The commander and I have talked about the ship's trip schedule and where I might be able to join them. McCurry turned to Cmdr. Danzig said the Navy and Marine Corps are about relationships. As a relatively declining number of Americans have experience in military service, one problem we have is how to we relay a sense of military experience to the public. This was the beginning of the Navy's Honorary Members Program.
Distinguished civilians become honorary members of the crew or the unit.
It works two ways. The honorary members visit the ship or unit and speak with the crew. Other notables to be initiated soon are author Maya Angelou, San Diego Padres owner Larry Luchino, soccer star Mia Hamm, futurist Peter Schwartz, financier Dennis Bovin, football star Chad Hennings, and retired Marine Corps colonel and television star Ed McMahon. Frank Pandolfe and Master Chief Petty Officer Ronald L. Downs welcome Mike McCurry to the crew of the destroyer USS Mitscher. McCurry, former press secretary to President Clinton, became an honorary crew member during a March 23 ceremony in the Pentagon.