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32 | OHCC LIVING | JUNE 2026 | Village Vets As I sat down to write this month's article, I found myself thinking about our nation's upcoming 250th birthday. Two hundred and fifty years — that's a lot of candles and one celebration that ought to make Lady Liberty proud. July 4 always brings back memories for me — some from home, and plenty from the middle of the ocean. And since I'm the one writing this article, you're coming to sea with me. Life on a Navy ship isn't exactly the glamorous adventure recruiting posters promise. Seven-day workweeks are standard. They have to be. A ship can't exactly throw it in park and take a day off. Even in port, something always needs fixing, fueling, painting, or saluting. So, what does July fourth look like when you're af loat? Unless we're sending something very large and very expensive into the sky, think Tomahawk missiles, there aren't any fireworks. But sailors are creative, and we celebrate in our own way — with the legendary Steel Beach Picnic. Since we don't have sand, we improvise. The helicopter deck or any reasonably f lat surface becomes "the beach." We roll out the grills and begin the sacred naval tradition of charring — excuse me, cooking — various meat products. Usually it's burgers and hot dogs, but on one ship we went big with briskets and steaks. Sailors still talk about that one like it was a national holiday all by itself. These picnics run long because both the oncoming and off-going watch teams need to be fed. And do sailors love them? That is a loud Hell yes, often followed by an "Arrrgh!" for nautical authenticity. Many ships even have their own bands, rocking everything from classic hits to whatever the youngest sailor insists is "real music." If there's no band, we blast tunes over the 1MC — our ship wide announcement system that doubles as a concert venue. Well-fed and well entertained, a Steel Beach Picnic brings the whole crew together. For a few hours, the ship feels less like a workplace and more like a f loating neighborhood barbecue. And what about the silent service — our submariners? They have their own version of a Steel Beach Picnic, though the "beach" part is mostly theoretical. Rumor has it the crew lines up for a quick peek at one through the periscope. That's dedication! So, as we celebrate this July Fourth — on a real beach, a steel one, or your backyard — take a moment to remember the men and women serving af loat and ashore. They're out there keeping us safe so we can enjoy our freedom and festivities at home. Written by Captain "Burger Bob" Bechill

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