Que Sera Sera
Part II
Admiral Leutze Park
Washington Navy Yard
Washington, D.C.
3 January 2015/1150
Harm and Mac stood together in the brilliant sun of the winter sky, waiting quietly for the remaining guests to take their seats as the Marine Corps' Ceremonial Band played a medley of patriotic tunes.
The fourth ceremony of the day, the fifth of what would be six total before the day would be over. Two days and nights of pomp and pageantry, emotion and humor, lots of laughter and a few quiet tears.
'Plan A's' meticulously organized logistics had come together perfectly, borne of the precise battle planning that only a Marine general could pull off ….and countless hours anticipating and planning for every possible variance. The weather was perfect. Cold but sunny. Tables at the side of the park were set with urns of hot chocolate and coffee and platters of miniature Danish that warmed the nearly 500 guests as they moved into the park from JAG Headquarters, a few blocks away.
They'd begun at 0800 at the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Mac and Harm were resplendent in their full dress uniforms, rows of medals glittering. Mahara, Mattie and Chloe each carried different colored roses, piling them below the etched name of LT Harmon Rabb, Sr. They joined hands with Frank and Trish as Chaplain Turner, in his early 80's but still spry, still ministering to his flock, recited the psalms Harm and Trish had chosen. Then the girls' surprise – their 3 voices singing a capella, the Navy Hymn.
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who biddest the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Beginning with the traditional verse, they added the alternate verses in honor of an aviator whose plane had fallen from the sky years before any of them had been born:
Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces in the sky.
Be with them always in the air,
In darkening storms or sunlight fair;
Oh, hear us when we lift our prayer,
For those in peril in the air!
Aloft in solitudes of space,
Uphold them with Thy saving grace.
Thou Who supports with tender might
The balanced birds in all their flight.
Lord, if the tempered winds be near,
That, having Thee, they know no fear.
Rest, "Hammer." For eternity. You served with honor.
A small group of National Park Service Rangers and a few early arriving volunteers – the veterans who helped tourists and mourners find the names of their loved ones on the stark black panels watched respectfully from a short distance away.
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0930
Atrium
Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary
The Chief Judge's Change of Command had been a shorter, more low key ceremony than originally planned. In yet another stark reminder that a life can be cut short without warning, the officer selected for the position had been killed in a skiing accident Thanksgiving weekend. Half expecting a set of orders reading "Reference (a), Retirement Orders, is hereby cancelled. Continue present duty." both Mac and Harm had been relieved when the decision was made to recall to active duty for six months a Marine Reservist whose civilian occupation was Chief Judge of the Kentucky Supreme Court. Accepting the interim position with grace and dignity, Colonel Daniel Houston Bennett – his father's heroes had been Daniel Boone and Sam Houston -- had requested a brief, simple ceremony.
1000
Courtyard
JAG Headquarters
Promoted to Rear Admiral the day before, Tracy Manetti assumed command as the first woman Naval officer to be the Judge Advocate General. Her father's old friend, the former Secretary of the Navy, was the principal speaker. After completing her SJA tour on the carrier John F. Kennedy she'd been deep selected for Captain and relieved Mac as CO of JLSO SW, followed by two years as Staff Judge Advocate to the CNO. With her innate grace and charm, her slight Southern drawl had the audience in stitches as she recalled some of the events of her first tour at JAG, when she'd been viewed as "SECNAV's spy." The formal change of command ceremony complete, the attendees were invited to tour the Display Ship Barry or the Naval Museum before Harm and Mac's joint retirement ceremony.
The joint change of commands dinner had been the previous evening. The organizing committee had initially planned a traditional Navy-Marine Corps roast, but the death of RADM (Select) Thompson and the need to include larger numbers of Reservists and guests from Kentucky had caused them to scale back on the frivolity. Even so, the over four hundred guests who had packed the main ballroom at the Willard Hotel had skewered Harm, Mac, Tracy and Daniel good. It had been a fun evening. Just as there'd been nothing dull about the outgoing "team" the incoming team vowed to give them a run for their money in Navy-Marine Corps JAG history, or "herstory" as Tracy kept insisting on pronouncing it!
