“As a retiree from the Navy Submarine Force, on Veterans Day, I always remember and pay tribute to the crews of the USS Thresher and USS Scorpion who are on eternal patrol. I will always remember the part the U.S. Navy Submarine Force played in winning the Cold War."
Mel Hemphill
C4I and Electrical Dept. (On Loan to Carrier Electrical Dept.)
Newport News
"From the fields of war on our own soil to the beaches of Normandy and the sands of Iwo Jima on to the deserts of the Persian Gulf, our brothers and sisters have sacrificed without question and consequence the lives of their own. To give others the chance to be governed in a moral and godly way. We honor all the rights bestowed upon us by our Constitution from our forefathers. Our flag flies true and honorably without disgrace from sea to shining sea. It is with great honor my eyes fall upon our flag and honor our valiant troops across this vast world. We fall prey in many instances and our colors are in jeopardy. To change the colors and the meaning of our mission would forever disgrace the ones we sacrifice every second of the day. We would forever lose the day we give the veterans and honor heritage. Our colors don’t run! Forever fly high, my red, white and blue!"
Thomas E. Ware Jr.
Production Planner
Pascagoula
“Veterans Day is a time for personal reflections for me and a time for saying thanks and ‘well done’ to all who are currently serving or have served in our Armed Forces. ... My personal reflections always return to my dad, who went off to war in 1943, made the D-Day landing on June 6, 1944, and was killed in action in April of 1945 in a small town just inside of Germany. He and his First Infantry Division 'band of brothers' were within a month of the war ending in Europe. The young infantry sergeant from North Carolina was and always will be my biggest hero. My next reflection goes back to 1968 and South Vietnam. It was a long, long time ago and a long ways from the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company that had been the center of my universe for the three previous years. I reflect on the five names on the 'Wall' that are names that have a personal connection to me. And I reflect and remember again, ‘All gave some, some gave all.’”
Jim Bradley
Materials Operations Dept.
Newport News
"With 21 years of active duty in the Navy Seabees, Veterans Day is mainly memories for me. Memories like coming home to a daughter I had not seen. Or deploying for 10 months and 3 weeks after my second daughter was born. Memories like after sending a cassette tape home I read in a letter that my 3-year-old tried to get daddy out of the tape player. Also memories like watching a flag-covered casket being loaded on a plane home. Or standing next to a friend as he is lowered into his grave and have tears roll down my cheeks as 'Taps' is played. Veterans Day has always been important to my family. We all have memories; we try to forget the bad memories and laugh and smile about the good memories."
William Ziegler
Dept. 14
Pascagoula
“As an Army artillery combat veteran from Operation Desert Storm, I often reflect on the number of honorable men and women that have given the ultimate sacrifice for this nation’s freedom. Ultimately, I hope wars will not be needed some day, but until then, I continuously thank the men and women in the military on their choice to serve and continue defending our great free nation.”
Todd Smith
Systems Engineering Dept.
Newport News
"I served almost four years in the Navy. I enlisted soon after my 19th birthday. My dad was a lifer of 31 years. I was always proud of the fact that he was on the Nautilus when she made the first polar crossing. ... I made two West-PAC cruises during the Vietnam War in 1971 and again in 1972. I served as a machinist's mate aboard USS Kansas City (AOR 3), an oiler, ammo replenishment ship, who earned many awards for efficiency and commendations for excellence. Even though I didn’t care for Navy life, I did like being at sea and enjoyed the many ports we visited. I also enjoyed the camaraderie shared with my shipmates. Looking back, I’m proud of the time I spent in the Navy and have great respect for others who have sacrificed in order to serve their country. My legacy continues as my son, Frank Skewes, is serving our country in the Army National Guard as a medic. He is currently deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, for his second tour. It goes without saying that I am extremely proud of him too."
Alan Skewes
Engineering
Pascagoula
“For me, Veterans Day serves as a constant reminder of the sacrifices many men and women have made for this great country of ours. As a reservist in the United States Air Force, I have a unique opportunity to see the world through two sets of eyes: one, being a civilian, in my normal everyday life; the other being a medic, deployed to help take care of our wounded servicemen and women around the world. ... When you see firsthand the injuries that our fighting men and women sustain while defending “freedom,” it changes the way you look at everything. ... The experiences that these soldiers face define the saying that “freedom isn't free.” ... Veterans Day, to me, is a day to think and reflect about the many men and women who fight for our freedom, that we sometimes take for granted.”
