Teniete Coronel

On February 8th Chris was promoted from a Major to a Lutenent Cornel in the US Air Force. Chris’s parents and sister made the trip down to El Salvador to be present for the ceremony. The promotion ceremony was attended by approximately 50-60 friends and presided over by the Cornel and Ambassador.

Chris’s commanding officer served as the MC and began the ceremony by telling a story about the first time she met Chris…. “I called up Chris while he was still in Nebraska to talk to him about the position. I remember thinking after I hung up the phone…What are we getting ourselves into…but we were desperate.”

After getting a few laughs from the crowd she went on to recount many of the accolades and accomplishments of Chris’s 20 years of service leading up to today. As Chris’s biggest fan, I was especially proud to hear all his praises sung in front of his friends, colleagues, family members and Embassy dignitaries.

She said that Chris was such a humble guy… (yes, I actually laughed out loud, but they were not joking). Chris’s easy going personality is not what you would expect from a decorated war veteran with 3 tours in Iraq and Afganistan. Many in attendance had no idea he was among one of the bravest, honorable and select few A-10 fighter pilots providing close, slow moving air support to the soldiers on the ground. Many in attendance had no idea that Chris’s father was a retired two-star General, or that the Nebraska Attorney General was a personal friend and traveled down to help pin on his oak leaf clusters. She made her point by saying that Chris was a good, God fearing, earnest man, raised in the heartland of America, who works his tail off without telling everyone how cool he is. The MC joked that she wouldn’t be surprised if President Bush was waiting in the next room.

After Chris’s father, the Ambassador, the Cornel, AG Brunning, and I pinned on his new rank he spoke to the crowd. He hadn’t been feeling well and I bet his dad that he couldn’t make it thru the speech without mentioning the bug. He didn’t say five words before the gig was up, “Thank you for coming… except the small paracite in my stomach…har har har”. Chris spoke about the one-man theory, his quest to be the same man regardless of the environment; work, home, pool, chuch, in the car…etc. It was very well received and our good friend commented that Chris Stokes is best unscripted. He cracked some (actually funny) jokes on the fly and won over the admiring crowd.

The second best event of the day was the party following the ceremony at pool. There were margaritas, mariachis, and a fabulous balloon arch. At the risk of being a corny cheese ball, I have to say that I am so honored to share my life with my unassuming husband. He is an inspiration to me and I look forward to the day when we pin on the star.