Astronaut's Ashes Committed to the Sea During Ceremony Aboard Reagan

Navy Newsstand ^ | 2/12/2008 3:56:00 PM | Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Torrey W. Lee, USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

USS RONALD REAGAN, At sea (NNS) -- The ashes of retired Navy Capt. and astronaut Walter M. "Wally" Schirra, along with eight other Navy veterans, were committed to the sea Feb. 11 during a special burial at sea ceremony on board USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

Schirra, a former Navy test pilot who was one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, died at the age of 84 on May 3, 2007. He holds the distinction of being the only astronaut to fly in each of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs.

Schirra, who also had special ties to Ronald Reagan shipmates, visited the aircraft carrier and signed autographs for the crew in 2005.

In 1962, Schirra became the fifth American in space and the third American to orbit the Earth, circling the globe six times in a flight that lasted more than nine hours.

Schirra once wrote, "We shared a common dream to test the limits of man's imagination and daring. Those early pioneering flights of Mercury, the performances of Gemini and the trips to the moon established us once and for all as what I like to call a spacefaring nation. Like England, Spain and Portugal crossing the seas in search of their nations' greatness, so we reached for the skies and ennobled our nation."

Ronald Reagan's command religious ministries department, along with help from the ship's honor guard, organized the morning ceremony.

"I'm in awe of these people in their commitment to their country, their service, and especially their families," said Cmdr. Lee Axtell, Ronald Reagan's command chaplain. "It's Navy tradition to stop for the day and pay tribute."

Ronald Reagan shipmates eagerly took time out of routine carrier operations to put on their service dress blue uniforms to take part in the ceremony.

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Christopher Gronde, a Ronald Reagan Sailor who was previously assigned to the presidential honor guard, said that despite all of the funerals he's take part in, each one still affects him deeply.

"I get this proud feeling about being up there," said Gronde. "I take a lot of pride in Navy tradition."

In addition to Schirra, some Ronald Reagan Sailors had other ties to the military veterans.

Aviation Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Scott Toupin, from Ronald Reagan's air department, committed the ashes of his uncle, Senior Chief Quartermaster William Dawson, to the sea during the ceremony.

Toupin said he was honored to give his uncle his final resting place and found himself moved by the ceremony and holding back tears.

"He never spoke to me about his time in the Navy," said Toupin recalling that his uncle was a quiet and reserved man. "He had served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, but I didn't know he was in [the Navy] until three months before his death."

With the firing of three symbolic volleys for each of the nine Navy veterans, Ronald Reagan Sailors bid a final farewell to these former shipmates.

Ronald Reagan was commissioned in July 2003, making it the ninth and newest Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The ship is named for the 40th U.S. president; its motto, "Peace through Strength," was a recurring theme during the Reagan presidency.

For more news from USS Ronald Reagan, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn76/.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

080211-N-4776G-175 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 11, 2008) - A burial-at-sea participant picks up the cremains of retired U.S. Navy Capt. and astronaut Walter M. (Wally) Schirra during a ceremony held aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The cremains of nine military veterans were committed to the sea during the ceremony. Ronald Reagan is in the Pacific Ocean conducting routine carrier operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kathleen Gorby (Released)

080211-N-4133B-030 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 10, 2008) - A folded American flag is placed next to the remains of nine military veterans, including retired U.S. Navy captain and astronaut Walter M. (Wally) Schirra, during a burial-at-sea ceremony aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan is conducting routine carrier operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Benjamin Brossard (Released)

[NonValueAdded]

Godspeed, Wally Schirra, and Rest In Peace. I'm surprised it was from the USS Reagan and not another US craft that left "port" a few days ago. If asked where my ashes should go, the answer would be ad astra

[Larry R. Johnson]

I’m moved to tears by this event. It’s hard to believe that Wally Schirra was this old, but I’m not too far behind. He was one of the heroes of my youth. May God bless him and the others who are committed tom the deep with him. May God bless the crew of the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan, and all of our armed forces, wherever they may be. God bless America!

[SoCalPol]

Wally Schirra lived here in San Diego for many years.
The Carrier Reagan based here is a great way to go out.

[maxsand]

Why is not the “participant”
donning white issue gloves?

[em2vn]

Are white gloves standard issue for enlisted shipboard sailors? I don’t think I’ve never seen an enlisted sailor wearing white glove with dress blues or any other uniform though they may in D.C. for certain ceremonies.
They weren’t in my seabag.

[george76]

special ties to Ronald Reagan shipmates

[BIGLOOK]

special ties to Ronald Reagan shipmates

This is not uncommon with Navy vets. Captain Schirra adopted CVA76 and the crew adopted him.

My father was adopted by the USS Intrepid and vice versa. She had no active duty crew but had a crew of old salts from all over the fleets who cared for her.

[GATOR NAVY]

White gloves aren’t part of the junior enlisted seabag but most ships, and especially one the size of a carrier, have a stock of gloves, duty belts, gaiters, etc. available for ceremonies.

I’ve done burials at sea but never really saw what was going on down below. I was on the bridge making sure that the proper deck log entries were made, the ensign was half-masted at the right times and the charts given to the families that show the burial position were prepared (copies of the deck logs are also presented).

[GATOR NAVY]

Thanks for the ping. My wife already knows I want to buried at sea.

[magslinger]

SONOBUOY PING!

Click on pic for past Navair pings.

Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.

[magslinger]

Do you know the Navy’s requirements for burial at sea? Link would be great if you have it.

[neodad]

We did them fairly regularly when we went out for SOCAL ops. I think any veteran is entitled to it.

[magslinger]

Thanks. We never did one that I was aware of, and I probably would have known. My shop was right off the fantail.

I got unlazy and did my own search and found

active duty members of the uniformed services
retirees and veterans who were honorably discharged
U.S. civilian marine personnel of the Military Sealift Command;
and dependent family members of active duty personnel, retirees, and veterans of the uniformed services

are all entitled to burial at sea.

[BOATSNM8]

The V.A. should have the info that you need.