Larry L. Minor II
CVN 21 PP HM&E Piping, Hull Outfitting, Shock and Operations Dept.
Newport News
"What Veterans Day means to me is a chance to celebrate with my brothers and sisters who are living, and to honor those that have fallen and those that are serving and protecting us today. I am very proud to be a veteran."
Tommy C. Rich
Rigging Dept.
Gulfport
“First, I'd like to say that all veterans deeply appreciate the thoughts and thanks we receive on Veterans Day. It's a very personal day for me, not just because I'm a retired sailor but because I lost my uncle in Vietnam and two good friends during my first tour in the Persian Gulf. It's important for me to remember they died doing something they believed in. Veterans Day gives us the opportunity to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country and to pray for those who are still in harm's way.”
Matt Vincent
Test engineering Dept.
Newport News
“I am thankful for a chance to thank those like my dad who served in World War II to help us to enjoy our freedom today. My dad was from a small town in Maine, who upon graduation from high school joined the Navy and saw service in the Pacific Ocean. He rose from the enlisted ranks to become an officer and saw action on an LST during the final days of the war and then stayed on after the end to clear islands and resettle their people. It is for people like him that Veterans Day means something for me.”
Jim Gordon
CVN Steam Plant Test Dept.
Newport News
“Being a veteran myself, Veterans Day is a time set aside to honor those men and women who served in the military. Whether it was war time or not, it was a privilege to have served in any branch of the military. It was a part of your life that you would never forget.”
Lavone Sessoms
Office Services Dept.
Newport News
“I served proudly for almost 10 years from 1969 to 1979. I was in Marine Corps Squadron VMA(aw)224 deployed as the first Marine Corps squadron attached to an aircraft carrier since World War II aboard the USS Coral Sea. We were in the Gulf of Tonkin from December 1971 until July 1972. I believe that every American should stand up and salute and thank each and every one of our brave troops! Like the saying goes: ‘All gave some; some gave all!’”
Michael A. Crane
CVN 21 Platform Wireways and Cable Management Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans Day is a day to remember what it means to serve your country. To feel an amount of patriotism that not everyone feels. Such that, if needed, you are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to maintain the freedoms that we as United States citizens enjoy everyday. A day to honor those that have served here and abroad. Also, it is a day to remember an experience that I could not have gotten any other way than to serve in the Armed Forces. Everyone should take the opportunity to feel the pride that comes from saying, ‘I served my country.’”
Billy Norton
Machinery Installation Dept./The Apprentice School
Newport News
“I have a son in the Army. He's spent 15 months in Afghanistan and is getting ready to go again. When he returns, he wants to get out of the Army and go to college. I guess I take extra time to notice what is going on with our Armed Forces due to my son's involvement. ... On Veterans Day, I'm thinking about my son going to Afghanistan and, hopefully, returning safely, so he can get out and start a new chapter in life. I'm also thinking that I hope our next administration will let us finish the job we started so the lost lives of our service people will, ultimately, be valued just as much as they were important to their loved ones.”
Jeff Bolt
Aircraft Carrier Overhaul Planning Dept.
Newport News
“In these times of uncertainty, we are faced with only a few things we can count on. One of these is the knowledge that the military and the men and women that are our brothers and sisters, our fathers and mothers, our aunts our uncles or friends and neighbors and even people that we don’t know will be there to help keep our freedoms that so many in the past have fought so hard to get and maintain. We can not let there memories or the appreciation falter. We must let them know that what they have sacrificed has not been in vain. ... We must not let these people go on not knowing the appreciation we have for them. In the job that they are doing and the job that so many have done for us in the past. So I would like to thank the men and women of our Armed Forces -- past, present and future -- for the freedoms that they are responsible in ensuring for me and my loved ones. Thank you all.”
Barry Lirette
Pipe Dept.
