I was a side buoy on the USS Arizona for the 60th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
We lined up on each side of the plank leading to the memorial decked out in our whites. Our job was to stand there motionless with a sharp salute as the remaining crew made their way to their seats.
As each boat would arrive bringing more people and the crew made their way up the ramp they would stop and ask us questions about our rate and how long we'd been in. Some asked where we were from and others asked us to have lunch with them at their table after the ceremony. Then they would thank us for being there.
Imagine that...them, thanking us.