A/N: Thank you everyone for the reviews and comments. This completes the story and i will work on another time period story set during WW2. It will probably come towards the end of the month. For now enjoy the epilogue and leave the comments.
Epilogue
World War 2 Valor in the Pacific National Monument
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 11th, 1991
The ferry began to slow as it approached the memorial. Alexis looked over as she saw the honor guard officer waiting for them outside on the deck. Alexis started to look closer, when her daughter, Karen, tapped her on the shoulder. "Mom, have you heard from Uncle Rick?"
Alexis turned and nodded her head. "He sent a radio message stating he didn't know if they would be in range for him to get a flight off the carrier due to bad weather."
Karen nodded and sat back in her seat. For Richard Alexander Castle Jr, he attended like his father attended the Naval Academy graduating in 1964. Upon completion of the Naval Academy he took the test and applied for flight school to which he was accepted. By 1967 he was pinned with his wings as a pilot in the A-6 attack aircraft. Despite his constant request for combat duty in Vietnam, he served aboard the USS Independence in Atlantic and Mediterranean areas of operations. Yet he rose through the ranks and led some of the first strikes against terrorist targets in Lebanon in the 1980s and against the Iranian oil platforms in the Gulf. By 1990 he rose the rank of Rear Admiral and was place in charge of a Carrier Battlegroup out of San Diego.
The ferry docked at the memorial and Alexis's grandson Rick was the first one out, came to attention and saluted the officer on the dock. "Good Morning sir."
"Good Morning." A voice familiar to Alexis replied. She looked up and had tears in her eyes as her brother Rick Jr, held out his hand. "You think I miss mom's funeral?"
Alexis shook her head as she took Rick's hand as he helped her out of the boat. "How?"
"I took F-14 backseat ride, and asked for a couple favors from some friends of mine for tanking support." Rick replied with a smile on his face as he hugged his sister. He shook his brother in law's hand. "No we plowed through just enough of the storm for the COD to get into range with one tanking support."
Alexis smiled and kissed her brother on his cheek. She took his arm and moved into the memorial where the chairs were set up. Within 20 minutes everyone was seated and the service began. Friends, families got up and told their memories of Kate. At the end of the service, the priest came back up to the front. "Now we shall commit her ashes to the sea above the Arizona so Kate can rejoin her beloved husband for all of eternity."
This was the cue for the honor guard to begin the process of folding the flag and preparing for the 21 gun salute. This was in accordance to Kate's last will, which this take place before they committed her ashes. The officer in charge came over and handed Alexis the flag. "On behalf of the President of the United States, the Chief of Naval Operations, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag for your love ones service to the Country and the Naval Service."
Alexis nodded as the officer stood up straight, came to attention, saluted the family. The final salute was given followed by the playing of taps. Once that was over, the family rose to their feet and move to the railing that was towards the harbor entrance. Alexis and Rick Jr, slowly uncapped the urn and slowly poured Kate's ashes before handing it over to the National Park Service Ranger who was in a launch who spread the rest of Kate's ashes over the area. Kate's wedding ring fell out of the urn, which in accordance to Kate's wishes would not be recovered. As the ring fell, it took what most people would think is a free hall in accordance to the laws of physics. Yet the ring fell into a hole on the deck near the remains of turret two and into the interior of the Arizona. As it fell further into the interior, it hook on a piece of ruptured bulkhead that had another wedding band broken, and melted into the bulkhead. Kate's ring hooked on to this ring and slide down, scraping away a little bit of the growth near the part of the band that was broken. A week before their wedding, Rick and Kate had their rings inscribed with the words always. As the rings settled from Kate's ring hooking the broken ring, the word on the broken ring appear; Always.
Additional note: This was before in 1991 there was email and phone calls from ships at sea. Hope you enjoyed the finale.