USN in Holiday Dress at Norfolk

051224-N-1960H-012 Yokosuka, Japan (Dec. 24, 2005) – The aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), center, along with other U.S. Navy Seventh Fleet ships, show their holiday spirit on Christmas Eve 2005 with a colorful display of friendship lights. Several other Sailors from Carrier Strike Group Five (CSG-5) participated in decorating their ships from bow to stern in holiday colors. Currently in port, Kitty Hawk is the only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, and is home ported out of Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photograph by Photographer's Mate Airman Thomas J. Holt (RELEASED)



051222-N-7526R-001 Yokosuka, Japan (Dec. 22, 2005) - Christmas lights outline the amphibious command and control ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). Blue Ridge is the Seventh Fleet Command ship and is permanently forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy Photo by Navy Journalist Seaman Marc Rockwell-Pate (RELEASED)

Understand, don't want you to get lead poisoning (but can the misguided children shoot that good)

I'm sorry grandpajohn, but carrying a camera around here might get me a case of acute lead poisoning. The funny thing is, you can ride the Naval Base tour bus and take all of the pictures you want.

Beautiful shot.

One year when I lived in Newport News (must have been 1983 or thereabouts) my father flew down from Ohio for a visit just before Christmas.  I had to drive him to the Norfolk airport early one morning.  Heading back on I-64 West I got stuck in a humongous traffic jam, which suddenly evaporated when I passed the Naval Base exit.  It seemed odd that so much traffic would be on the freeway at 6:00 a.m., but the explanation became obvious when I got to the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.  A substantial portion of the Mediterranean Fleet was coming into Hampton Roads in time for Christmas.  The sight of that long line of ships coming through the mist, with the crews manning the rails, was pretty impressive.

One other year when I lived up there the warships that happened to be at Norfolk for the holidays held a decoration contest.  I recall two of the competitors in particular.  One was a destroyer, whose ASROC launcher had been covered in aluminum foil and wrapped up with an enormous red bow.  The other was a little yard tug, which had five big windows in its pilothouse.  Each window had been adorned with one brightly illuminated letter:  J - E - S - U - S.

Call me Scrooge, but somehow those two just didn't do much for me....

Not in Norfolk, but more holiday lights courtesy of the Navy

Navy Newsstand Photo

051216-N-9866B-170 San Diego (Dec. 16, 2005) – The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) displays her holiday lights in her homeport of Naval Station San Diego. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Zack Baddorf (RELEASED)

http://www.navy.mil/view_photos_top.asp

Can you get a picture and post it or the Enterprise(was my son's ship)? I'm a long way from Norfolk