My marina puts on a yearly customer appreciation cookout, and as my friend and I were putting our trash away and heading back to the boat to spend the day on the lake, I noticed an older gentleman wearing a shirt with a ship on it. I assumed, given his age, he was a WWII naval vet, and I walked over to shake his hand and thank him. It was only after getting close to him did I realize he was an Indianapolis survivor! Wowzers! I shook his hand, thanked him, and left.
Once back to the boat, however, I realized what a rare honor it was to have met someone from such a piece of our history, so I grabbed my camera and went back and asked if he would mind allowing me a photo with him, which of course he was glad to permit.
I was a history minor in college, and have always been a nutcase for WWII history specifically, so I was already well aware of the history of the ship and it's tragic end, etc., but once back with him, he began to tell me the story of the Indianapolis in great detail which I listend to intently...There was no way I was going to steal his moment from him. We talked for a while until, unfortunately, someone called him away and he had to return to his friends and family, but not before I got a couple of photos of us together.
I was really touched by meeting someone like this gentleman face to face, and when I returned to my boat, had to explain why this man was so special to my friend who hadn't a clue.
Anyhoo...I could go on and on, because I'm still pretty fired up to have had the honor, but I won't. hehe I just wanted to share what is sure to be one of the fondest boating memories I'm sure I'll have.
