Next I want to give a special thank you to AWC Steve Riley and AW1 Jeff Moore for the work that they put in setting this ceremony up. I have been involved in a few of these things and know first hand the efforts required to make these events a success.
Next I would say thank you to all the participants. Thank you for getting all dressed up and looking as sharp as you do. Navy Pride runs deep. Traditionally one would have more senior personnel as sideboys, but today I want this retirement to be about the future and you young men and women represent that future for our Navy.
This retirement is also about change, a change in careers, a change in lifestyle, and a change in location. Change is good for it keeps us fresh and on our toes. It also keeps us from taking things for granted. The Navy has determined that I need that change. I figured that out since every aircraft carrier I have deployed on is now decommissioned and my old squadron and home field have been disestablished that my naval career could not be far behind.
I have been most fortunate during my Navy career. I got to be home to bring my two wonderful kids into this world, I got to see many places one usually only gets to dream about. I got to be a part of the most awesome aircraft the Navy put to sea. And I got to watch as friends and family went on to become successes in and out of the Navy.
I have seen my fair share of world crises, from the taking of the hostages in Iran, Grenada, the fall of the Iron Curtain, Haiti, Panama, Somalia and Bosnia, and the never-ending turmoil in the Middle East and Persian Gulf. I have had the tragic opportunity to watch on more than one occasion as death snatched a shipmate’s life away. I have been this close to death myself more times than I care to remember. All these experiences have caused me to grow in some way, and I have tried to pass on all those hard learned lessons to others so that they might be spared some particular sadness or embarrassment in their lives.
I have seen a lot of changes in the Navy. I remember the near race riots. I remember when women did not serve onboard ships or in operational squadrons. I remember when women first became AW’s and when we changed the name of our rate. I have seen almost 50 classes of submarine become obsolete during my career and I hope I have laid the ground work for those that follow me to make the rest of them obsolete too.
Some people may look upon this retirement ceremony as the end of a long and distinguished career, and while that is true, it also follows that this ceremony marks the beginning of a new and adventure filled life. I choose the later and hope that when your time comes, whenever that may be, that you will too.
Thank you.
