A ceremony honoring the 20th anniversary of the commissioning of the Norfolk-based aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (TR) (CVN 71) took place in the ship’s hangar bay Oct. 25. Several distinguished guests who have played an important role in the life of the ship were on hand for the occasion. “Twenty years of service … think about that for a minute,” said TR Commanding Officer, Capt. J. R. Haley, who took command June 9, 2005. “The median age of the crew on this ship is 19. A significant moment for the more than 3,000 TR crew members on hand came when TR’s first commanding officer took to the podium to deliver a brief message with high impact. Retired Rear Adm. Wick Parcells first turned to Haley and asked the captain for permission to speak directly to the crew.
