Someone once said, “red sky at night, sailor’s delight”. Though I was never a sailor nor even a dock mate, I found great delight in this red sky moment, as if I were a boatswain minding my vessel’s bow while chasing the setting sun. If I were the captain of my own ship, long and grey, I would summon my soul’s wit and heart’s passion to this spot each evening to advise my wandering canvas as to which strategic brushstroke to make or Naval story to paint.

Our USNA officers in training will one day be issued their own canvas to paint. Some days may resemble the smooth ways of Rembrandt, when tides are at ease. While others will be scattered, chunked and diced, reminiscent of Picasso on his best day. When seas become turbulent and sailors and Marines grow weary amidst the chaos of the fight, our children will have learned and trained to be the calm in the storm, the master painter for their crew to guide them through, not the bliss of the red sky at night, but the warning of a red sky morning.

Our Navy daughters are becoming courageous, warrior minded officers I could never be. USNA is producing artists with the budding military talent to prod, teach and mentor their squads, battalions, and maybe a whole fleet, in due time, to inspire those they lead as much as God’s canvas, which has been spread across the sky, has inspired me.

Because duty does not call me when the whistle blows, I shall wait a bit longer until the sun tips its hat to the rising moon. I will ponder and pontificate on the beauty which lies before me and think of all those deployed, those we know and those we don’t, as they ride the bow of the ship they sail, fly through the heavens that spread wide and high and those who reside in each camp protected by a wire that only the most courageous of us will cross. I pray that they too can see the setting sun as I do. Let their canvas always be a delight as they push back from this dock and head their compass into the night of which I care not to do.

I am grateful to all those willing to serve in my stead. I am grateful for your kids and mine who said, “I DO!”, when many others never did. ⚓️