As a family, they’ve lived in California, Alabama, Florida, Washington and Texas, and they even spent a six-month stint in Rome, Italy. In 2021, youngest son Colton attended three schools alone.
Now, as David’s career in the military winds down — he’s scheduled to retire in 2027 — the family is recalibrating and remembering what it means to be together.
“David’s missed a lot, Connor’s eighth grade promotion ceremony, and he missed Keegan’s fifth grade graduation last year because he wasn’t home,” Jennifer, 47, says. “It is really hard to find a family photo of all five of us. Often, he’s not in them.”
“That’s challenging,” she adds. “But these kind of experiences to come back to are really nice. They’re really special.”
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Over that weekend, the McElliott boys and their parents interacted with other families as they shared meals and took in the scenic Central Texas landscape. Of course, there was also room on the agenda for having fun.
“The hit was the 1.3 mile racetrack that was set up like a rally racing course with hairpin turns,” David tells PEOPLE. “And you got to go on there as basically as fast as you could drive the kids.”
Inspired by Blue Star Families’ “Do Your Part” initiative, which is dedicated to improving the lives of military families, the event “further reinforces Ford’s commitment to veterans and military families,” according to the auto company.
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“I think they have been an amazing, amazing organization to be a part of,” Jennifer tells PEOPLE. “I just I couldn’t believe the things that they offer.”
As for the weekend in the Hill Country, it was a memory that the McElliotts say they will cherish.
Adds David, “I think everybody had a good time driving the Broncos around and it was a good way to kind of reconnect now that I’m almost at the end of my tour.”
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Publish date : 2024-11-10 23:30:00
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