Welcome home "Big E"

Just in Time For Christmas

Today is a big day for thousands of spouses, friends and family of the sailors embarked on the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and the other ships in the Enterprise Battle Group.

The big "E" pulls in to Naval Station Norfolk just in time for Christmas! I for one want to wish them all a Warm Welcome and Happy Holidays! Pier 12 is a mad house with anxious family and friends all waiting to see the ship on the horizon... counting the longest moments of the entire deployment....
After what seems like an eternity the ship finally came into view the Big “E” looks tired and ready to be home. Sailors man the rails all along the flight deck in their Service Dress Blues, shivering both from the cold and the anticipation of finally being back.
As the USS Enterprise rounds past the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower a roar is heard from the pier and those thousands of anxious friends and family welcome home their sailors. Sliding forward, painfully slow the tugs slide the Enterprise into her berth and finally those words that every sailor longs to hear “MOORED, SHIFT COLORS!” another even larger cheer goes out through the crowd. Moments later the call is heard across the flight deck to dismiss the sailors manning the rails. A mad scramble ensues with everyone running trying to get a better view to find their loved ones in the crowd below. Cell phones and walkie-talkies come out, tears, laughter, cries and shouts. The warmth all but drowns out the cold and wind, no one minds today after the Big "E" is finally home.
Just moments from now the Brows will be across and those sailors that have been gone will finally be reunited with their loved ones. Just in time for Christmas.




BZ BIG E!!!!!!!
Dennis