Newport News
“I think back when I was a child, and I remember when my uncle left for Vietnam. When the war was over, he returned home a different person, physically and mentally. To me, Veterans Day is a day to celebrate the hard work and sacrifice our friends and family endured for the safety and freedom of all Americans. I feel proud to have an uncle who fought in the jungles, not only for my freedom, but for all of you.”
Stephanie White
HR Operations and Employment
Newport News
“Before serving in the United States Air Force, I took for granted that we, as Americans, have been blessed to live in the best country in the world. The rights, liberties and protections afforded to us by just being born in this country are great even though they are often taken for granted and overlooked. Unfortunately, the efforts and sacrifices of our military and their families are also taken for granted. That is why Veterans Day is an important day. It’s a time set aside to appreciate those that make or have made sacrifices with their own lives for the rest of us to be able to live our lives the way that we do. So, please, especially on Veterans Day, take the time to tell someone that you appreciate them and their efforts.”
Nicole Woods
Programs Process and Tools Dept.
Newport News
“This is a day to show appreciation for those like me that gave the best of our lives for our country, for those that actually gave their lives without question or hesitation for our country, and for those that at this moment are putting their lives on the line of fire for our country. May God bless them all!”
Wil Martinez Cruz
Radiological Control Dept.
Newport News
“Forty years ago this month (October), my tour of duty in Vietnam was coming to an end. Veterans Day is a time to reflect and remember all of the sacrifices of the men and women of our Armed Forces. All gave some, but ‘some gave all.’ I have special memories of ‘our Greatest Generation’ and what they endured during World War II. Those loved ones who used to tell me real war stories are no longer with us. That is what I will remember the most on Veterans Day.”
Buddy Rilee
VCS Program Trades Management Dept.
Newport News
Reflections
from
Northrop Grumman Shipbuilders
“This picture is of BM1 Stephen Helmer, who is employed here at Northrop Grumman as a planner on the CVN 21 project. He is serving a third volunteer deployment in Iraq. He is a member of the Amphibious Construction Battalion Construction Two Det India III. ... I am not a veteran, but I have a great respect for all who are or who are active/reserve such as Stephen. He is a remarkable person in that he has volunteered to deploy in representation of the United States and help the soldiers and civilians in Iraq. The only complaint he has shared is the heat is exhausting and the government-issued boots uncomfortable. I think it would be a great honor to include a picture of him in your presentation and a statement containing his deployment for the upcoming Veterans Day.”
Jan M. McMillan
Training Services Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans
Day is a time to remember all those who have served to keep our nation
from hurt, harm and danger. More importantly, it is to commemorate those
who made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives to protect our freedom.
Friends and family should be proud of the dedication of their loved ones
who wear and have worn the uniform in defense of our country.”
Randy Brunson
Technical Skills Development Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans
Day is to honor the brave men and women of the United States who have
served and sacrificed to preserve the freedoms we all enjoy. As a Cold
Warrior and a Vietnam veteran, I can assure you that “freedom is
not free.” The price is paid everyday by soldiers, sailors, airmen
and Marines who are stationed in distant lands and far-off oceans. I have
a plaque in my office that reads: ‘You have never lived until you’ve
almost died. For those that have to fight for it, freedom has a flavor
the protected will never know.’ Thanks to the millions of veterans;
we all salute you.”
Buz Jenkins
Technical Skills Development Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans
Day is a time to reflect and honor those that have given service to their
country, many of whom have paid the ultimate sacrifice performing that
service. I think it can be said we all owe a certain debt to our country.
A way to repay that debt is to perform military service; it doesn't matter
which branch of the service. All veterans have paid off their debt to
the country, and Veterans Day is a way of honoring them for having done
so.”
Dennis Lampkin
Technical Skills Development Dept.
