USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) honored the lives of 33 service members and family members during a burial-at-sea ceremony July 14.

Those committed to the dead included one admiral, three World War II veterans and the father-in-law of one of Ike’s own, Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Michael Bolton.

Capt. Kyle Higgins, Ike’s commanding officer, quoted George Bruce from 1884 in his opening remarks.

“The sea is the largest cemetery, and its slumbers sleep without a monument,” said Higgins. “All other graveyards show distinction between great and small, rich and poor, but in the ocean, the king, the clown, the prince and the peasant are alike.”

The crew solemnly said farewell to Vice Adm. Mike Malone, former commander of U.S. Naval Air Forces.

“He lived and breathed naval aviation,” said Higgins. “We can take solace that he did everything he could on and off active duty to preserve our Navy’s supremacy on the world’s oceans.”

Another shipmate who preserved the United States’ Naval sea power was Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class George Weiss, the last survivor of USS Yorktown at the Battle of Midway. Higgins said he was finally able to join his 141 shipmates lost at sea during the battle.

Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Billy Miranda-Reyes was in the honor guard during the ceremony; it was his first time experiencing a burial-at-sea.

“I’ve never been a part of it, but I wanted to pay my respects,” said Miranda-Reyes. “I have no idea who these people are, but I know they served just like I’m doing right now. They did their part so I’m trying to make sure I carry the torch that they passed on.”

It was a special opportunity for Bolton to be able to take part in the ceremony for his father-in-law.

He said he knows how much his father-in-law would’ve liked the ceremony.

“That’s the way that he would’ve wanted to go,” said Bolton. “He was a Chief Boatswain’s Mate so he lived, breathed and died Navy type of things.”

Bolton commented on his father-in-law’s unique personality.

“He was a very sarcastic man who liked to joke a lot,” said Bolton.

The sun peeking out from the clouds created beams of light, inspiring Higgins to note that, “George Bruce may be right about the equality of those buried at sea, but he is wrong about there being no monument. For I can think of no finer headstone than the sun low in the sky, rays stretching across the horizon for all to see.”

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