I was honored to see the USS John C. Stennis return from deployment last month. Earlier this year I photographed the carrier capable of holding 5,000 sailors leave it’s homeport of Naval Station Bremerton, destined for a multi-month deployment full of numerous port visits and replenishments at sea. Watching the massive ship traverse the Puget Sound was awe inspiring but the dreary weather was a reflection of the emotions surrounding the ship. We have gone through a deployment, and it was sobering knowing that these men and women were leaving their families behind.

The ship departed on Blue Friday, so in honor of their hometown Seattle Seahawks the 12th Man flag was flown.

This article (Stennis Returns Home After 7-Month Indo-Pacific Deployment) has some great information about what went on during their deployment.

When the Stennis made its way around the final bend towards home, the weather was in sync once again. A gorgeous afternoon welcomed the sailors home to the Puget Sound and their families.

Welcome home!