"Some of you may be surprised," newly-minted Brigadier General Andrew Poppas '88 said at the beginning of his remarks, "but my first act as a general is to be out of uniform."
Sure enough, below the impeccable uniform Poppas wore a pair of decidedly outdated brown leather boots.
"I ask your forgiveness," he said, "because I'm wearing the jump boots worn by my father when he was a paratrooper back in the 1950's."
There was no real need to ask forgiveness. Everyone in attendance had just heard the story as told by 101st Airborne Division commander Major General James McConville '81 during the introductory remarks.
The new brigadier general's father, George, was a quintessential American success story.
He had come to the U.S. as an immigrant in 1946 following World War II.
He arrived speaking no English, starting out in the restaurant business and working until his country called in 1950 at the beginning of the Korean War.
Because he spoke Greek, he was sent to Europe, where he served his country proudly.
Following that, he raised three successful children and steeped them in the American Dream, together with the values that the son listed like prized possessions -- "family, honor, good name, and perseverance."