The Silent Ranks
Author Unknown
I wear no uniforms, no blues or whites,
But I am in the Navy cause I am his wife.
I'm in the ranks that are rarely seen,
I have no rank upon my shoulders.
Salutes I do not give.
But the military world is the place where I live.
I'm not in the chain of command, Orders I do not get.
But my husband is the one who does, this I can not forget.
I'm not the one who fires the weapon, who puts my life on the line.
But my job is just as tough. I'm the one who's left behind.
My husband is a patriot, a brave and prideful man.
And the call to serve his country not all can understand.
Behind the lines I see the things needed to keep this country free.
My husband makes the sacrifice, but so do our kids and me.
I love the man I married. Soldiering is his life.
But I stand among the silent ranks known as the Navy Wife.
If Daddy Says Goodbye
By Kathleen Iversen
All daddies are special in their own way.
Some daddies ride tractors and work on a farm.
Some daddies drive fire trucks and sound the alarm.
Some daddies are great chefs and can make dessert.
Some daddies play the bagpipes and wear a plaid skirt!
Daddies can do a lot of things.
What does your daddy do?
Some daddies drive noisy tanks that growl and grumble.
Some daddies fly jet planes that roar and rumble.
Some daddies hike in forests that are dark and damp.
Some daddies march in boots that stomp and stamp.
These daddies wear green and are in the Army or Marines.
There are daddies in the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force too.
They fly planes and sail across the oceans and skies of blue.
They all work hard keeping our great country safe and serene.
Daddies can do a lot of things.
Some daddies have to leave home and go far away.
That's how they care for you, in their own special way.
If your daddy leaves and he kisses you goodbye,
remember these words and dry the tears from your eyes.
When your daddy leaves and the two of you are apart
He places a tiny little picture of you in his heart.
Everyday no matter where he is,
His soul will whisper these words to the wind.
I will always love you no matter where I go.
I am part of you and you are part of me.
That's something I'll always know.
Try not to worry, don't be sad.
You'll always be my baby
And I'l always be your dad.
1. You move all trash cans out of the house to keep them from being packed.
2. if you have to store boxes to be use for safe moving
3. You set aside a room or space that's marked "Do Not Enter".
4. You label bedrooms by numbers instead of words so the non-English speaking movers can mark the boxes easily
5. You learn how to write "Keep Out" or "Do Not Enter" in the native language.
6. You identify how long something has been packed by the name of the moving company on the box
7. You have a variety of packing stickers in various colors and languages on your furniture.
8. Your HHG's get here on the same day or before your unaccompanied baggage.
9. You know what unaccompanied baggage means!
10.Your kids friends are always excited to color at your house because you have huge pieces of packing paper and black markers.Furthermore; every drawing is held up by left over packing tape.
11. You've gotten used to having lawnchairs, boxes for tables, and sleeping bags as furniture a full month before you PCS.
The cover and first page of Mike's "MIKE-ROBREW" album. Dear family and friends, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and the Department of the Navy, to witness this exchange of vows, and see the love that these two dedicated, loving people have for one another.
"Wilt thou, __________, take ___________ as your dependent, to dwell together in so far as the Department of the Navy will permit? Wilt thou love her, comfort her via the postal service, E-mail, or over the phone, make sure she knows where the commissary, Exchange, and church are, and what pier your ship is docked at and your department telephone number (so she won't bother the Messenger of the Watch on the quarterdeck) the day she arrives, wherever you are stationed?"
"Wilt thou attempt to tell her more than 24 hours in advance that you will be pulling out for two weeks or more, beginning the next morning?" This especially applies to the years you will live in Virginia, California,Washington State, and Florida!
"Wilt thou ____________, take this Sailor as thy wedded husband, knowing that he is depending upon you to be the perfect independent Navy wife,running the household as you see fit, taking part in established Navy traditions even if no one can explain them anymore, and being nice to the Captain's wife? (though she may remind you of your new mother-in-law.)
Furthermore, you understand that your life with your husband (little that you may have together) will not be normal, that you may have to explain to your children, not once, but twice, and more often in the same day, that mothers do have husbands, and that children do have daddy's, and that the picture of the man on the refrigerator is the same individual who tucks them in at 2200 hours, long after they are asleep. This Sailor is their daddy, who loves them very, very, very much.
"Wilt thou love, respect and wait for him, preparing and mailing his favorite cookies (including some for his shipmates) and pictures of yourself and the kids, so he can remember what you look like? And last but not least,always pick him up at the pier when the ship pulls in (or the day after i he is in the duty section) and put on the outside of your door a 'Welcome Home sign"
"I, _________,Take thee_________ as my wife, from 1900 to 0430 hours or as long as allowed by my duty section leader and the Captain (subject to change without notice), for better or worse, earlier or later, near or far, and I promise to look at the pictures you send me, but not until after my watch is over, but before I turn the lights out in my rack. I will also send a letter or E-mail (if I am allowed access to a terminal), if time permits, and if not, to somehow, some way, make the time by sleeping even less than operational tasking permits."
"I, _________, take thee,_________as my husband, realizing that your comings and goings and 0530 musters are normal (although absurd to me) and part of your life as a Sailor. I promise not to be shocked or taken by surprise when you inform me that, although we've just arrived at our new duty station, we will be leaving within the month because of a detailer mistake or a CNO priority billet. Yes, I'll have you as my husband as long as while your are away my allotment comes through regularly, that you leave me a current power of attorney and the checkbook at all times. I am a family member and proud of it, dependent upon myself and my resources. Although I miss you when you are away, I know I can handle whatever comes across my path and make you proud."
"Now then, let no man or woman put asunder what God and the Department of the Navy have brought together. The Navy hereby issues you this lovely,dedicated, independent woman, knowing that she'll be an asset not only to your marriage, but also to the mission of the United States Navy, which is, as you all know, to remain in a high state of Readiness. By the authority vested in the Bible, elaborated in the regulation and subject to current directives concerning the aspects of marriage in the Navy, you are now a Sailor with a Dependent. Best Wishes and good Luck.
