Oath ceremony thrills father, son
By Staff
BOLIVAR—Lt. Col. Pat Crisler recently had the honor of administering an Army oath of office to his son, Joel, before the start of the Southwest Baptist University (SBU) homecoming football game Oct. 11.
Joel was dressed in his football uniform as his father came out as the senior commissioned officer who is required to give him the oath that will lead to him being commissioned as a second lieutenant. The younger Crisler has received an Army ROTC scholarship that will pay for his tuition and books.
SBU decided to hold the ceremony on the 50-yard line.
“They had all the bells and whistles with flags and mike so the crowd was able to hear everything,” Pat Crisler said. “You could have heard a pin drop as I had Joel repeat after me, but when it was over the noise was deafening from all that were witnesses. I have not seen such a positive response for one of these ceremonies in my life, and the kids at Joel’s school could not have been any more supportive.”
It was highly unusual that the elder Crisler was there in the first place. He was back in the United States “for a very quick run” from Kansas City to Bolivar to San Antonio and back to Kansas City. The Bolivar ROTC unit found out that he was going to be in the vicinity and worked out the details of the oath ceremony in just five days.
Joel Crisler is a member of First Baptist Church, Festus-Crystal City, and graduated from Festus High School.