Offically Retired

Well we had Bill's retirement ceremony on Friday last week. Boy was it a whopper of a day. The weather went really bad so many of our friends could not come from Philly, but we had a wonderful turnout. Bill's parents and his brother's family where able to make it out in the terrible snow, ice, slush.... that fell all day. As well as close friends that live here in the area... The Kissel's and The Damiano's.
The ceremony itself was very nice. A few of the gold bar's (graduated Lieutenants working as recruiters) made a sweet video of our time here at PSU and included some great pictures of Bill and our family with cadets over the years. Bill made a really nice speech, a little humor, a little history and lots of thanks.

After his ceremony he had to do two 1st salutes. They made sure that they mentioned his retired status LOL it sounded so strange. But such is the life of a SFC retired.

Bill is now employed at PSU!

Well, we have some great news to share this week. Bill received a job offer as a security guard at Penn State this week. We had been trusting that God would provide a suitable job for him and we feel this is it. He will be starting right after the New Year. One of the many request we have had during this time was that Bill would be able to enjoy his leave from the Military and have the assurance of a job starting in the New Year. Well I will be the first to admit that I struggled with trusting that God would grant such request but He has shown us such grace and mercy during this time. Looking back on the last few months we can clearly see God's hand at work and see each time He lifted us up when we were down or doubting. And in the end He provide just what we had asked for: Bill has been able to have an great few months (being around home, picking up deer, working with friends, and just enjoying life) and he has a job to go to in January. Praise God!

Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior. --Karl von Clausewitz

Bravery, is not acting out of a lack of fear-that is easy;
it is having the ability to act despite one's fear.
-adapted from Ambrose Hollingsworth Redmoon

Life has a certain flavor for those who have fought and risked all that the sheltered and protected can never experience.
- John Stuart Mill

It is with great honor and privilege that we announce the

RETIREMENT
OF
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS WILLIAM JOSPEH NEUMANN, JR
FROM THE
UNITED STATES ARMY

We will be celebrating his 21 year U. S. Army career
on
December 19, 2008
with a formal ceremony
at the
Boalsburg Military Museum
Boalsburg, Pa
at
3:00 o’clock in the afternoon.

Please feel free to attend.

Please RSVP to bbneumann@juno.com
(attendees only)

Road Kill Strikes Again

Many of you may not know about Bill's hobby... he has become quite good at finding fresh road kill. Well this past week has been a whopper. He got a 9 point buck earlier and then a 10 point. Needless to say we have been wanting to get deer heads for the mountain house and now we have them plus a story. The kids were really excited too!

A Message from Ryan about Daddy's Retirement

Yesterday after Bill came home from his last day at work, Dustin was asking Bill what he was doing the next day. Ryan inturupted and said " Dad you aren't doing anything tomorrow, you are reitred now!"

Goodbye SFC Neumann / Hello Mr. Neumann

Hi everyone! Well, we are on our way to becoming civilians this week and decided to share our transition with you. As of tomorrow SFC William Neumann will be called Mr. Neumann! What a change that will be for all of us. Bill goes to Carlisle Barracks tomorrow and clears for one last time, turns in his Active Duty ID card and goes onto Retired status. He will be on terminal leave for 2 months (this means the Army still pays him but he is free to find other employment) as he transitions into the civilian work force.

Transition - that is a funny word-not only does he transition but so do the rest of us! Sarah said in a begruding voice the other day "but I don't know how to be a civilian I only know Army Brat" Hence that is how Bill and I feel to some extent (except for the brat part). We know this is what God wants for our lives but we don't exactly know what to expect. We can say we are expecting great things from God and even in the turmoil hold on to His promise to "prosper us not harm us" as we look for jobs and adjust to all the changes.