Occasionally, as with anyone, I get all caught up in the minutiae of my life. Lots of thoughts about work, of course. This past Saturday, I had the privilege of being involved with something that gave me a fresh perspective - something that God has His way of giving me, periodically.
I was there, with 97.3 The Eagle, at Pier 14 at the Norfolk Naval Station, with 10,000 other folks, to greet the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group coming home after a seven and a half month deployment. I saw parents, wives with their children in tow, excited girlfriends, etc. When the actually carrier pulled in, the Eagle was playing, very loud and proud, Lee Greenwood's "God Bless The USA". That scene, with the sailors manning the rails, was amazing. What came after that, though, is there the perspective showed up.
As the sailors left the carrier, I saw hundreds of them racing to the arms of loved ones but 3 scenes especially struck me. I watched a Chief Petty Officer greet his family - his wife and toddler daughter and, for the first time, he got to see and hold his new baby who arrived while he was deployed. The smile...the pride..was something I'll always remember.
The second scene was seeing a sailor rush into young lady's arms with family surrounding them and then seeing him drop to his knees and propose marriage there on the spot. The elation from everyone involved after that was priceless!
The final scene was the one that struck my heart the most. As we were packing up the Eagle Big Blue Truck, a female sailor, alone, with her bags came by to ask us if there a cab company near by and that this was her first time in Virginia. We called the company for her and arranged for a cab to pick her up. After she thanked us and walked away, we couldn't stop talking and thinking about this young lady. As we began our drive off of the base, we saw the young sailor standing waiting for the cab looking so lost so we decided to give her the ride she needed. We found out that she went from basic training right to the carrier and had never been outside of her native Texas prior to this. She was going to rent a car and "hang out" in a mall until her friend, whom she was to meet a day later, would contact her. Turns out that she was going to spend the night herself somewhere at a hotel in Virginia Beach. She was a little afraid but alot excited. Couldn't have been a day over 20. She really wanted to explore the area on her own. We, of course, made sure that she had our contact numbers just in case she needed anything.
I can't stop thinking about this young lady. Hoping that she's okay and that she was able to stay where she wanted and do some of the things she talked about. She had no friends...the only people she knew outside of her unit, was our group. The whole thing made me realize, once again, the importance of relationships, friends and family. When we have our final meeting with God, he will never ask how many hours we spent on the job.....he will ask how many lives we may have touched. So, today, work doesn't seem as crucial as it did yesterday. It's a livelihood, yes, but it's something I know I won't take with me.
2 comments:
Thanks for sharing your perspective of a ship's homecoming. You're right, the reunions are often heartwarming but yours is the first ever mentioned of someone who is truly alone. I have thought about it, of sailors returning to shore with their families far away but this one new sailor being here by herself was so touching. I hope she feels welcomed by our Southern hospitality and has a safe and happy tour here. "Welcome Texas"!
John,
During my military career I experienced two such experiences. I returned from Viet Nam as a young Airman with parents that could not afford to attend my arrival at my base and waited three days for me to arrive at my home (as did I wait to see my family) a real devasting experience. Then as a young NCO, we couldn't afford the trip for my wife and son to attend my graduation from a professional military school. I spent the graduation evening alone as others celebrated with loved ones, again devasting.
Your concern for this young sailor and your actions gave her someone at her side. From an old millitary man, Thank You and the Eagle for your efforts on her behalf.
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