Amanda Goebel’s voice filled the Sleep Country Amphitheater and drew cheers from thousands as she delivered the national anthem with style and poise to kick off Saturday’s Washington State University Vancouver commencement.
It wasn’t only her accomplished vibrato and the way she nailed the high notes, that drew the audience to her. It was also what came before: She dedicated the anthem to her husband of four months, Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan Goebel, who is training at Camp Pendleton in California for deployment to Afghanistan early next year, and to all who are serving in the nation’s armed forces.
Amanda Goebel, 23, was one of 917 graduates honored at Saturday’s ceremony. She was awarded a degree in elementary education. But her mind already was on the future. She was anticipating boarding a plane to San Diego on Sunday to join her husband, who was not allowed to leave the base and travel to Vancouver for her big day.
Packing won’t be a problem, she said, because she’s been living out of suitcases for months. “My husband took all the furniture.”
They planned to celebrate their four-month anniversary with a romantic dinner in Oceanside, Calif., where an apartment they chose together was waiting.
She admitted to being a little nervous before the ceremony, mostly about slowing down and getting the dedication right. She has been singing, she said, “since preschool,” in church choirs and state and district choirs, at football games and at Disney World with her high school choir.
She sang in South Korea with the Clark Jazz Choir at Clark College, and in the eastern European nation of Slovakia while on a mission there sponsored by New Heights Church.
Her father’s job as a distribution manager kept the family moving while she was growing up. Born in Missouri, she had lived in Oklahoma, Tennessee and Kansas before moving to Clark County three years ago.
Amanda heard about the chance to sing the national anthem at commencement through an email that circulated on campus. “I responded quickly,” she said. “I auditioned. I said I would be dedicating the national anthem to my husband and other members of the military.” After the audition, she was in.
She met Jonathan two years ago at an engagement party for her best friend, who is also married to a Marine. At the time, Jonathan was based at Naval Base Kitsap in Silverdale.
“We married in January,” she said. “He just got his orders. Everything changed with his deployment. He has been at Camp Pendleton for two months.”
Jonathan Goebel has been assigned to the 1st Intelligence Battalion.
Goebel is thinking about her own career, too. She praised the elementary education program she completed at WSU Vancouver.
“I think that WSU is probably one of the best programs,” she said. “We get to spend a whole year student teaching. Most programs only go from January to April, but we got to be there from September to April.”
She’s taught at various levels. Kindergarten is her favorite.
The job market is tough for new teachers, but she plans to apply at the three elementary schools located on the base at Camp Pendleton.
On Saturday, her parents, Bob and Veronica Howard of Ridgefield, videotaped her performance on a cell phone. Her mom was going to try to send it to California via Skype.
Waiting for the processional to begin, she showed off her cap, which she had adorned with sequins in the shape of an American flag with the message “I Love Lcpl Goebel!”
Asked whether she’s concerned about her husband’s upcoming nine-month deployment to Afghanistan, especially given the recent killing of Osama bin Laden and possible repercussions in the region, she said not really.
“I know that this is what he wants to do, I’m proud of him. I knew marrying him that this would be part of it.”
Kathie Durbin: 360-735-4523 or kathie.durbin@columbian.com.
