From Milton to Bunker Hill

Not that long ago, a bunch of rabble-rousing rebels in the New England colonies got up enough gumption to put up a good fight at Bunker Hill, scaring the red coats and setting the stage for the founding of our country. They risked their lives for the idea of independence.

I’ve always been fascinated by American military history and, consequently, have always had great respect for those who serve.

I’ve been especially anxious for this next generation, of which my four children are a part.

Are they willing to set aside their comforts and possibly fight for their country?

When I found out that my neighbor, Liz Swenson, had a son at Georgetown University who had been accepted into ROTC — Reserve Officers’ Training Program — I started bugging her to learn more.

Tim Swenson, son of Elizabeth and David Swenson, graduated from Milton High School and will be a senior at Georgetown, located in Washington, D.C.

He’s spending some of his summer in ROTC training while waiting to hear back from law schools. He may end up deferring his service, but will be required to serve in some capacity.

Tim was kind enough to respond to questions I had about his generation’s response to recent political events and whether he thought his peers would be willing to serve their country.

“I think like many others of my generation, September 11th fundamentally changed me and what I wanted to do with my life,” Tim wrote. “I think that day was a bit of a baptism into maturity for a lot of us as we watched in disbelief that the world was far different than what we had ideally thought and believed…I think a lot of us felt a new responsibility had been passed down to us.”

When I asked him how he felt about the ROTC program, he wrote:

“ROTC has given me an education that I don’t believe I could receive from any other institution. We are taught from our freshman year the art of leadership. We are placed in situations of ambiguity and uncertainty, with enormous pressure and constraints, and are asked to make and implement a decision.

“Furthermore, we are training to eventually commission as officers, and for many of us we will be in charge of upwards of 30-40 soldiers and millions of dollars in equipment all before the age of twenty-five.”

Tim went on to explain how the ROTC experience is not as rigorous as if one were at a military academy like West Point, but that it sure isn’t a typical college experience.

The extra training required by ROTC necessitates the value of time management, Tim said, and one weekend a month the battalion participates in training that begins on Thursdays and ends on Sunday nights.

On a very thoughtful note, Tim mentioned how anyone considering ROTC should discuss such a decision with the entire family.

“I failed to realize the implications this decision would have on my family…When deciding to join the military my parents were very cautious about the process, and it frustrated me a great deal because I felt they were worrying too much and that I had it all figured out.

“In hindsight I realize the decision I was making was not just affecting me, but everyone in my family.”

As for his generation’s assessment of America, Tim said: “For the most part I think we still believe in the greatness of this country…We can seem a bit disheartened of disillusioned at times, but when our country is in need of solidarity and community we come together. Perhaps this past election proved that young people still yearn to get involved.”

Good luck to Tim Swenson as he completes his senior year at Georgetown and contemplates the ways in which he can serve his country. I think those rebels at Bunker Hill would be proud.

Veronica Buckman, a writer, has been a resident of Milton for six years.