Charles and Alyce Richardson of Fillmore had the honor and privilege to witness the church service and promotional ceremony for Gordon A. Richardson, their nephew, who was promoted to Colonel in the United States Army. The ceremony took place on July 6, 2012 at Colonel Richardson's home base, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Colonel Richardson started his career as a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC) where he began as a freshman at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He graduated from college there in June, 1990 as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He received a permanent commission as a reward for graduating number one in his ROTC class. Now, 22 years later, he's been promoted to full Colonel.

This is note worthy because his father, a West Point graduate, retired as a Lt. Colonel. His two older brothers, also West Point graduates, retired as a Lt. Colonel and a Major after distinguished careers in the US Army. The point being that to reach this lofty goal being a West Point grad is not the only way to accomplish this highly sought after military rank, but if you are a great solider like Colonel Richardson there is no "glass ceiling".

Colonel Richardson told me that if I were to author an article about him to remember to encourage high school seniors to look into pursuing a similar path. He mentioned that there are only 247 General Officers above the rank of Colonel and the fact that he's going to stay in the Army until retirement after 30 years, he might become one of them. Only God knows for sure!

Colonel Richardson certainly has had a wealth of Army experience in his 22 years of service. He's served in the Iraq War, been on the DMZ in South Korea commanding an Artillery Battalion, and has held numerous leadership positions while serving in Germany and stateside. He is being assigned to Afghanistan in 2013. His list of earned and deserved medals is long and varied from Combat Action Badge (given to soldiers engaged with the enemy), Bronze Star (given for his distinguished service in Iraq), the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters (means he was given this award 5 times) and numerous other medals.

He just completed his schooling at the War College Fellowship, School of Advanced Military Studies at Ft. Leavenworth where he received a Masters Degree (second one) in Military Arts and Science and his promotion to Colonel. He is now teaching the same courses he took to new incoming and possible future Generals.

Colonel Richardson is married to his wife of 23 years and they have two boys. One is and Eagle Scout (as had Colonel Richardson attained) and the other is about to obtain his Eagle Award as well.

He epitomizes what it means to serve in the US Army and has a burning desire to serve his country. He knows what it takes to continue to make America a safer country to live in. God bless him, his family, the Armed Forces and God bless America.