Guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) hosted a Family Day Cruise from its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk April 25.

The 12-hour cruise offered guests a chance to experience what it is like being underway on the ship and an opportunity to observe their Sailors in action.

The day began with boat operations as one of Mason's rigid hull inflatable boats was hoisted back aboard after routine maintenance while guests enjoyed the view.

"The purpose of the Family Day cruise was to have the Sailors' families see kind of what they do on a daily basis," said Culinary Specialist 1st Class Casey King, part of the planning committee. "It gave them a chance to spend time with family and friends while underway on a warship."

The guests also had the chance to enjoy breakfast and lunch prepared by the ship's culinary specialists, receive an exclusive tour of a variety of spaces within the ship, observe the firing of a MK 45 5-inch gun and a MK 38 M242 25mm Bushmaster chain gun, and watch a F/A-18 Super Hornet flyby.

"To be a part of the process meant a lot," said King. "It was a lot of work. There were some things that popped up last minute during the planning and finalizing process, but to see the fun all the family, friends, and Sailors had was well worth it."

Guests also had the opportunity to learn about Mason and her crew by observing static displays of damage control, seamanship, weapons familiarization, and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure techniques.

"My family was excited," said Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Xin Yu Chen, "I've always told them that the U.S. Navy was the best and this event showed that. It gave them a chance to experience what I do and participate in a lot of things that a very select few experience in their lifetime."

The day's events culminated in an awards ceremony as Cmdr. Christopher J. Gilbertson presented 19 Sailors with their Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist devices after completing the requirements during Mason's Composite Training Unit Exercise last month. Many Sailors who received the distinction had family members present during the cruise.

Mason is preparing for an upcoming deployment with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG). Along with Mason, IKE CSG includes aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61), and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 with its associated ships: USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and USS Nitze (DDG 94).

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For more news from USS Mason (DDG 87), visit http://www.navy.mil/.