Please indulge me as I remove my webmaster's cover and put on my Dad's cover.
Last Friday my son graduated from SUNY Maritime College in New York City with a bachelor's degree in marine transportation, with honors, and a Coast Guard third mate's license. The next day he received his commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve. My wife and I are immensely proud of him, and my bank account has breathed a sigh of relief. (My daughter graduates from high school next month and will start college herself in August. There is no rest for the weary.)
As many of you know, my entire family volunteers aboard the restored Liberty ship SS JOHN W BROWN in Baltimore. It was there that our son first learned about the merchant marine. He developed a great respect for the officers and crew, who patiently instructed and encouraged him. By middle school, the only career to which he gave any consideration was to become a merchant marine officer, and now a naval officer as well. Our daughter, five years younger than her brother, has had the same experiences aboard the BROWN, and has become a valued crew member. As I have said many times, my children have grown up on the BROWN, in more ways than one. (As for myself, I had never heard of the Armed Guard before beginning to volunteer aboard the BROWN. Now, for gosh sake's, I'm running the Armed Guard website.)
So, to my son, Bravo Zulu, to use the flag signal meaning "Well Done." (You old signalmen probably remember it as Baker Zulu but you know what I mean.) Well done indeed, son.
Now I return you to your regularly scheduled website.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster
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