{"id":1703,"date":"2017-07-21T15:42:57","date_gmt":"2017-07-21T19:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stephaniesilberwordsworks.com\/?p=1703"},"modified":"2017-07-29T16:13:27","modified_gmt":"2017-07-29T20:13:27","slug":"navy-retirement-ceremony-sweet-surprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hometeamproductions.tv\/wordsworks\/navy-retirement-ceremony-sweet-surprise\/","title":{"rendered":"A NAVY RETIREMENT CEREMONY (And A Sweet Surprise)"},"content":{"rendered":"

On a recent, blazingly hot day, Home Team Productions had the privilege of filming a Navy retirement ceremony at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Fl. \u00a0After 28 years of service, Command Master Chief Pat <\/a>is hanging up his uniform and stepping back into private life.<\/p>\n

\"Campbell-Uniform\"<\/a>A tall, imposing presence with an easy, good-natured manner, CMC Pat is resplendent in his dress uniform, which is festooned with medals. \u00a0Pat has served in dozens of the world’s hottest spots, from Afghanistan, to Iraq, to Bahrain, to Guantanamo Bay, and many, many more.<\/p>\n

As All Saints Chapel fills up with Pat’s loved ones and comrades, the gently swirling ceiling fans above the glossy wooden pews do little to cool the attendees. \u00a0No one seems to care. \u00a0This is a day for celebration. \u00a0Light streams through the stained-glass windows, shedding motes of tinted dust.<\/p>\n

\"all<\/a><\/p>\n

CMC Pat hails from Durham, NC, and family and friends have traveled far to share this moment with him.\u00a0 The pride is palpable.\u00a0 Pat’s Mom is front and center.\u00a0 His siblings are on hand, as is his beautiful grown daughter.\u00a0 Also in attendance is\u00a0his special lady, Kathie, herself\u00a0a member of the military, and\u00a0three years\u00a0away from her own retirement.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a>Pageantry, staunch patriotism, and a deep love and respect for colleagues are front and center today.\u00a0 As the flag is ceremoniously unfurled by the Color Guard, snapping open gloriously in\u00a0the hushed chapel, the attendees emit an audible gasp.<\/p>\n

During an initial meeting with Pat, he recalled his 28 years of “standing the watch<\/a>.”\u00a0 One deployment found him out at sea for “one hundred forty-something days straight.”\u00a0 He added soberly, “People don’t want to say it, but we’re still at war.\u00a0 We have people in some places, bad places right now. We have our sailors on the USS Fitzgerald<\/a>, we just lost seven of them out at sea.”<\/p>\n

CMC Pat was silent for a beat, remembering.<\/p>\n

“I’ve been through fires,” he said quietly.\u00a0 “I’ve been through jet crashes.\u00a0 I’ve done hurricane recovery, Haiti.”<\/p>\n

But today he has a very special mission, a happy one.\u00a0 As is customary, he begins a ceremonious\u00a0presenting of gifts to those who touched deeply his life and career; many of those are folded flags, handsomely framed.\u00a0 A little boy is the recipient of something he will surely carry through his life with enormous pride.<\/p>\n

“This is my grandson, y’all, ” Pat says, allowing his own pride to shine.\u00a0 “And these are my dog tags from 1988.\u00a0 Paw-paw’s dog tags.”<\/p>\n

Then it was Kathie’s turn.\u00a0 The chapel was hushed as Pat announces, “Kathie and I have been dating for about three years now.”\u00a0 After a brief pause, he adds, “She’s really cool people.”<\/p>\n

And with no further ado, he dropped to one knee and proffered a small box as he said, “I knew the very moment I fell in love, just as I knew the very moment I wanted to marry you.”<\/p>\n

\"Navy<\/a><\/p>\n

The crowd went crazy.\u00a0 Screams of delight and exultation rose into the very rafters.\u00a0 As predicted, Kathie wept.<\/p>\n

And so, it begins: a real life happy ending.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On a recent, blazingly hot day, Home Team Productions had the privilege of filming a Navy retirement ceremony at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Fl. \u00a0After 28 years of service, Command Master Chief Pat is hanging up his uniform and stepping … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n