USS RALPH JOHNSON SAILOR SERVES AS GRAND MARSHAL IN MILL CREEK PARADE

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Jiang | 190527-N-DA737-0081 MILL CREEK, Wash. (May 27, 2019) Sailors assigned to Naval Station Everett's honor guard march in the 2019 Memorial Day Parade in Mill Creek, Washington. The City of Mill Creek holds a Memorial Day Parade to honor those who have died in active service to the United States. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Jiang/Released)  

MILL CREEK, WA, UNITED STATES

05.27.2019

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Jiang 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Det. Northwest

The USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) Sailor of the Year served as grand marshal in the 2019 Memorial Day Parade in Mill Creek, Wash., May 27.

Fire Controlman 1st Class Ross Woody, from Vallejo, Calif., was honored by a ride in a classic car leading the parade.

“It was a really good experience,” said Woody. “I’m really proud to represent my ship and our country for the local community.”

Woody has been with the ship since 2015, helping to lead a detachment of Sailors in Norfolk while the ship was being built in Pascagoula, Miss.

“He’s an outstanding Ralph Johnson warrior and is a very good example of our ship’s namesake,” Command Master Chief Shelly Zakimi, Ralph Johnson’s command master chief.

Cmdr. Casey Mahon, Ralph Johnson’s commanding officer, also spoke highly of Woody.

“I really believe that the Sailor of the Year program is an important program for the Navy,” said Mahon. “I wanted to make sure that he has a chance to show the city of Mill Creek and the community that the Navy produces great Sailors.”

Woody wasn’t the only Ralph Johnson Sailor in the parade. He was followed by a group of his fellow crew members marching down main street in formation, with Cmdr. Mahon and CMC Zakimi in the lead.

“Memorial Day is a day where we honor the fallen who gave their lives in defense of the country and so I think it’s really important for young Sailors today to be a part of that tradition,” said Mahon.

Ralph Johnson’s participation in parade is just the most recent example of a relationship between the ship and the city of Mill Creek, who adopted the ship earlier this year.

“I think it’s important that citizens of a town or any community know that there are military personnel in their community and do what they can to support them,” said Lt. Col. (ret) Jon Ramer, veterans events coordinator for Mill Creek.

Ralph Johnson is the sixth and newest U.S. Navy destroyer homeported in Naval Station Everett, including USS Momsen (DDG 92), USS Shoup (DDG 86), USS Gridley (DDG 101), USS Kidd (DDG 100), and USS Sampson (DDG 102).

Naval Station Everett’s mission is to provide a secure platform for Navy and Coast Guard forces, important mission capabilities, and quality of life for service members and their families. The base provides assistance to its homeported ships such as transition services, family programs, and community resources to help them get settled in their new home.

• Date Taken: 05.27.2019
• Date Posted: 05.28.2019 00:10
• Story ID: 324066
• Location: MILL CREEK, WA, US