By Ensign Kiley Provenzano, USS Gettysburg Public Affairs
GETTYSBURG, Pa. (NNS) -- Sailors aboard guided-missile cruiser
USS Gettysburg (CG 64) participated in the 147th annual Memorial Day parade
held at the Gettysburg National Cemetery May 25.
The ship's ceremonial color guard traveled from their
homeport in Florida to their namesake city in Pennsylvania to carry the colors
for the parade. The event, hosted by the Gettysburg Joint Veterans Memorial Day
Commission, is one of the nation's oldest continual observations of its kind.
Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Christiana Ortiz, was honored
to return to Gettysburg after participating in the parade last year.
"I am so proud to return to Pennsylvania and to be able
to celebrate this weekend here," said Ortiz.
Gettysburg Sailors took the opportunity to talk about their
jobs with several local Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) units.
Having just returned from a nine-month deployment to the Mediterranean
Sea and Arabian Gulf, the Sailors had many stories to share.
"It is always a unique opportunity to share our
experiences with the future of our Navy," said Chief Gas Turbine Systems
Technician (Mechanical) Adam Dixon. "Events like these remind us why we do
what we do each day we come into work. Their support, year after year, is
incredible and inspiring."
The parade is not just a way to remember veterans, but also
a way to honor those that continue to sacrifice and serve in today's armed
forces.
"I cannot even put into words what this parade means to
us," said Quartermaster 2nd Class Brandon Shannon. "We are absolutely
honored by the Joint Commission's invitation and the opportunity to represent
our ship today."
Gettysburg, home ported in Mayport, Florida, celebrated the
150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg last year.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment