Katie Andrews

The Flag of Her Father

Senior Katie Andrews holds her great-grandfather’s WWI helmet while her dad, Colonel Phil Andrews, holds his helmet from his recent deployment in Iraq. (Photo by Sydney Daniels)

The Flag of Her Father

Senior Katie Andrews shares her experience of life with a parent who serves in the military.

LAYOUT AND STORY BY SYDNEY DANIELS EDITORIAL EDITOR

Her dad left on father’s day. After he actually army figurines used to strategize while the Megan Mckenzie, Andrew’s cousin said. caught his flight, her sister left for sandboxes were models of the arid terrain of the Andrews’ grandfather served in World War II college. Then her mom left for work. Middle East. No longer was it simply her dad’s job and her uncle in the Korean war, the lessons they Everyone left. in Belton, Missouri. It became the obscure thing learned were passed down to her father who passed

It was hard being home alone because there that took him away for seven months and carted them down to Andrews and her sister. was nothing to distract her from her father’s him off to the faraway land of Iraq. It was the “He’s really taught my sister and I to respect absence. It was worse than second grade because obscure entity that removed him from her life, with everybody above [us],” Andrews said. “Teachers, she had a better understanding of what was the exception of phone calls, she hardly had contact sisters, coaches, our parents, he really taught us the happening. The added stress of high school didn’t with their dad. value of if you have a job to do, get it done first and do much to alleviate the burden. It was all she could Seven months later he came home and get it done right.” think about. Her dad was gone. He was off in an everything was business as usual. They fell back As for Andrew’s potential service herself? It is obscure place that she had only seen on a map. She into a routine, Colonel left monthly to go to all up in the air. She is looking into the Reserved didn’t know when he’d Officer Training Corps (ROTC) return. She didn’t know if he’d return. “It was kind of taboo, they would treat programs at a number of universities but has not made a

Senior Katie decision. Regardless, her father Andrews is the daughter of Colonel you differently, they assume you don’t has instilled an unwavering sense of pride and honor for Phil Andrews, who has her country that will never dim been in the military for the past 30 years. In want to talk about it, but sometimes no matter where she chooses to attend school next fall. 1998, Colonel traveled “It has been my privilege to Bosnia as part of the NATO peacekeeping you do.” -Katie Andrews, senior to serve our great country. I will never forget the people I have force. Andrews was less served with in good times and than a year old when her dad was first deployed. Chicago for army reserves training and during bad,” Colonel said. “Those who have honorably

“Katie was nine months old when I left. She the week worked at the Center for Army Lessons served, either in war or peace, are part of an did not know who I was when I returned and was Learned (CALL) in Leavenworth, Kansas. exclusive club and are the type of people I like to scared of me at first. Here was this stranger in her Life for third grade Andrews, was normal hang out with. Young or old we all have something house and she didn't know what to make of it,” from then on. Her dad had a civilian job so there in common.” Colonel Andrews said. “It took several months for was no need for the spontaneous moves that Every veterans day, the Andrews family her to warm up to me.” usually accompany military lives. Everything was celebrates in their typical fashion, which features

However, Andrews doesn’t remember her going fine at least until sophomore year when her either a trip to the WWI museum or a baseball dad’s absence in her earlier years. It wasn’t until dad decided to return to active duty to access the game. Usually their family takes a few hours out second grade when he was deployed for a second benefits of the GI Bill. of their day to reflect in reverence on all that the time that she really started to understand her “It was hard because people knew that my dad military signifies both for their family and the father’s occupation. It was hard for the 8 year old was deployed but didn't really want to talk about country as a whole. It is a quiet reminder of the to wrap her mind around. it,” Andrews said. “It was kind of taboo, they would lives that were traded for our freedom.

No longer was his job the place where she treat you differently, they assume you don't want to She is the girl who rows. She is a national played in the sandboxes. The sandboxes filled talk about it but sometimes you do.” merit semifinalist. She is the girl who embodies the with plastic GI Joe figurine toys. Those very Sophomore year was hard for the entire family sciences. She is the aspiring psychologist. She is the “toys” Andrews would later come to realize, were because of Colonel Andrew’s long absence, senior girl who has lived the army life for 18 years.