Flashback.
Sunday after Thanksgiving
Beach below the Burnetts' residence
La Jolla, CA
"I only met him a few times, but he was sharp – he knew the law backwards and forwards – and funny too, a real wit." Harm had been particularly upset since they'd gotten the call early that morning. Another son left fatherless, also a daughter. The children of RADM (Select) Brendan Thompson were 10 and 12. "Did you know him well?"
"No, I only met him a few times too -- mostly at JAG Conferences and once or twice at CLE classes in Charlottesville at the Army JAG School." His current XO would let them know about funeral arrangements after the family made its decisions later in the week. Instead of preparing to move to Washington D.C. for his turnover with the Chief Judge, his wife would be planning his funeral.
"What do you think will happen?" Not to be crass, but Harm and Mac were scheduled to leave the east coast January 5th for California. They were expected to start their new lives January 24th and February 1st.
The call Mac had gotten Easter Week was from the Chairman of the search committee for a new Executive Director for the Armed Forces YMCA in San Diego. Flying back out two Fridays later for interviews with the search committee and the current Board of Directors, Harm and Mac had wowed them with their sales pitch for a package deal: co-executive directors. Negotiation for salaries and benefits had proceeded through the summer until contracts were signed Labor Day weekend. They knew the outgoing Executive Director, a retired line Captain, would stay on if necessary – they'd already decided that if one had to stay in D.C., the other would as well.
Their second job was more problematic – the call Harm had gotten had been from the Dean at Cal Western Law School. They were scheduled to begin co-teaching Military Law and a senior seminar on the Law of War when the new semester started on January 24th.
"We'll work it out." Harm tried to be philosophical. "Maybe they'll let us teach by VTC."
'Que sera, sera," Mac murmured quietly. "If we absolutely have to be separated for a few months, we'll manage. It won't be the first time."
With the decision to recall the Reserve Colonel to active duty until the Selection Board could be reconvened to select another officer as Chief Judge, the problem was solved. Col Bennett and his family eagerly offered to rent Bud and Harriet's lovely Roslyn, VA home, so the house once again passed to another JAG family, as it had since Bud and Harriet had left for San Diego in 2006.
End flashback.
1200
Admiral Leutze Park
In addition to the logistics of the multiple ceremonies, there'd been delicate negotiations between the Navy and the Marine Corps. The complex logistics of staging back-to-back ceremonies dictated that each ceremony be held at the Navy Yard. To avoid any hurt feelings that might impact future good relations, the Commandant's offer of his Ceremonial Band was accepted, Marines served as ushers, and the Corps' flag flew proudly beside the Navy's at each event.
As the Marine Band's last notes died away, CAPT Bud J. Roberts, JAGC, U.S. Navy, acting as Master of Ceremonies, turned from speaking to Chaplain Turner, who was already seated on the platform and began the formal program. Eighteen years ago he'd been a young Ensign who sometimes appeared a bit bumbling or dorkish, who'd stumbled over the etiquette for entering and departing a vehicle. On this January day, an articulate and self-assured Naval officer quieted the crowd as he noted the history of Admiral Leutze Park.
"Named in honor of Rear Admiral Eugene H.C. Leutze, Yard Commandant from 1905 – 1910, the park is the official parade ground for retirement and change of command ceremonies. The bronze cannon and other ordnance that rims the park is from the 17th – 19th centuries. It includes ordnance captured in the Barbary Wars, the Civil War and the Spanish American War."
No one who didn't know him would know from his military bearing that only one leg was flesh and bone. A deep select for both Commander and Captain, he made a point of swimming and running every PRT. He'd lobbied hard for his present billet of SJA at the Naval Special Warfare Command.
"Will the guests please rise for the arrival of the official party and remain standing through the parading of the Colors, the singing of the National Anthem and the Invocation."
Each dignitary was 'piped aboard' along the red carpet – the ringing of the bell by the ringer, the shrill tones of the boatswain's pipe resonating in turn with Bud's solemn voice. One by one, the platform filled. The Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of the Navy. The Commandant of the Marine Corps. The Chief of Naval Operations.
