Navy Roses of Steel

     Can just any woman stand on the pier with babes in arms, and one on the way, and keep a stiff upper lip as she waves good-bye to her husband, keeping back the tears for "the childrens sake"?  Can just any woman lay alone night after night, for months and months at a time being sole guardian of her family?  Can just any woman get 2 weeks notice and pack up her whole household, pass a white glove inspection, load the car, say a quick good-bye to girlfriends who became like sisters and take off for yet another duty station only to begin all over again? Can just any woman take the lonliness and heartbreak of having no tender kisses, gentle touches, or sounds or smells of her husband day after day?  Can just any woman take a set of whites and iron and starch them just the right way so her husband can pass inspection?  Can just any woman be mother,doctor, maid, chauffer,umpire,psychologist,financial consultant, tooth fairy, Santa, the Easter Bunny , the main disciplinarian, and STILL enforce the love and discipline of  an absent father??  Not likely!! So ladies, give yourselves a pat on the back for your strength, your dedication, your deep love for your husband and your country, for without you, where would your husband be today?  Whether he is a seaman recruit, petty officer, Chief, Ensign, Commander, or Captain, he is what he is and where he is because he had a great woman standing right beside him, you, a STEEL ROSE of the Navy