Plan B Forum

All new! A project neither civilian, nor military, but all voluntary. An endeavor that will make Silicon Valley History for a few decades at least; when so many others wouldn't take it: I did;

I give you, the -
Naval Reserve District [NRD] San Francisco, Ceremonial Bell Stand Project 2011! <dramatic chords>

Why, what is the NRD?



http://www.facebook.com/pages/NRD-San-F ... 1062326341

An all new consolidation of the West Coast Naval Recruiting HQ into a single Central Location on Moffett Federal Airfield AKA Moffett Field; Home to Historical Hangar One, as seen on the History Channel, and most recently the Mythbusters. Also, loosely affiliated with 'The Hindengburg'... Moffet Field was at the start of the period of lighter-than-air dirigibles, while the Hindenburg disaster was the signal of it's end. Throughout that, and more than a few seismic earthquakes later... Hangar One endured.



What it couldn't withstand was politics, and I was enlisted to ensure it's legacy, in my own small way.

Will weld for posterity...

So, what did I, La Loca do?

As per Naval Traditions, every Navy command, be it ship or shore, should have a Bell on its Quarterdeck. This dates far back to the ancient ship board method of keeping time, and broadcasting important announcements by ringing a brass bell.
Of course, this new command, NRD San Francisco, was going to uphold and honor all the pomp and circumstance required; and while they had inherited a significantly large bell; they still needed a ceremonial stand that could support it.

...And when the Navy needs a structure built- they send in the Seabees!


This is the story of one Steel-Working Seabee's finest effort, and if I never do anything else, at least I accomplished this;





Meanwhile, technically it's still not complete, but let me start from the beginning...

Not wait, I'm cutting to the end;

I have passed probation and procured permanent, full-time employment at my new position. For all intents and purposes, I've achieved:


Lead Welder!

The Bell Stand Project started one year ago, with an invitation from the World's Oldest Chief: EOC Parrington. I don't normally post real names here, but 'Chief' is famous as the West Coast's quintessential 'Can Do' Seabee, and if you don't know of him, you should~

Technically, he should be retired, but he decided long ago; to Heck with that! I'm gonna continue to serve my shipmates, in Hell and High water ..and thus so, he serves in perpetuity on Permission Orders, probably to his dying day. You can't stop him; don't even try, he'll outlive us all

...Meanwhile for some reason, this esteemed Elder 'Bee thinks I'm the Det's finest welder, hmmm.
(He also thinks I've been with the unit since Treasure Island, but I don't mind that mistaken, absent-minded, distinction; I luv him too ) He's only got something like 77 years in use and mileage, but he's still running real well, and there's still a few hundred miles more left in'em.

Well, what with his call and conviction that Moffett Field NRD could count on the Seabees to step up, I couldn't let him, or the Navy down.
Tradition and Brass Balls Bells had to be upheld, or I wasn't a SteelWorker First Class worth one's salt.