Newport News
“My
father and his two brothers fought valiantly for this country. They were
engaged in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany through the
1940s. … They were not concerned about what they could get out of
it, only what they put into it. They gave their best efforts everyday,
to defeat the Axis powers and restore order in the world. My mother’s
brother enlisted in the U.S. Army after Pearl Harbor as well. He fought
valiantly through France and Belgium. … Tom gave all for this country
Dec. 26, 1944, at the Battle of the Bulge. ... Tom lies in Belgium in
an American soldier section of a military cemetery. One can only wonder
what great things he would have done upon his return. Imagine the aunt,
uncle, and cousins that we would have had in our lives. Think of all the
soldiers, sailors, airmen that paid the ultimate price, so we can do what
we choose to do. Do we take our freedoms for granted? Do we think of the
heroes that gave all? Do we think of all the wonderful families that never
were, because some sacrificed their lives for us? These are some of the
things that Veterans Day means to me.”
Joseph J. Caden III
Technical Skills Development Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans
Day is a physical symbol of respect, recognition and thanks. It shows
to all who have in past or in current service, stood in the gap between
the evil forces that threaten our country’s safety and our way of
life. It shows all veterans that their patriotism and sacrifice has and
will always be placed on the highest level on the altar of freedom. Veterans
all come from one place: the best of America. With thanks and respect,
happy Veterans Day!”
Derrick Holton
(Virginia State Guard)
Technical Skills Development Dept.
Newport News
“I
served in Vietnam, where my plane was shot down. We had to bail out and
parachute into the Gulf of Tonkin, then get picked up by helicopters.
Some 40 years later and soon after 9/11, I put a uniform back on with
the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. I am now Vice Flotilla Commander out of
Fort Monroe.”
Stan Balson
Technical Skills Development Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans
Day means honor, respect, and the price we pay or have paid to keep our
country free. Those who serve have great respect for our country or they
would have never volunteered to protect those who have been left behind.
I myself am a veteran of the United States Navy, and I proudly served.
I have been retired now for nearly eight years. If I could do it all over
again, I would to help protect and serve our great country. God bless
America and those who have served and are now serving in our Armed Forces.
Happy Veterans Day to each and everyone.”
Ferdinand Torres
Technical Skills Development Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans
Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by the servicemen and
women who have served this great nation and her people. From those who
fought for America’s independence, to those now fighting for America’s
security, all veterans have paid some price to secure, maintain and guarantee
the freedom that we hold so dear. The greatest honor that we can bestow
upon those who have served and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice
in defense of our country is to continually pray for and honor those who
are currently serving.”
Michael C. Moore
(U.S. Navy, Ret.)
Technical Skills Development Dept.
Newport News
“The
following quotation from Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘Breakfast of Champions’
reflects my thoughts: ‘It was during that minute in nineteen hundred
and eighteen, that millions upon millions of human beings stopped butchering
one another. I have talked to old men who were on battlefields during
that minute. They have told me in one way or another that the sudden silence
was the Voice of God.’”
Mike Lamb (U.S. Navy, Ret.)
Technical Skills Development Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans
Day should be a time to reflect on the work and sacrifices our men and
women in uniform, both past and present, give. Without their efforts doing
a job that many don’t understand and few want to do, we would not
have the freedoms we all enjoy. On Veterans Day, I try to remember my
childhood with my father deployed and not there to help me with some of
the problems I encountered. I try to recall reaction of my son and wife
when I was about to deploy, the tears and difficulty letting go after
that final hug. The joy when we came home after months at sea. My son
is now grown, with a family of his own, and he too is going through the
trials of military service. He is doing the job that must be done, but
few choose to do. He, like many of us, has chosen to defend our country,
our freedoms and way of life. I pray for him and all of the others that
follow this path and give them the heartfelt thanks they deserve but seldom
receive. I try to remember the sacrifices’ that all of our service
members have made, and are making each and every day, not just on the
appointed day, but every day.”
Rex G. Parker (U.S. Navy, Ret.)
Technical Skills Development Dept.
Newport News
“To
me, Veterans Day is a day when I remember friends who gave their lives
for the freedom that we all share in this great country of ours. I think
about those who served without question, because they considered it their
obligation to do so. And, there were many who choose not to serve and
left the country rather than go to Vietnam. We must remember and honor
those who stayed and served without protest. There were many who chose
to protest. I am a Vietnam veteran. I served and was wounded in action
for what was sometimes a very vague reason to be there. Our countrymen
back home were proud to have us serve but would not want us to return
and marry their daughters. The reason we were there is clear now. It was
our duty to give all we had to preserve the freedom and way of life that
we all share. If the time ever comes when I am called upon to serve again,
I would not hesitate. I salute our men and women who serve now and have
in the past no matter what war or conflict is going on. They are the reason
our country is great and a free place to live. When they return home I
would be glad to have them as a son- or daughter in-law.”
