The United States Navy has adopted a quite formal retirement ceremony over the years. This tradition dates back to the Royal Navy's tradition of piping distinguished visitors on and off of the ship. In today's stylized ceremony, it is unusual for any two retirements to be the same and my retirement was no different.
Retirements have to be planned well in advance.
My approval came back in about 3 months but planning had already started. I wanted my retirement to be one special time for me and my family. I asked Senior Chief Ottis Nelson to be my sponsor because of the great confidence I had in his abilities to plan and organize. But Ottis came through admirably. He told Senior Chief Patty Nolan that NSGA Northwest's plague was damaged and they needed another one.