Proud Moment for My Sailor

Last night was a very special night for Josh and a few other Sailors on the USS Pittsburgh.   The Sub-Vets had a pinning ceremony for the Sailors who had received their "Dolphins" while on deployment.  Dolphins are a very special thing to the Sailors. 

Here's a little history and explanation of what "Dolphins" are.

According to Wikipedia: The Submarine Warfare Insignia (usually known as "dolphins" or "fish") is a uniform breast pin worn by enlisted men and officers of the United States Navy to indicate that they are qualified in submarines. The Submarine Warfare Insignia is considered one of the Navy's three major warfare pins along with the Surface Warfare Badge and the Naval Aviator Badge. To earn the right to wear the pin, prospective submariners complete an extensive qualification process that lasts about one year and covers virtually all of the submarine's systems.  After the sailor is designated "Qualified in Submarines", he is now looked upon by the rest of the crew as someone that can, and will, save their lives. He is treated with a greater amount of respect, given more responsibility, and the real learning begins. He is required to continually qualify in areas other than his primary duty. This is to ensure in-depth cross-training is accomplished. This process continues throughout a submarine sailor's tour. In addition to the basic submarine qualification process and his requirement to qualify in his most senior in-rate watch station, a submarine sailor usually will become qualified at numerous in port and at sea watch stations not directly related to his own specific rate.

Josh officially was qualified while on deployment, and his Captain sent me a letter and a picture of him getting pinned.  Josh's Dolphin pin is sentimental to him because one of his Chiefs who is retiring pinned Josh with his dolphins.  In the back its engraved with the Chiefs initials and the SSN of his Sub he was qualified on and now it also has Josh's initials as well as the Pittsburgh's SSN (720).

The ceremony last night was Harper's first official Navy Ceremony.  So we put her in a special dress, and I of coarse got dressed up as well.  We were both proud of Josh and we wanted to be there to show our support.  While at the ceremony, every Sub Veteran had to stand up and say their name, year they received their Dolphins and on what Submarine it was on.  There was one man who got his in 1940 and another who received his in 1941.  It took my breath away to be surrounded by 50 years of Sailors.  And they still seemed as proud of their Dolphins as the day they had been pinned. Reminds me again why I am proud to be a Navy Wife.

And here's a picture of all of us.... And yeah- I look like a HOUSE in that coat... excuse that.

ha ha ha.