us, to keep Tom's spirit alive. Thanks Mr. D!

The end of September, we traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the White House Commission Time of Remembrance Service. It was a beautiful service, complete with fabulous speeches, beautiful music, and other families grieving the loss of their personal heroes. If those leaving the service didn't feel patriotic that day -- they never will! It was a very moving service, complete with words of comfort from some of our favorites -- Ross Perot, Gen George Casey, Gen Barry McCaffrey. Erika joined us in Washington, D.C., as did Ed's brother Dan and wife Diana. From Washington, D.C. Erika, Ed and I travelled north to West Point to check on Tom's grave. We learned he has many "caretakers" and we're so greatful for those who check in on him. We finally got to meet Cadet David Swanson (USMA '10). David has a unique connection to Tom, in that it was through Tom's online journal that David found inspiration and encouragement to go to West Point. David is a fine young man and we enjoy keeping us with his USMA tales and appreciate his efforts to keep Tom's spirit alive.

In October, we met LTC Kendall Parks, Tom's German professor while he was at USMA. Kendall had saved bottles of wine from the Class of 2005 100th night, a special observation for cadets 100 nights before graduation. Kendall and his wife Tara joined Ed and I on the San Antonio Riverwalk for a fun evening of "Tom stories" and he presented us with an '05 Class 100th Night Bottle of wine. We credit Kendall as "the matchmaker", as it was in his class that Erika became Tom's study-buddy and tutor, at LTC Parks' suggestion!!! Tom and Erika were friends before that German class, but it was during the close-encounters when the love blossomed! Way to go Kendall -- it was only a matter of time before Tom caught her!

In mid October, we snuck another trip to Fayetteville!!! Can't get enough of that Grandson!!!

The end of October we made way to South Dakota to witness another beautiful wedding. Our niece, Kimberly Hilton (Sis Elaine's oldest daughter) married Danny Hawkins. It was a fabulous time to reconnect with the extended Martin family.

December brought the grand opening of the Returning Heroes Home on the BAMC grounds at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. A paver with Tom's name lies on the beautiful grounds at the entrance to the place where wounded warriors and familes heal and reconnect their lives.

Here we are the first week of December and on the East Coast! Ed and I are at Fort Lee, Virginia, where I will be calling home for the next few years. Fort Lee is the home of the Quartermaster Corps and an exciting place right now, because of the Army transformation.