Merrill J. Meng
(U.S. Air Force, Honorably Discharged)
Technical Skills Development Dept.
Newport News
"Veteran's Day, to me, means a day of reflection. Memories flow freely, intermingling with the tears and the laughter. Memories of friends that have died and friends scarred either physically or mentally by their sacrifieces they gave willingly to keep this great nation free. It is a day to think of all that makes this nation what it is. A day to heal the pain. A day to think of all the good we did. A day to banish the memories of coming home to a nation that was heartless and not understanding why we fought for our nation. But, mainly, Veterans Day is one to pray that we, as a nation, have learned the lessons of the past and give the full support of our troops fighting to preserve our way of life and to make the world a safer place."
Thomas L. Simmons
Dept. 23
Pascagoula
“It means that you do not forget the ones that are gone. Remember the ones who have sacrificed in many ways. The families and their extended families who have come and comforted in times of need. Taking the time when you see someone in uniform or if you know they are or have served to say, ‘Thank you for your service.’ Proud to stand and salute the flag of the United States of America. Taking the time to go to the veterans hospital and listen to our veterans. Just talking with them is something that they will enjoy. Not to take our liberty for granted. We are still at war and always remember our men and women in harm’s way. Take your hat off and put your hand on your heart while the national anthem is playing. God bless America!”
Pete Wedesky
The Apprentice School
Newport News
"When I think of Veterans Day, my uncle, Ed Freeman, is who I think of. Ever since I was a child, he was always bigger than life to me because he was always leaving or coming home from war, and as a helicopter pilot that was even more awsome to a little boy. He recieved a battlefied commission in the Korean conflict and later became one of the first chopper pilots to go to Vietnam. It was there, in the Ia Drang Valley, that he was tested, and came through, thinking of those younger troops on the ground. Amazingly, he came through and over 30 years later was awarded the Congerssional Medal of Honor by George Bush. Telling my siblings and I that he was going to land his helicopter in the field behind our house, we would always run out the door and look everytime we heard one flying overhead, and even now when I hear one that is what I still think of. ... This story was made into a movie: 'We Were Soldiers' staring Mel Gibson. Ed Freeman was portrayed by Mark McCracken. If you haven’t seen this movie, it is well worth your time."
Robert "Tony" Freeman
Production Planning LPD
Pascagoula
“Veterans Day is a reminder of what I and many others have sacrificed to fight for the American way of life. Being a combat veteran of two different campaigns, I know just how important it is to have fighting men and women supporting the right to have freedom against tyranny and aggression. Hopefully on this day, those who have not worn the uniform will respect and remember those who have stood that watch, sacraficed themselves or died for our way of life.”
Jerome Hashagen
Planner Apprentice Dept.
Newport News
“I am an American! Most people take that as a given or don't even think about it, and I guess I did the same until I served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Vietnam -- a third world country. When you see the different of how they live and how we live here in the United States, it changes how you look at things. I glad that I served my country. It helped me to see the world as one big picture and made me love my country even more that before. For anyone that reads this, I hope you are as much of an American as I am. Without our veterans, America would not be what it is today. I’m proud to be a veteran and proud to be an American veteran. Enough said! Have a nice Veterans Day and show your support.”
Lyle W. Kelly
CVN 21 Habitability Fluid Systems and Ventilation Dept.
Newport News
"Nov. 11 is the day that we as a nation and all who are Americans should observe and pay homage and respect to all who have served this nation in the past now and the future. This is a very special day for me; it's my birthday, born Nov. 11, 1946, and served six years in the Mississippi National Guard and in my job I get to deal with the outstanding men and women of our Armed Forces on a daily basis they are true professionals I get choked up when I drive on Navy bases and see that most of the ships tied up were built by the men and women of NGSB. So yes, this is a special day to try and honor all those who have given their all for this country and those who have served and those and their families who are on duty stations all over the world we should honor with the most highest respect and esp. those who have passed and can no longer plead for their selves."
