Some people believe the American Dream is to become rich. I’ve always felt that it was to provide your children a better life than what you had, and I’ve always strived to achieve that. I didn’t have the best childhood growing up, so I was determined to ensure I provided a life for my children that was better than what I had.
I worked for a great family on a dairy farm in South Kortright, N.Y., and joined the Navy right out of high school. I married my high school sweetheart a year later, and spent the majority of my career in Virginia. In 2000, we welcomed our oldest son, Alex, and two years later, our youngest son, Kyle. We did our best to be sure they had everything they wanted without spoiling them, while ensuring that above all they knew they were loved. We spent our last five years in Japan, and while there, I signed up my entire family for lifetime NRA memberships in the hope that we could help ensure our Second Amendment rights, and I purchased lifetime hunting licenses in New York for the boys. We didn’t have much opportunity to hunt during my Navy career, but what chances we did have, they showed an interest in it.
I retired in 2013 and moved back home where we bought a log cabin and 27 acres of land close to where we grew up. I set out to get my kids more familiar with guns, and we all learned how to shoot bows together. I went to Spring Valley Sportsman where Mark got me and Alex outfitted with bows, and within 20 minutes we were hitting bullseyes at 20 yards. We practiced and got to work getting treestands built, shooting lanes cleared, and doing everything we could to try to ensure our success.
I hunted with my oldest son during bow season and connected on my first bow harvest, a small 7-pointer that first year. Unfortunately, Alex didn’t get one, but he had a couple chances. The following year, Kyle got his bow and he was able to connect on a spike horn. That was one of many super-proud moments for me! Later that year, Alex was able to get out during the youth hunt with a rifle. I wasn’t able to be there because of work, but a good friend of mine gladly volunteered to take him out and he connected on a 4-pointer. I’m pretty sure everyone in Dallas knew that my son got his first deer that night!
In 2014, I was able to take Kyle out during the youth hunt. It was a cool October morning, and I had just poured him a cup of hot cocoa and myself a cup of coffee when we looked behind us and saw a buck. I told him that it was a small buck but he could shoot. Just then we saw his traveling companion, and I whispered, “Buck, big buck.” We turned to get into position and the deer ran up a small hill and stared at us. I was kneeling and my son was standing, resting against the tree. I waited for the gun to report for what seemed like forever and I told him, “You’re not going to get a better shot, you better shoot soon.” Just then the gun roared, and the buck jumped and ran, and I heard it crash a few seconds later. I stood up and gave him a kiss on the forehead and a big hug, and said, “You got him!” Turned out he was a beautiful 8-pointer that dressed out at 176 pounds, which is pretty big for around us! I was elated.
Kyle attends RPI in Troy, N.Y., and still comes home to hunt. Alex joined the Air Force and is stationed in Spokane, Wash. I’ve always loved to hunt, and I’m thankful that I’ve been able to do it with my boys and pass on a great tradition that I had to learn on my own. I know my kids had a great childhood, filled with love and great memories, and because of that, I know that I’ve achieved the American Dream.
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