| Dear John,
Last week, the White House celebrated the Navy’s 250th birthday in Norfolk, VA. CVA took part in this historic event, dubbed TITANS OF THE SEA: A Presidential Review of Naval Strength.
I have spent nearly 22 years in the naval service, both as a U.S. Marine and as a Navy officer, and I have never witnessed such an impressive celebration of naval strength, tradition and professionalism.
As we arrived, we were met by thousands of sailors wearing their summer white dress uniforms. The sea of white, sandwiched between two imposing warships, one being the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman, displayed the prowess of the world’s most powerful Navy.
The Navy had more in store: An impressive show of force, with live fire displays and an air show streamed live from the ocean, with President Trump observing from another aircraft carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush, underway off the coast of Virginia.
After the live fire demonstrations, Marine One took off from the Bush and landed on the Truman, where the President’s team came down the stairs (certainly the most impressive gangplank that has ever touched the Truman), starting with VA Secretary Doug Collins, and with speeches from Navy Secretary John Phelan, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, First Lady Melania Trump, with President Trump stealing the show in the end.
During their speeches, they reiterated one thing to our Sailors: America has your back!
President Trump reiterated our military’s renewed focus on warfighting readiness, revitalizing America’s shipbuilding industry, and making long overdue quality-of-life improvements for military families.
Our Navy deserves leadership that not only prioritizes proper training and equipment, but also that ensures they are only put in harm’s way when it is critical to the defense of America’s core national interests. I left this event feeling proud of the Navy’s first 250 years, and optimistic for the next 250.
As a Navy vet myself, I can say this: America has the finest Navy in the world. It was truly an honor to share this experience with my CVA colleagues and thousands of other sailors – mostly young men and women, early in their careers – and to sense their own optimism for our Navy’s future.
I wish the Navy a happy birthday, and cheers to another 250 years of defending America and BEATING ARMY! | 