Joe Austin
Warranty Dept.
Pascagoula
“Veterans Day: To me, it means sacrifice, it means dedication to duty, the ‘we before the me,’ which means putting your duty before your family and friends in order for them to have the freedoms that they have today.”
Samuel J. Williams
Warehousing Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans Day is a day I like to take off work and reflect on my brothers- and sisters-in-arms fighting for the struggles of our great nation. It takes me back to veterans of the past like the ones that served in the first Continental Army and sacrifices that they made for a fledging nation. I also think about the greatest generation that fought against oppression across Europe. Veterans have made great sacrifices for this nation, and I think least we could do is say thank you.”
Steve Eshenbaugh
CVN 21 Habitability Fluid Systems and Ventilation Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans Day is when we go to the gravesites of friends and remember those that served and have gone on before us. It’s giving them the respect. Also honoring them for what they ment to us.”
Johnny Johnson
Newport News Industrial
Newport News
"This special day reminds me of those who have preceded me in military service to this country -- to thank them for the sacrifices that they have made. This includes the greatest generation of our country for those that suppressed the the enemies of World War II. I recall discussions with my family and friends and through the Korean and Vietnam era to include my uncles and brothers. Now I have similar discussions with my nephews and nieces trying to keep it all in perspective as they serve or consider military service in the Gulf War arena. My contribution of 22 years of Navy service has been a great experience and as I think about how I got through it, the words of JFK come to mind: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I just wish that some of today's generation would understand what had made this country great."
Robert L. Franks
Dept 082
Newport News
Veterans from Bldg. 901 at Newport News gather for a group photo. William Hunter Jr. (front row, far right), an Army veteran who helped coordinate the photo, is featured in the Veterans Day slide show. Photo by John Whalen
"The sacrifices: being away from your family and friends; missing a birth of kid, birthdays, holidays, weddings, etc. Due to deployment - not being able to attend a family/friend funeral -- the feeling of helplessness you have in your heart."
William P. Lawson (U.S. Navy Reserves)
DDG 1000 Program Subcontractor
Pascagoula
“Even though I am a retired vet, coming from a family with a long history in the military, I learned at a young age that it is more than a day on the calendar. It is a day to reflect and respect those who gave the ultimate sacrifice that so many have given, for our freedoms that we enjoy and many take for granted. It is about our past and our future. It is about respect for our flag, our country and those who have and still are in our all volunteer forces. I do not miss a chance to thank a service member in uniform for their contribution and sacrifices so that my children can grow up safe and become whatever they choose. God bless America!”
David K. “Zeke”
Bradrick
Nuclear Test Engineering Dept.
Newport News
"My father died last year at age 88. He was a decorated (Bronze and Silver Stars) survivor of the Bataan Death March, and Japanese prison/ slave labor camps in the Philippines and Japan during World War II. Veterans Day is an opportunity for us to celebrate his sacrifice and the sacrifice all United States military service personnel make when they go in harm's way. My father, James D. Gautier Jr. (USAF, Ret.) is gone, but he is not forgotten, nor have we forgotten the many who have given so much for the rest of us. The Gautier family stands in awe and appreciation of their service."
Doug Gautier
Crew Training
Pascagoula
“What Veterans Day means to me is I have a chance to reflect on the the sacrifices that the men and women of this country made in the name of freedom. From the Revolutionary War to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the men and women of this nation are taking measures and making sacrifices to ensure that the liberties we so much enjoy and sometimes take for granted are secured for our future and our children's future.”
Ed Gregoire, U.S.
Navy Ret.
Material Distribution Dept.
Newport News
"Every person in the free world, in one way or another, owes
the United States veterans a great deal of thanks, whether they realize
it or not. Veterans have given one of the most
precious gifts there is to all of us: the gift of freedom. I thank all
veterans -- yesterday's, today's and tomorrow's."
Sam Richardson
LPD Program Office
Pascagoula
“Freedom is not free! We in America have been given the ability to pursue our personal goals, dreams and desires because veterans have selflessly given of themselves, forsaking family and personal goals themselves in order to insure that America remains the home of the brave and the free!
