My late husband, Henry L. Stanfield, was a career naval officer and served from 1944 to 1969 thru three wars.
It was 2003, the last year of his life, and he was invited to attend the first reunion of a ship, USS Davidson DE 1045, he had commanded on its maiden voyage. He was not doing well physically but he was determined to attend and we did,
On the first night of the reunion as we were about to enter the reception room I was stopped at the door so that Stan could enter the room alone.
As he stepped thru the door someone said (loudly) "Captain on the deck". At that moment every man in that room (about 50 of them) stood and saluted. As I watched from behind him I could feel his pride and his tears and my own. It was the most moving moment of his life as he answered "At ease".
The reunion was great, and there has been one every year since, unfortunately the first was the only one Captain Stanfield attended, he died on August 12, 2003.
Lake Worth, FL