A/N: This has been long, long overdue.
Quinton Gray
-10-
2017
Iowa, in her dress uniform and with her hair tied into a bun, stood on her Tomahawk ABL deck facing a similarly uniformed Missouri. Between them, at waist level, they held an American flag parallel to the ground with the stars on Missouri's side. Simultaneously, with exact precision, the sisters folded the flag lengthwise, and lengthwise once more. Iowa made a triangle fold by bringing the closed corner to the open edge of the folded flag. She made another triangle fold by folding the opposite way, then she took a step forward.
Only the wind and the sound of Iowa's steps were heard as she took one step for every two folds until she completed six steps and thirteen folds. She was face-to-face with Missouri. The youngest of the Iowa-class tucked the flag's header into the folds until only the white stars on an ocean of dark blue were seen. Once Missouri was finished, Iowa cradled the flag against her chest with one hand and used her other hand to run along the edges of the folded flag. Satisfied, Iowa placed the flag in Missouri's hands. She saluted, and then walked off to the side.
Missouri, the flag firmly sandwiched between her hands, walked towards a woman and knelt before her. With straight edge facing the next of kin, Missouri presented the flag to the daughter of Quinton Gray.
"On behalf of the President of the United States," Missouri began. "The United States Navy, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service."
The flag exchanged hands.
Missouri stood up and gave one final solemn salute for the Korean War veteran.
A/N: Quinton Gray served on the Missouri during the Korean War. He was 80 when he passed. And in reality, it was a colleague of mine (also served on Missouri) who presented the flag to Gray's daughter.