"If you like to go to the movies, thank a vet. If you like to go on vacation, thank a vet. If you like to go out to dinner, thank a vet. If you like making your own decisions in life, pursuing your own goals, seeing your own dreams come to fruition, take time to thank a vet!”
Patti L. Richardson
Sheet Metal Dept.
Newport News
"Those who have worn the uniform,
who have defended these United States,
who have fought for and supported liberty,
who have seen the other side ...
... know freedom in a way the protected
cannot comprehend."
Robert S. Malloch
Facilities Engineer
Pascagoula
“A typical answer might be: ‘It’s a day to honor all of our men and women who have been a part of this country’s military force.’ However, the sacrifices of veterans reach far beyond this honored day. Veterans are an integral part of this country. We live in small towns and big cities. We are sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and parents. We are all colors, religions and races. We have shed tears and laughed heartily. Our common bond is a sense of duty and honor to the uniform we wore. We have been berated, spat upon and jeered; however, we have found comfort in knowing that the uniform we wore and country we represented is the greatest. Yes, we are veterans, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Ray Evans
Aircraft Carrier Engineering Machinery Dept.
Newport News
"Veterans Day means so much to me. It means my family and I can live in a free country. We can travel anywhere from west to the east coast. We live in a great nation. I served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam. I was in the United States Marines. We should all be thankfuf for the veterans who have served and that are serving in war for us. I have worked on the new Coast Guard cutters. I am now off site for Northrop Grumman at Newport News working on the Bush. We have sheetmetal and Joiners up here from Ingalls. I am proud of what I do and proud to be a veteran."
Larry R. Putnum
Dept. 22
Pascagoula
“Veterans Day to me is a day of remembering -- remembering those who decided to join the military and by doing so, they served their country. Most people, when they join the military, do so because they need a job, a way to pay for school or earn extra money, as I did in the Air Force Reserve. However, when the phone rings and you’re actually called to ‘active’ duty during wartime, it becomes more than a job; that’s when you’re really serving your country. Veterans Day is also a time to reflect on the sacrifices that men and women in the Armed Forces make every time they have to leave their families to go away as part of their military duty. It’s also a time to say thank you to the husbands and wifes who support their military spouses and the fathers and mothers who support their sons and daughters as they serve their country. Veterans Day is a day to thank God for those who have given their lives and a day to ask God’s continued blessings on those who are continuing to give their lives for the freedom we are so blessed to have in this country.”
Cynthia L. Fox
CVN 21 Propulsion Structures and Shielding Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans Day is a day of reflection. It's a day when all citizens need to recognize the sacrifices made by our military, both past and present. It's a day to thank your Dad for his efforts in World War II and Korea. It's a day to let a Vietnam vet know that his or her participation was for the good of all. It's a day to thank that young soldier/sailor/airman for his or her efforts in battling today's enemy of freedom, not a nation but a group of fanatical religious zealots. It's a day to remember that freedom is not free!”
Al DeHart
Plant Operations Dept.
Newport News
“When I think of Veterans Day, I always feel a sense of pride, and I am always thankful. I served in Navy from 1970 thru 1976. Proud that the Navy taught me discipline, drive and teamwork. Thankful that the Navy taught me a skill (electrician) and provided an education (nuclear training). Proud that I used my GI bill to get and pay for my college education. I am also proud and thankful the boat I served on USS Lapon (SSN 661) was made here at Newport News. When I reflect back at my Navy days, I wonder how I had so much fun with so little money, but I now realize that is easy when you enjoy what you are doing and the people you are doing it with.”
Don Whiteway
Plant Engineering Dept.
Newport News
“When my father served in World War II, he knew the enemy by their appearance. The men and women that have fought in Vietnam, Korea, Desert Storm and the Middle East have not been able to tell who is friend and who is foe by appearance, and sometimes that comes too late. Not to minimize what my father did and not be thankful that he returned alive and well, Veterans Day really makes me reflect on what extraordinary, brave military we have had to protect and fight for us under those conditions that exist in modern-day conflicts. I’d like to see a special day for the families of those that serve also, as they have made many sacrifices while their loved ones served our country. It’s not just a federal holiday, it’s a day to reflect and be grateful for the men, women, and families of those that serve or have served. That’s Veterans Day to me.”