Awaiting their cues, Harm and Mac gasped, shocked and awed, as Bud's voice rang out clearly in the sudden hush: "The Honorable Bobbi Latham, President of the United States of America!"
They'd noted the exceptionally heavy security, but had expected it, given the number of dignitaries present, including large numbers of both active and retired Flag and General officers. Bud had kept this secret well.
Ruffles and flourishes. Hail to the Chief. This would be a retirement ceremony to remember.
Their turns.
"Rear Admiral Harmon Rabb, Judge Advocate General's Corps, United States Navy, Chief Judge, Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary, arriving!"
Grinning, Harm whispered, "see you up there" as he stepped onto the red carpet and paused for the ringer and the piper to do their thing.
"Major General Sarah MacKenzie, United States Marine Corps, Judge Advocate General, arriving!" Her hand snapping upwards in salute as the sounds of the bell and pipe were heard, Mac began her ascent to the platform. She'd participated in many ceremonies over the years, and marveled that this one was for her – and Harm. Partners again. Finally.
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"Ladies and gentlemen, as we know, a military retirement ceremony is both a solemn and a joyous event, steeped in formality and tradition as speeches are made, awards are presented, and nice things are said about the officer – or today, officers plural – retiring. But, General MacKenzie and Admiral Rabb have a long history of not standing on ceremony. Since they met at the edge of a certain garden in the backyard of a big white house a short distance from here 18 years ago today, their style has been informal, some might even say unconventional - as I began to witness that very day. So today, I thought we'd be informal and unconventional too: instead of "Admiral Rabb" it'll be "Admiral Harm" and instead of "General MacKenzie, we'll call her "General Mac!" All of the speakers have agreed."
Bud, paused, pleased with himself, as the crowd roared. He intended this ceremony to be one long remembered and fondly recalled.
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"Sideboys post!"
Almost done. The speeches had been made, both serious and humorous, the certificates, flags and awards presented. The "Old Glory" ceremony had moved many to tears. The 'piping over the side' was the last honor to be bestowed.
Harm and Mac had selected their sideboys carefully. Recalling some of the bitterness and hurt of the aftermath of the Paraguay fiasco, they'd agreed to invite retired Admiral AJ Chegwidden to the ceremonies, but not ask him to be a sideboy. The same with Sturgis. AJ had RSVP'd and was somewhere in the sea of uniforms filling the Park. They had no idea if Sturgis had showed. He'd drifted for a while through several jobs after he retired from active duty, but eventually found his niche as an acerbic and biting commentator on Court TV. Lately, they'd noticed that he was occasionally in the news escorting President Latham at one official function or another. Neither had ever married.
Standing at attention before the Secretary of the Navy, they spoke in unison. "Request permission to go ashore."
"Granted."
Stepping onto the red carpet on the far side of the platform, they paused for Bud's commands and for him to take his place:
"Rear Admiral, United States Navy, Retired. Departing!
Major General, United States Marine Corps, Retired. Departing!"
The striking of the bell. The whistle of the boatswain's pipe.
Their bright smiles were infectious as they slowly proceeded between the two rows of four officers:
Rear Admiral Tracy Manetti, the new Judge Advocate General
Rear Admiral Elizabeth Hawkes, "Skates" was CAG on the carrier Stennis
Captain Tali Mayfield had relieved Harm as Circuit Military Judge, SW Judicial Circuit
Commander Becca Fielding, "Snowflake A" was SJA on the carrier Lincoln
Rear Admiral Thomas Boone, retired
Captain Jackson Keeter, retired
Captain Bud J. Roberts, SJA at SPECWARCOM, San Diego
Commander Chris Fielding, "Snowflake B" was XO at JLSO SW
The torch had passed to the next generation of Navy and Marine Corps judge advocates.
Harm and Mac were going home!
End Part II
Author's Note: In "real life" changes of command and retirements almost always take place in the same ceremony; to make everything fit as I wished in this story, I created separate ceremonies. Also, many parts of the ceremonies were omitted.
The "Snowflake twins" are original characters created by highplainswoman in her story "Afterburners." They also appeared in "Doppelganger."