itsonlyme943
03-29-2009, 12:07 PM
As some of you know my oldest son is in the US Navy and has been deployed for some time now, he will be home soon though.
What most don’t know is that my Father was a US Navy Veteran of World War II serving in the South Pacific during 1944 and 1945. My Dad passed away on June 27th 2006 at the age of 82 after battling colon cancer for 8 years. His wish was to have his ashes spread at sea. I’m sure he was thinking that we’d go on a whale watch or a deep sea fishing trip and do it then. After discussing and debating the issue with my sisters quite a bit of time had passed. During that time my son had himself joined the Navy and I discovered that the Navy still does burials at sea. I did some research and filled out the proper paperwork. I was told that on the east coast these affairs are handled out of Norfolk VA, my son’s home port, and would likely be conducted on board an aircraft carrier, the type of ship my son is on.
On February 24th 2009 my Father’s ashes were committed to the sea in the Indian Ocean with full military honors, from the USS Theodore Roosevelt with my son participating in the ceremony.
This might seem sad but it’s not, it’s really more a matter of intense pride in my son, my Father, and the US Navy. I can only imagine the huge smile on the old mans face during all of this, he is proud too I’m sure.
My son is the tall one to the right of the Captain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mDid9q0iY4
_mDid9q0iY4
What most don’t know is that my Father was a US Navy Veteran of World War II serving in the South Pacific during 1944 and 1945. My Dad passed away on June 27th 2006 at the age of 82 after battling colon cancer for 8 years. His wish was to have his ashes spread at sea. I’m sure he was thinking that we’d go on a whale watch or a deep sea fishing trip and do it then. After discussing and debating the issue with my sisters quite a bit of time had passed. During that time my son had himself joined the Navy and I discovered that the Navy still does burials at sea. I did some research and filled out the proper paperwork. I was told that on the east coast these affairs are handled out of Norfolk VA, my son’s home port, and would likely be conducted on board an aircraft carrier, the type of ship my son is on.
On February 24th 2009 my Father’s ashes were committed to the sea in the Indian Ocean with full military honors, from the USS Theodore Roosevelt with my son participating in the ceremony.
This might seem sad but it’s not, it’s really more a matter of intense pride in my son, my Father, and the US Navy. I can only imagine the huge smile on the old mans face during all of this, he is proud too I’m sure.
My son is the tall one to the right of the Captain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mDid9q0iY4
_mDid9q0iY4