Instead of a carpet-lined chapel, Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Dike, flight deck officer aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), chose the ship's flight deck as the location to have his son's baptism.

Dike said he is in charge of supervising the flight deck, ensuring aircraft are safely launched and recovered. He said baptizing his son on the area he manages was an alluring idea.

"The flight deck is like my second home," said Dike. "I spend a lot of my time watching over it, especially when we're underway. With the job and the meaning that it had, the flight deck was suitable."

This was not the first time Dike participated in a baptism. He said his eldest son was baptized at a church years prior; however, Bonhomme Richard provided a pleasant contrast.

"It was phenomenal," said Dike. "The sun rising off the bow of the ship, the 'Big 6' behind us as Father Hammond was baptizing my son -- the beauty of it was just unbelievable. It's an image that will be forever engraved in my memory."

Dike also said his son's baptism allowed him to share camaraderie with a fellow service member, which added more elegance to an already beautiful gathering.

Dike, a Catholic, said it is customary to appoint individuals as godparents for a person being baptized. His son's godparents are state-side which prevented them from attending the ceremony, but Chief Petty Officer Cesar Gutierrez, V-4 Division's leading chief petty officer, attended the ceremony as a proxy -- a substitute for the godparents -- so the sacrament could be administered.

"Lieutenant commander approached me on the flight deck during a foreign object debris walkdown," said Gutierrez. "He asked me if I had any commitment during the weekend, and after my reply, he asked if I could be the proxy for his baby. It took me one second to decide that I wanted to help him."

Gutierrez is also Catholic, which is one reason he was selected to be the proxy for the baptism, said Dike, but he primarily chose Gutierrez because he is an honorable individual.

"[Gutierrez] is a good man," said Dike. "He is very respectable and professional. Knowing him over the last few months, I've grown to respect him. I really appreciate that he was willing to do this for us. I thank him for being the man he is, and taking the time to participate in this ceremony."

Dike is slated to change commands in December, and although he is leaving, he said he will never forget Bonhomme Richard.

"Bonhomme Richard absolutely holds a special place in my heart," said Dike. "After I transfer, this is going to be one of the highlights for my family and I."

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