This is the emotional moment a mom was relieved of her duties after 30 years in the U.S. Navy by her Navy-serving son who she thought would not be able to make the ceremony. Latonya Luter, Master Chief Petty Officer, from Crestview, Florida, had initially planned for her retirement ceremony to be in Arlington, Virginia, on May 20. But her son, James Q. Luter, 19, was still in training and would not have been able to attend. The pair come from a Navy family, as Latonya's uncle served during the Vietnam era, and she met her husband in 1993 when assigned to the USS George Washington. Knowing how much it would mean for Latonya to have James present, her retirement ceremony was moved to September 1, once James had finished his first phase of training and had approved leave. The relieving of the watch is formal process that happens 24/7, 365 days a year in the Navy. There is always someone standing watch onboard ships, submarines, bases, and so on, and those serving do not leave their post until they are properly relieved. The reading of The Watch is a Navy tradition at retirement ceremony and the retiree chooses who will read The Watch and who will serve as their relief, which led to Latonya choosing James.
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