GETTYSBURG, Pa. – For most of the past nine years, it was just the three of them – a mother and her two sons navigating life side by side.
Through challenges, loss and perseverance, they built a bond through resilience. Years later, that bond would lead them to answer a call much bigger than themselves.
At 42 years old, Katherine Zito enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard as a Signals Intelligence Analyst. Standing alongside her was her 20-year-old son, Matthew Zito, who enlisted as a UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter Repairer.
What began as a joke eventually became a life-changing decision.
Matthew had come across a social media post about the military raising the enlistment age limit and sent it to his mom, half-jokingly. Katherine laughed it off, at first. When the age-waiver policy changed, she suddenly found herself asking whether this was something she should seriously consider.
After her husband lost his battle with cancer eight-and-a-half-years ago, Katherine became a widow and devoted herself to raising her family. She was a dedicated wrestling mom, traveling with her sons’ teams and supporting them every step of the way. After years of putting others first, she found herself asking a simple question: What if this opportunity was for me, too?
“I can’t encourage my kids to take advantage of opportunities like this if I’m not willing to look into them myself,” Katherine said. “The benefits apply no matter your age. This allows me to finish college, serve my community and opens doors to a new career path if I choose to pursue one. It’s never too late to step into something greater than yourself. I’ve spent years taking care of everyone else. This was my choice to do something for myself.”
Her decision is also deeply connected to her son’s decision to join. She knew if he could do it, so could she.
“I didn’t have a choice in the struggles we went through,” Katherine said. “But I did have a choice to do this. It’s never too late. Whether you’re 20 or 42, service isn’t defined by age. It’s defined by the decision to show up, commit and be part of something bigger than yourself. We also want to make my husband and Matthew’s dad proud."
Matthew’s path to service was inspired by many of the same values. As he prepared for college at Drexel University in Philadelphia, he saw the Guard as an opportunity to gain valuable skills, help pay for his education and open future career paths. The military offered a way to invest in his future while serving something bigger than himself.
“The military is going to open up so many career opportunities for me. I will get to learn and be paid to learn a skill that I cannot learn anywhere else. I am excited to see what career opportunities this opens for me, and to also be alongside this journey with my mom,” Matthew said.
With his mother by his side, Matthew learned long before enlistment what resilience truly looks like. He watched her overcome adversity, make sacrifices for her family and continue moving forward despite every obstacle life placed in her path.
Matthew is scheduled to leave for Basic Combat Training this July, and his mom is scheduled to leave in January 2027. This allows both of them to be available to support and be there for each other during their graduation days.