ALL CHOKED UP AND PROUD
A few days ago I had the privilege of getting to watch some of our Navy ships come into port. For the past several months, the harbor has been pretty empty. I love to go down to our beach and ship watch and business has been really slow. I had notice that this was going to be a aircraft carrier group, which is always a sight to see and rarely do we get the privilege here. Maybe two or three times a year.
I got there just in time to see her smaller ships come in first. One that was stationed here had been gone for 7 months. She was all decked out and had the biggest American Flag flying from her. She was ready for home and family. She had been sitting just off the coast overnight, needless to say a real tease for the families. Her sailors were all topside and in their finest whites, standing at attention. One after one they came.
Then suddenly across the horizen, there she came, WOW, that is all that I can say. She is big and she is beautiful. Her helicopters were running constant patrol and the Coast Guard was right there also. Harbor Patrol was at it's highest attention. I followed her progress and the audience grew as people were catching sight of her from their windows at home and ran down to the beach. They have a saying here that says "It gives you Chicken Skin," and that is exactly how you can describe it.
Just as she got here in full view, there were all her sailors, standing at attention all the way around that huge ship. A few thousand of them with all their aircraft on display.
If you can stand there at a very close range like I was and see all those fine young men and women standing proud and in their dress whites and don't get choked up, well, then, I don't think you have a heart.
I have been blessed again to witness such a sight. Everyone was waving their arms to welcome them. Some were sneaking waves back.
I admit, I am a softie when it comes to the military and the Navy especially. My dad was here during the war on a sub and our son in law
is in the Navy, and out on world tour now, hopefully this will be a stop.
So when I hear anything negative about our servicemen, I take it very personally. We have the best in the world.
I got there just in time to see her smaller ships come in first. One that was stationed here had been gone for 7 months. She was all decked out and had the biggest American Flag flying from her. She was ready for home and family. She had been sitting just off the coast overnight, needless to say a real tease for the families. Her sailors were all topside and in their finest whites, standing at attention. One after one they came.
Then suddenly across the horizen, there she came, WOW, that is all that I can say. She is big and she is beautiful. Her helicopters were running constant patrol and the Coast Guard was right there also. Harbor Patrol was at it's highest attention. I followed her progress and the audience grew as people were catching sight of her from their windows at home and ran down to the beach. They have a saying here that says "It gives you Chicken Skin," and that is exactly how you can describe it.
Just as she got here in full view, there were all her sailors, standing at attention all the way around that huge ship. A few thousand of them with all their aircraft on display.
If you can stand there at a very close range like I was and see all those fine young men and women standing proud and in their dress whites and don't get choked up, well, then, I don't think you have a heart.
I have been blessed again to witness such a sight. Everyone was waving their arms to welcome them. Some were sneaking waves back.
I admit, I am a softie when it comes to the military and the Navy especially. My dad was here during the war on a sub and our son in law
is in the Navy, and out on world tour now, hopefully this will be a stop.
So when I hear anything negative about our servicemen, I take it very personally. We have the best in the world.
posted by the golden horse at 2:51 AM
6 Comments:
You and me, kid. Are we gettin' more melancholy with age?
I thought you'd be interested in this, gal!
And then I found this! Is that you standing on the beach, waving at the sailors?
GB
Yep, that is my guys. What a group to see. And that is me on the beach also. First I was on the beach itself, then on the far right side, there is a little point out by the water and that is where I stood. I could have tossed a baseball to them.
GB
I forgot to thank you for the wonderful pictures. While driving by the Harbor yesterday, there she stood out in all her glory.
Geez GH,
I got "chicken skin" just reading your description of the ships coming in. I felt like I was there, too, and I got choked up.
I am also a softie when watching our men & women of the military and I am so proud of them and think they are the best in the world.
My daughter was in the AF for 5 yrs and she was in NYC that night on 9/11 and although she called me, she was not allowed to say where she was...but I knew.
I found out later they had flown them & their helicopters in to assist the medics on getting the injured & dead out of there.
Anyhow, my point is - I get so scared for our young people that have to go to war, fight terrorists or police a foreign country in times of turmoil. And I am so thrilled to see them when they come home safely, and no matter what they've been through, they are still proud to be an American.
Joker,
My hats off to your daughter. I know she did you proud and what a scary time that was for you. The phone call without the needed info.
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