MCPON Honors Navy Spouses' Service, Sacrifice

090501-N-9134V-017 NORFOLK (May 1, 2009) Chief Hospital Corpsman Tony Ward greets his family on the pier as the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) arrives at its new homeport at Naval Station Norfolk. The ship was commissioned Saturday, April 25 in Charleston, S.C. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Flordeliz Valerio/Released)

From Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick D. West

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- On the occasion of Military Spouse Appreciation Day May 8, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) (SS/SW) Rick D. West sent the following message to the fleet, including Navy spouses and families:

"When I took this job in December, I made a promise to every one of you that I would do everything in my power to ensure you are supported, that you have the quality of life you deserve and when your loved ones are deployed, our Navy will take care of you when you need it.

These were not just words, and I will say the same thing to every family member or Sailor I meet. This is very important to me because I know of the sacrifices our families make so that our Sailors can defend this nation.

The life of a Navy spouse is unlike any other. We ask that you give us your husbands and wives for months at a time. We ask you to support them because nothing is more important to their peace of mind. We ask you to understand the weekend watches, the deployments, the missed holidays and birthdays. You continue to give and ask for very little in return.

We are grateful for that, but we owe you a huge debt. We owe you an equal amount of understanding for the sacrifices you make, and I can promise that you have that from Navy leadership.

May 8 is Military Spouse Appreciation Day and, we will pause a moment that day to thank you appropriately. Please take my word on this when I tell you the appreciation we have for what you do goes far beyond one day per year. Thank you for your continued support of your Sailor, our Navy and our nation.

HOOYAH!"

For more news from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/mcpon/.

(Story Number: NNS090506-07 Release Date: 5/6/2009 2:55:00 PM )

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