A Navy Life – Commissioning

First salute as a commission officer went to Gunnery Sergeant Jim Washington, USMC, my Aviation Officer Candidate drill instructor on 22 Feb, 1985. As was the time-honored tradition, I gave him a silver dollar. 25 years later, as I left Norfolk Naval Station on my last day of duty, and while still in uniform, I had picked up a silver dollar from the bank that morning and as I stopped for gas on the base service station, I gave it to the service member who gave me my last salute I’d receive while in uniform. Somehow it seemed fitting.