As a new day breaks another landmark has been put in place in my life.

Today, Friday, 27 August 2010, marks the completion of 10 years of inactive fleet reserve duty. Those 10 years combined with my 20 years of active duty military service in the United States Navy yield a grand total of 30 years of faithful military service. Thus my military service and career have now come to an end.

For 30 years I have faithfully stood a vigilant watch and guarded my post and now it is time for this sailor to be properly relieved of his duties and sent ashore to enjoy the rest of his life. I will always be eternally thankful to my Heavenly Father for watching over me, sustaining me, and keeping me during this time. I will also forever be thankful for all of the opportunities that were afforded me, the blessing of the many wonderful and influential people that I met along the way, and the many interesting places that I was allowed to travel to and the diverse cultures that I had the chance to experience. I am also forever thankful to my family and friends who have supported me through the years of my military service and continue to support me to this day.

I am a TRUE American and I LOVE this country. God bless all of the valiant men and women who have served and are currently serving this great nation of ours to ensure that freedom continues to ring throughout this land, and God bless the United States of America. Semper Fideles!

Keith Lionel Brown; Electronics Technician First Class; USN Retired