Blake Baida of Orcas Island graduated from boot camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina on May 19.

His mother, Marie Drape, and stepfather, Peter D. Drape, also live on Orcas.

Their other children, twins Brooke and Devin, were first in the family to join the service.

“Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have imagined any, let alone all three, of my children would be serving in the United States Military,” said Marie. “I could not be prouder than I am today.”

Brooke joined the Air Force Reserve and graduated to become a Biomedical Engineering Technician.  She and her husband, who is also a BMET, are currently stationed at Eglin AFB in Florida.

Cpl. Devin, who graduated from the Marine Corps as a Communication Specialist, spent 12 months with Regimental Combat Team 2, in Afghanistan. He recently returned to his station, Camp Lejeune, in North Carolina.

Blake, the oldest, is following in their footsteps and will graduate August 5 as a Paralegal, then on to Ft. Benning, Ga. to paratrooper’s school. Blake and Tonya Perdue, of Orcas Island, were married in February of 2011.

“In retrospect, I should have known they may have decided to serve their country,” Marie said. “Their maternal grandmother and grandfather served in the British Royal Air Force during WWII, their father and stepfather were both in the U.S. Air Force – Peter served in the Vietnam war.”

The Drapes thank the Orcas community for their support when Devin was serving in Afghanistan.

“Thank you to Orcas Outfitters who helped Blake put together a care package for Devin and Judy Wallace whose love and dedication to our servicemen and women is just superb,” Marie said. “She sent over 10 care packages to Devin and his regiment during the holiday season.”