WWII veteran and turret gunner from Squadron 51 aboard the USS San Jacinto, Charlie Peter, of Sacramento, Ca., wears a cowboy hat in honor of former President George H.W. Bush prior to commissioning ceremonies for the USS George H.W. Bush at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va., Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009.
Veterans and family from the USS San Jancinto, the carrier that former President George H. W. Bush was stationed, wear cowboy hats in his honor and take photos of the ship prior to commissioning ceremonies for the USS George H.W. Bush at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va., Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009.
Deck crew members watch the Marine One helicopter carrying US President George W. Bush for the commissioning ceremony on the deck of the US Navy aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush, named for Bush's father, at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, January 10, 2009.
Former President George H. W. Bush, left, and his wife Barbara Bush step off Marine One as they land on the deck of the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN77) aircraft carrier, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, in Norfolk, Va.
US President George W. Bush drives a golf cart with his mother Barbara Bush (R) and other family members to the commissioning ceremony on the flight deck of the US Navy aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush, named for Bush's father, at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, January 10, 2009.
I watched part of the dedication today (missed the first part), but I didn’t see these veterans with their cowboy hats. How nice that they did that to honor one of their own.
When the President’s sister said to “bring the ship alive” and all those young men and women ran onto the ship, I stood there watching, crying, and clapping with no one else in the room except the dogs. They looked at me like I had lost it. I was so proud of those young people. I hope the President’s successor appreciates them as they should be.