The Old Salt was a special man who came along
 in a time when he was needed most.
A time that is now gone forever.

When men believed and sacrificed,
when hero’s walked the earth in mass.
When patriotism was not just a word
but,
by what men lived and judged the worth of each,
a man who lived a life most of us cannot comprehend.

An era now gone as this warriors tour of duty ends at this station, and begins anew in the heavenly fleet.

Sail on Sailor into your unaccompanied tour,
we salute you.

What greater honor, that when a man moves forward,
he leaves behind in each of us the best of what he was.

A defender, protector, supporter, victor, a warrior,
the last of the breed from an era when ships were made of wood and men were made of steel.

The Old Salt has reported for duty
that takes him away from us for now.
Those of us who remain behind,
remember, and will continue to remember,
because he now resides forever in our hearts.

As I look up at night, I envision The Old Salt,
a beret draped just above the eye,
as he draws upon his pipe,

quietly he waits.
The guardian of heaven’s gate.