A Son's Love

submitted by Oz Ostapeck

December, 2004

A stretch, white limousine pulled up to the Crockett Hotel in San Antonio to discharge passengers attending the 16th National Reunion of the USS Euryale. These limos carry about 27 or 28 passengers. While the driver was removing the luggage from the trunk, the passengers exited and entered the hotel. JUST TWO passengers, -- Gene and Helen Charette. What is going on here!!

Well, the Charettes were loyal attendees of our reunions for many years but were unable to attend recently and knowing that this would be the last one, they were eager to come. Their son Paul, decided to pay back to his parents for all the years of support, both of encouragement and financial, to make this a memorable event for them. He arranged their whole trip by ordering the flight tickets, to have them picked up at their home in Chicopee, Mass, delivered to the Airport to be met by someone to get their baggage and themselves aboard the plane and delivered to San Antonio. Gene and Helen thought that they would be picked up in a taxi. Imagine what they thought when they saw this stretch, white limo stop at their door. Imagine what their neighbors thought!

I happened to be outside the Crockett when they departed and saw the limo pull up. Helen invited me to take a look inside. It could have carried half our crew to the Nimitz Museum. We said our goodbyes and they departed.

What a wonderful thing for a son to do for his parents! Paul says that this doesn’t compare with what his parents did for him over the years. You’re a great guy, Paul.

Unknown is how much the well-stocked bar aboard the limo was altered after each trip was completed.

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