Military Family
Dear Frankie,
I come from a canine and human military family. My dad was a major in the army and my two siblings, King and Duke, served in the canine army corps.
King was a bomb sniffer. He served for 10 years and retired as a decorated hero. Duke worked with the military police and told many tales of apprehending his fair share of bad guys. There were a few bad girls but mostly guys. King was no slouch either when talking about the hair-raising reconnaissance expeditions he experienced.
If I keep up the family’s military tradition, which everyone expects me to do, I will be old enough on my next birthday to sign up. The truth is I don’t want to serve in the military. I’m not very courageous and criminals scare me. I love my dad and brothers and don’t want to disappoint them. But I know I’m not cut out for a military career, for me it would be a life of misery.
Sherman
Dear Sherman,
I commend you for recognizing that a military career is not for you. I suggest you tell your dad and brothers that you won’t be following in their footsteps as soon as possible to end their false expectations.
Tell them that you are more than willing to work with or on behalf of soldiers, but you don’t want to be a soldier. One way you thought you might serve, is working as a therapy dog at the VA hospital or as a visiting companion to soldiers in their homes.
You might suggest the family start a new military tradition by having your brothers also become therapy dogs. Another thought is that your brothers speak at local groups and schools about their military experiences, and you become their agent.
Best, Frankie
© 2025 Geneva Woodruff
Comments and letters can be sent to Frankie at dearfrankiecolumn@gmail.com. The Fairhaven Neighborhood News publishes the Dear Frankie column. To receive a free online subscription, readers can email neighbnews@comcast.net, request their name be added to the email list or visit www neighbnews.com to read the paper online or to download the latest issue.
•••
Click here to download the 3/20/25 issue: 03-20-25 U11Kids
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal
