This past weekend, I had the honor of attending two special ceremonies in the life of the U.S. Navy warship—the USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG-126). Friday’s Mast Stepping Ceremony, followed on Saturday by the ship’s Christening.

When I received the invitation to the Mast Stepping Ceremony, I was surprised—it’s a tradition I didn’t realize had survived into the modern Navy. In the days of wooden sailing ships, a coin was placed beneath the mast when it was “stepped” (set into position). The crew would then have the knowledge that if misfortune would befall them, their toll would be paid to enter the afterlife. Though the meaning has evolved, the custom remains: items are placed “under” the mast to honor the ship’s namesake and to symbolize good fortune for her crew. 

The USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. is named for General Louis H. Wilson Jr., awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on Guam on July 25, 1944. His valor and leadership earned him the respect of Marines everywhere, and he later became the 26th Commandant of the Marine Corps. He passed away in 2005, but his legacy continues to inspire.

At the ceremony, several speakers - including the current Commandant of the Marine Corps, and family members - shared stories of General Wilson’s courage and character. Yet the most moving remarks came from retired Colonel Harvey C. Barnum Jr., himself a Medal of Honor recipient for his service in Vietnam. Hearing one Medal of Honor recipient speak about another - his mentor - was nothing short of extraordinary. 

Coincidentally, the ship christened just before the USS Wilson was the USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG-124). To see both men honored in this way, back-to-back, was unforgettable.  And the next BIW Destroyer (DDG 148) is named after USMC Corporal Kyle Carpenter, the youngest Medal of Honor recipient earned in Afghanistan in 2014. 

As each speaker finished, they placed a memento of General Wilson into a box that would go “under” the mast. How do they do that when the mast was already welded into place. The answer, a special structure is built into the mast to hold the box. Even after years aboard Navy ships, I’d never known a “box” was there.

The next day’s christening was just as inspiring. More stories of General Wilson’s leadership were shared, especially his time as Commandant. The Marine Corps was struggling when he took the helm, but he quickly set a new tone. In his first address he declared, “You need to get in step—and do so smartly.” He prioritized fitness and recruitment, and under his command, the now-iconic slogan “The Few, The Proud, The Marines” was born.

The ceremonies were not just about a ship. They were about remembering a leader whose example still shapes the Marines—and by extension, our nation. Sitting there, among heroes of the past and present, I was reminded of a truth that endures and I quote: “Ships are built of steel. But what gives them strength are the names—and the legacies—they carry.”