Carol Staton
AMSEC
Newport News
“Veterans Day is a very important day for me. It is my annual reminder to walk around my work area and thank my coworkers for their service to our country. I am not a veteran, but I greatly appreciate the sacrifice of those who have served to maintain our freedoms at home. Thank you, veterans!”
M. L. Owen
Reactor Services Engineering Dept.
Newport News
"Being the grandson of a World War I vet, the son of a World War II vet, myself being a Vietnam veteran, and with my son currently serving in the Navy, this means that Veterans Day has a special meaning to our family. We remember the sacrifice and dedication this requires not only on the servicemen and women but their entire family. Those times our servicemen and women spend away from family and friends, at times, in constant peril at sea and on foreign soil. How many of those who have never been there would be able to keep their sanity during those times? It takes a special kind of person to be able to react in a moments notice (like the minutemen of old). Even in peace time, our servicemen and women train for the time when they will be needed. This training is not a game. The training is real and sometimes lives are lost. Veterans Day is also a good time to remember those people who lost their lives in preparation for the defense of our country. During war or peace we continually hear about those who have risked it all to save lives and defend this great country. Veteran’s Day is the perfect time to pause, remember, and thank those who have served and especially those who have given it all."
George T. Webster III
Reactor Services Engineering Dept.
Newport News
"A picture of a man in a uniform sits above my TV set. The uniform is Navy blue, but the black and white photo doesn’t show that. The photo shows a confident, smiling young man. It was probably taken when he and the ship were outfitting to support the war in the South Pacific. He and the ship would spend two and a half years there, going from one island to another. His accounts of what he lived through made real for me his sturdiness and the work, and sometimes death, of others. Because of him, I have appreciation and warm gratitude for a whole generation. That gratitude extends to those who have done the job before and after him and to those who do the job today. His own sturdiness has guided me toward maturity. Thanks, Dad."
Paul Kendall
Dept. O56
Newport News
“For me, this is the special day to reflect upon those with whom I have had the opportunity to share duty stations, deployments, operations -- those who paid the ultimate sacrifice -- and to say a prayer of thanks for the service members presently serving. This is also a time to think of the family members who were left behind and pray for their well-being. To quote President Ronald Reagan: ‘We owe them a debt we can never repay. All we can do is remember them and what they did and why they had to be brave for us. All we can do is try to see that other young men never have to join them.’”
Steven J.Harbick
Program Integration Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans Day for me, as a two-tour veteran of Vietnam, is a time of reflection. From the Revolution for Independence, through two World Wars up through the latest conflicts, many individuals have stepped forward to serve our country selflessly and with valor and courage. I also take pause to think of the friends and relatives that served and paid the ultimate sacrifice. I wish every American could, for a few hours, go see how other people live, experience their lack of health care, choices in shopping, how they have to dress and their lack of basic freedoms. We are a truly graced people and should thank who or whatever we believe in every day.”
Buck Rogers
VCS Production Control Dept.
Newport News
“Veterans Day was originally designed to celebrate Armistice Day, the end of World War I. To me, Veterans Day is not just a day to remember those who gave the extreme sacrifice, but also to remember the supreme efforts that our military warriors put forth to protect our way of life every day whether they are in the U.S., Afghanistan, South America or on the seas. Being away from friends, families and the comforts of the USA is hard. I am grateful that our vets go there to keep crazy extremists from coming here!”
Bill Halverson
CVN 77 Carrier Construction Dept./Virginia-Class Program
Newport News
“Veterans Day holds a special place in my heart because I am a veteran. I am so proud to be a part of a very exclusive group of men and women: individuals who put their country above themselves and on many occasions their very lives on the line for the rights of all Americans and democracy worldwide. It's a time of reflection on those that have served and those who continue to serve this great country. May God continue to bless and protect them all.”
Anthony Edwards
CVN 21 Whole Ship Hull Outfitting Dept.
Newport News