Who will relieve your watch?

[Mapper]

A few years ago, I saw an obscure Navy poster while at work --- it showed an older veteran climbing out of a fighter cockpit. The writing on the poster simply asked, "Who will relieve your watch?" (hinting at the next generation).

For those not familiar, in the Navy (like many military services), we often stand a watch (i.e. guard duty)... also upon retirement, it is often said, "Shipmate... the watch stands relieved --
Relieved by those You have trained, Guided, and Led... we have the watch... Boatswain, standby..."

What made me think of this? After 28+ years in the Navy, I've still not gone ashore for that final time. My watch in the Navy has not yet been relieved.

I started riding Valkyries after my mother died in 2012, and at 32 years old, at the time I brought down the average age of this community. This is an awesome bike! I never intended for any of my children to ride motorcycles... it's sometimes dangerous, even to the best and safest of us. You can do everything right and still get taken out by an inattentive driver or other mishap.

I have two sons that each now have Valkyrie 1500s.... again, bringing down, or at least helping to regulate, the average age of our community. In a sense, they now have the watch.  

Me? I'm not ready to give up my Fast BLACK '97 Valkyrie quite yet (ever)... but, I did recently purchase a 2024 Gold Wing Tourer DCT... fast black (and gray)  

[old2soon]

    When I rode P G R often and standing at Attention while TAPS is blown I often thought-You may Stand Down Sir we'll take it from here. In effect Relieve the watch. Yup stood a few watches in The Navy. Mid watch usually the worst! RIDE SAFE.

[Valker]

My 33 year old son has a 2000 Valk Tourer with 93,000 miles. He rode on mine since he was 8.

[Jess from VA]

Great post Mapper.   

I have no children.  But my mom and dad rode matching 350 Hondas after I got the bug with my first bike (650 BSA Lightning at 17), and it looked like fun to them.

Dad was pretty good but mom fell down a few times, so he talked her into another hobby and sold both of them.     This was before MSF training existed. 

[carolinarider09]

A few years ago, I saw an obscure Navy poster while at work --- it showed an older veteran climbing out of a fighter cockpit. The writing on the poster simply asked, "Who will relieve your watch?" (hinting at the next generation).

I am not sure it is the same "concept" but, I once went to a book sigining ( I forget the title but I think it was Rogue Warrior by Richard Marcinko).  When I handed the author my book for signing, he asked me what I did for a living (not sure why but the next part answers that).  I told him I worked at a nuclear power plant.  He smiled and then singed my back. 

When I took the book from his hands I looked at what he had written. Again I can't find the book right now but, I am confident that what he had written was something like this.

"Keep the glow and pass on to others all you know". 

I have taken those words to heart.  Trying to ensure I do pass on what I have learned and what I understand about life and its mysteries and "rules of life I have learned" to others, whenever I get the chance. 

I think we all have that obligation.  Pass on to others. 

Just my two cents.