Danforth Diamond Salutes Our Troops September 29, 2009
Posted by Jill Renee in : Just Jill , trackback
We have been very fortunate to have many service men and women as our customers over the last few years and we have had the pleasure of making and sending these rings overseas to military bases in Iraq. Although, we never actually have met these brave men and women in person we have developed some great long distance relationships and love hearing updates. Sgt. Alen Culver sent us a beautiful wooden plaque and an American flag that was flown aboard a US Army C-23 Sherpa on the night of August 9 2009. We all treasure these gifts and have them hanging up on the wall in our office.
In addition I recently have had the luck to get a behind the scenes tour of the USS Nassau at the Naval base in Norfolk, Virginia, Helicopter Squadron FOURTEEN (HM-14) “Vanguard” at the NAS base Norfolk and Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The USS Nassau’s primary role is to transport Marine Corps personnel. In addition, the cargo areas can transport trucks, tanks, artillery and large amounts of supplies. The deck is capable of holding 10 helicopters and the ship is equipped with a full service hospital complete with operating rooms. This is indeed a floating city with 3,000 inhabitants. Not your average inhabitants though…these men and women can handle any crisis the world hands them at a moment’s notice.
Commanding officer Malcolm H. Potts, CDR, USN welcomed us to the HM-14 “Vanguard” helicopter squadron. These helicopters serve to search out enemy mines and have performed many humanitarian deeds around the world. Capable of airlifting heavy construction equipment, they were recently deployed to help rebuild the region of Taiwan where floods had devastated the countryside. These dedicated men and women of Vanguard are capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 72 hours!
The last stop on our amazing tour was to see the jets at NAS Oceana. Oceana is a working airport that has navy fighter planes taking off and landing all day long. This master jet base is home to seventeen strike fighter squadrons of F/A-18 Hornets and F/A-18 Super Hornets. The small cockpit and the operation of these jets is not for the faint of heart…only the very brave need apply! In addition, this naval base also serves as a training facility for many elite units and is an alternate landing site for the space shuttle.
I truly enjoyed seeing the ships, helicopters and planes on my tour but what was most extraordinary was meeting the servicemen and women that make all these machines work, run and perform their duties. They give us their best each and every day and sacrifice so much to protect the freedom we all enjoy. I admire and respect every one of them and am very thankful for the wonderful day we shared together.
God Bless You All,
Jill
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