Between the chants, and the screams, you could feel the excitement in the crowd as people anxiously waited for 300 sailors to make their way off the USS Roosevelt on Friday in Mayport.
Crowds gathering for return of USS Roosevelt pic.twitter.com/LGvt9TtBbI
— Deanna Bettineschi (@DeannaWAVY) December 30, 2016
Family anxiously awaiting the return of their daddy! pic.twitter.com/TfKdTaCkOD
— Deanna Bettineschi (@DeannaWAVY) December 30, 2016
It's far out in the distance but here comes the USS ROOSEVELT pic.twitter.com/5T4nGJTBA8
— Deanna Bettineschi (@DeannaWAVY) December 30, 2016
Coming closer! The cheers are starting up!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Szjs6UVfiR
— Deanna Bettineschi (@DeannaWAVY) December 30, 2016
Here she comes! Welcome home sailors! USS ROOSEVELT pic.twitter.com/LQt25DVHCe
— Deanna Bettineschi (@DeannaWAVY) December 30, 2016
Emily Kuzman’s wife was one of the sailors aboard the ship. “It’s been seven months, almost to the day,” said Kuzman adding that it was her wife’s first deployment.
Tug boats bringing her in! We can see the sailors now 😊 pic.twitter.com/1QFz5Cxg5f
— Deanna Bettineschi (@DeannaWAVY) December 30, 2016
— Deanna Bettineschi (@DeannaWAVY) December 30, 2016
“It’s been a long ride, it’s been tough, but it makes us stronger,” Kuzman said.
As the ship docked, we got to see a few “first kisses.”
That first kiss 😘welcome home sailors! pic.twitter.com/7EkNRvbmP7
— Deanna Bettineschi (@DeannaWAVY) December 30, 2016
Chief Petty Officer TJ Murphy said he's ready to have his family in his arms. “We missed the holidays so we're so excited to be home,” Murphy said.
Seeing their families after a long 7 months 😊🇺🇸 #USSRoosevelt pic.twitter.com/vwRB6pKRZr
— Deanna Bettineschi (@DeannaWAVY) December 30, 2016
While the sailors missed the holidays, they’ll get the chance to celebrate and bring in the new year with their loved ones.
Cox Media Group