THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 1996 TAG: 9605220272
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 75 lines
The following is the text of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Hagan's remarks at the memorial service for Adm. Jeremy ``Mike'' Boorda:
President and Mrs. Clinton, Mrs. Boorda and the family, and to all of you who love the Navy so much, before I lead our responsive reading, allow me to speak from my heart.
I feel as if this is my last ``All Hands'' call with Admiral Boorda, and he has thrown me the mike one last time.
We are here to honor, to remember, to support one another in mourning, but even in the majesty and splendor of this shrine, we could not properly honor or remember if we were not joined by sailors all around the globe, on flight decks and hangar bays, fantails and fo'c'sles, on piers and of course in every Navy chapel.
Today, and throughout the week, against backdrops as many and varied as the signal flags on a full dress slip, with many voices, tears and prayers we will together render the proper honors to our beloved CNO, Admiral Mike Boorda.
He was the leader we longed for and looked to; he came from among us and rose so high, always remembering the lonely, insecure, frightened recruit, which all of us are in the beginning, before we discover, as Admiral Boorda did, that the Navy is a family.
Our family has lost a man of true worth.
The poet wrote:
``True worth is in being not seeming,
In doing, each day that goes by,
Some little good - not in dreaming
Of great things to do by and by.''
Our CNO went the poet many times better:
He did, each day, not a little, but MUCH good.
And he worked each day in great things which became realities quicker than any one could believe possible - and all the while he envisioned even greater things to do by and by, and he shared them with sailors. We will long remember Admiral Boorda for many great achievements. But I pray today we also remember the details.
He didn't just shake a sailor's hand, he gripped and held it, and drew energy from the encounter even as he left the sailor an indelible, lifelong, memory of a moment with their CNO.
When the boatswain was finished piping, he always walked back through, shaking hands, patting shoulders, even exchanging high five and tousling the hair of the rainbow sideboys who lined his arrival at every ship we visited at sea.
He answered the same question as thoroughly and patiently at the end of the day as he did at the break of dawn, seven ships's and seven helo rides earlier.
At each stop listening.
Standing on a destroyer flight deck, arm around a troubled sailor, personally and privately, counseling him - then worrying later and directing follow up.
Making everyone feel special.
His schedule was so full, but he invariably found the time for one more sailor; never, ever, saying no.
He was and is and will always be my HERO!
It is rare and special when your hero is also your friend.
Steinbeck wrote:
``This man drives himself and is driven. It is impossible to see how he can do so much, can cover so much ground, can work so hard and be so effective. There's a man. There is really a man.''
Of Admiral Boorda, we all exclaim today, ``There was a sailor. There really was a sailor. . . ''
Shipmates, a lot of work is well begun, and in the Boorda way of doing business ``well begun is half done.''
Our charge today is clear: Carry on.
Lead with zeal, serve with pride, learn about and honor our heritage . . . and that will be the Admiral Boorda legacy and the only really fitting memorial and with it will come the strength to carry on.
God Bless you, Admiral Boorda. We love you and will forever miss you.
KEYWORDS: U.S. NAVY SUICIDE CHIEF OF NAVAL
OPERATIONS FUNERAL by CNB