Have 31+ years working for the federal government. A new second line supervisor, a move to a new building, an illness, and my severely disabled sister and I were homeless. It happened that quickly. I have been in or around the military and federal government all of my life. I was born and raised in an Air Force family. My father served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force and my mother along side him. Upon his retirement he continued to serve his country by becoming a federal employee. Having grown up during the Great Depression and World War II service to country was big in my parents' generation. I believe this is why their generation was the "great generation". During the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War, like a lot of men, my father was away a lot. My mother held down the fort raising four children, working part time, and made it all seem effortless. While my parents faced certain adversities due to Jim Crow and segregation,they shielded us, and it never soured them or made them bitter. They raised us to not see color but to see the person instead. My brothers and sisters being older than I were more aware of the realities of minorities living and working in our nation. Being the youngest I was never exposed to it or was too young to recognize or realize what it was at the time. They instilled in us a strong work ethic, a high sense of personal integrity, and taught us to stand up for ourselves, each other, and those unable to stand up for themselves in the face of injustice; they raised us to do the right thing.