Singing Second*

The Army three year win streak is over, the seniors at the Naval Academy will head to the Fleet knowing how it feels to Beat Army. If things had gone the other way, the Class of 2020 would join those from West Point who saw a long drought against the Navy.

My own involvement with the United States Navy began in the fall of 1997 when my son and I flew from Germany to New England. I watched with great pride as my son joined the ranks of Navy Midshipmen at the College of the Holy Cross, a school with a proud Navy tradition.

That involvement with the U.S. Navy continued after my retirement from the Air Force in 1999. Of course, The Naviguesser was still a Midshipmen but now I was employed by a company with a long history of supporting the Navy. I am still there, I am still working on projects directly supporting the mission of the Fleet.

In 2001 my son became an Ensign in the Navy. My oldest daughter, The Nuke, followed him into Navy ROTC at Holy Cross that same year. My youngest, The WSO, became a Midshipman a year later, also at Holy Cross. Whereas her two older siblings went to ROTC at Holy Cross, they actually attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) just across town, The WSO actually attended Holy Cross.

Both daughters joined the Fleet after their four years of college, The Nuke in 2005, The WSO in 2006. Both daughters married Naval Aviators, one of whom, Tuttle, is a graduate of the Naval Academy, (Big Time is a graduate of Western Michigan University. He received his commission via Officer Candidate School.)

Last year, a few days after Christmas, I had the opportunity to tour the Naval Academy, the tradition of the place is palpable. It's a beautiful campus and I full well understand the love those who graduated from there have for the place.

Bancroft Hall, USNA
"Mother B"

Dahlgren Hall, USNA

I will say this about the game, Army fought hard until the end, they never quit.

May God bless and watch over the men and women of the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy, in my book, they're all winners.

NAVY BLUE & GOLD

Now colleges from sea to sea

May sing of colors true,

But who has better right than we

To hoist a symbol hue:

For sailors brave in battle fair

Since fighting days of old,

Have proved the sailor’s right to wear

The Navy Blue & Gold.

So hoist our colors, hoist them high,

And vow allegiance true,

So long as sunset gilds the sky

Above the ocean blue,

Unlowered shall those colors be

Whatever fate they meet,

So glorious in victory,

Triumphant in defeat.

Four years together by the Bay,

Where Severn joins the tide,

Then by the Service called away,

We’re scattered far and wide;

But still when two or three shall meet,

And old tales be retold,

From low to highest in the Fleet,

We’ll pledge the Blue and Gold.

(Source)

There's always next year...




* Traditionally the team that wins the Army-Navy game sings their school song second, after the team which lost sings their school song. Singing second is good.