Charles Skelton: “A number of years ago, I had the opportunity to go down to Norfolk Naval Base and watch the USS Theodore Roosevelt…”

“A number of years ago, I had the opportunity to go down to Norfolk Naval Base and watch the USS Theodore Roosevelt deploy for its 6-month deployment. There I saw the greatness of America aboard ship as the sailors would wave and also on the dock as the families, the husbands, the wives and the children, they also were and are part of the greatness of America. Today we see the same scene, of all services, different colored uniforms, those who leave, the men and women being deployed, and of the families waving and saying good-bye, to the children who will not have their mother or their father who are in uniform with them for their birthday, for their graduation. This, of course, is a sacrifice of the military families. We should remember that the young men and young women in uniform, their families, children, spouses, really form a backbone of greatness in our country. To all the Americans who are sharing in this worldwide global battle against terrorism, we wish them well.”