Ilion High School - Class of 1991

Herkimer Evening Telegram - June 22, 1991

Dad home from Desert Storm to see daughter graduate

By John McGraw Telegram Staff Writer

Article 3

Photo Caption on Page 1

Her day - Jennifer Getman (right) is graduating today from the Ilion Junior-Senior High School with the bliss of having her father, G. Stephen Getman, U.S. Naval Reserve Captain and Ilion attorney (left) home from duty connected to Operation Desert Storm. Miss Getman, who will be attending College of St. Rose in the fall, said that her graduation will mean much because her father was able to see her receive her diploma.

Dad home from Desert Storm to see daughter graduate

ILION - The United States and the allies decisive victory over Iraq in the desert is allowing Jennifer Getman to unquestionably have her day, which is forecast for sun. Her graduation from Ilion Junior-Senior High School means much more to her since it is clearly distinguishable from the past. Her father, U.S. Naval Reserve Captain G. Stephen Getman will be among the crowd of other parents, with his wife Sue, in seeing her receive her diploma early this afternoon.

Between despair, created by her father's departure and involvement in the Persian Gulf War, were the things her mother, and especially her father, gave her growing up, brightening the most bleak days during the past nine months.

Last October, Mr. Getman was called to serve in the Persian Gulf War, having to leave his legal practice in Ilion and assume his reserve duty rank. His wife, Sue, and their eight children, most of whom are still living at home, had to take on greater responsibility. Through the pain of separation, the uncertainty and hardships, their father's ingrained discipline, developed in their youth, helped the family help each other.

Grateful for her father's example and encouragement, Jennifer Getman became more determined to excel, even though war had altered her life. "It means a lot to me. Graduation would not mean as much if he wasn't home."

But while graduation day represents a pinnacle of accomplishment, Jennifer Getman recalls the rededication to her grades, at a most difficult time when her father was away. "He made us know that education is important and he made me realize that I have to study," she said. "I think if anything (the war) helped me raise my grades," she said.

Mr. Getman arrived home just in time to avoid having to make a most difficult decision. Daughter Katherine, now working as an intern at the University of Delaware graduated from State University of New York at Geneseo a week before he arrived home on May 11.

"It's really good to be home. I got home just in time to see both my daughters graduate," Mr. Getman said. "I could have been home for one of the graduations (if the war and military service had not ended when it did), but I don't think I could have been home for both. I don't know which would it would have been," he said. "This way, I am home for both," Mr. Getman said.

While her father was extremely busy with service connected to Operation Desert Storm, Jennifer, her mother and siblings were doing their best to help each other out at home, using the discipline their father taught them, and carrying each other's love, so no one was burdened unfairly.

"We took turns doing things. We knew when something had to be done. Sometimes we got into arguments as to who was going to do something, but it got done," Miss Getman said. "I thought nothing would go right, like paying the bills, because he is in control. For a while, it was depressing and it was difficult around the holidays. But we took each day at a time," Jennifer Getman said.

Mr. and Mrs. German's lesson of discipline, responsibility and hard work especially impressed their children in their early formative years, helped the family work together, yet with each one self-responsible and independent when they needed each other the most, their parents said.

"We try to help them when they ask for help. We try to get them to make decisions for themselves, but we don't tell them what to do. We don't want to choose their careers, their boyfriends or girlfriends for them. Sometimes, Sue and I are surprised that all eight of them have been such good children. We don't feel like we have worked that hard to be good parents. The most important thing is that we do what's important for the kids," Mr. Getman said.

Mrs. Getman said, "He is very stable. He is a disciplinarian. He has been very consistent, especially in the early years. I tend to be more lenient. They had it kind of easy when he was away," she mused. "I am just glad he is here in time (to see both his daughters graduate)," said Mrs. Getman, who works with the Herkimer County Public Health Nursing department.

Jennifer Getman has run a lot of races during her high school career, involved with track and cross-country while making the grade in the classroom. She may very well have run her best race for her father. Jennifer Getman was waiting for the start of a race when she saw her father walking towards the track area in May. It was the first time she had seen him in nine months. There was not a lot of opportunity for them to talk at that time. But, she made her feelings known. "She seemed real happy," the reserved Mr. Getman said. He changed his approach. "She ran one of the best races she ever ran. She and three of her teammates won a relay race against some tough competition," he said.

Today, Jennifer, who will be attending the College of St. Rose, where she will study mathematics, will try to think about the future. "Jennifer is the last of the girls. We will miss her. Next year it's us against five boys," said Getman. Said Jennifer, "I am not going to think about the past. I am happy he is here."

Her day Jennifer Getman (right) is graduating today from the Ilion Junior-Senior High School with the bliss of having her father, G. Stephen Getman, U.S. Naval Reserve Captain and Ilion attorney (left) home from duty connected to Operation Desert Storm. Miss Getman, who will be attending College of St. Rose in the fall, said that her graduation will mean much because her father was able to see her receive her diploma.