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A Salute for USS Blog Boy!

blusk
Aviator C
Francisco Delgado, our own USS Blog Boy, returned home to Albuquerque for a well-deserved two-week leave before his ship, the USS Nimitz, sets sail for the Persian Gulf for an extended stay.  (For the rest of the post, I am going to use Albuquerque's airport code ABQ, because I never trust myself to spell the city correctly.)  To greet and meet Francisco, a group (Shelley Logan, Hollee Ford, Paula Berg, and me) from the Blog Team here in Dallas flew to ABQ to meet his flight.  Francisco didn't have a clue about what was going on until he stepped off the airplane in ABQ, and we even got his parents, Yolanda and Jesus, in on the surprise. ABQ's local Culture Committee decorated the gate area with balloons and banners that read "Francisco Delgado Appreciation Day."  Colleen had selected a model of New Mexico One for us to present to Francisco, and we had members of the Blog Team, including Colleen, and our ABQ Station Employees autograph a Southwest Airlines soccerfrancisco-autographed-ball.JPG ball for him as well.  On top of that, the great folks at Outback Steakhouse donated a dinner for four to Francisco and his family.  (Francisco, don't make your mom cook every night you are home!)  Of course, we also had to contribute a bag of our official snack, candy corn.  As USS Blog Boy stepped out of the jetbridgefrancisco-deplanes.JPG, he was greeted with cheers of appreciation from a sizeable group of our ABQ Employees and the Customers waiting in the gate area, followed by hugs from his mom, dad, and sister, April.  francisco-employees.JPGHe even became a local television star when ABQ's ABC affiliate interviewed Francisco on his way to baggage claim. Of course, the joy of his homecoming was tinged with the sadness that he will soon be gone for eight months, but you can track Francisco and the Nimitz through the ship's web site which is linked on the right of this page under "Link LUV."  Incidentally, the Nimitz is Nuts About Southwest's "official ship."  Francisco has promised to contribute to the blog during his deployment, and we look forward to heaaring from him. There was one other surprise that night, and it was on us.  When we boarded the flight home for Dallas, one of our Flight Attendants was another blogger, Carole Adams.  During the flight, my fellow bloggers commented on the fact that Southwest (and this blog) really is a part of our Customers' lives, and we are truly honored by that.  Our low fares and our great Employees make it possible for servicemen like Francisco to visit their families, and while we can't salute each of them individually, they are all in our thoughts.  Besides our visit with USS Blog Boy reminding us of the dedication of the men and women who are in uniform, it also brought home the fact that, like the Delgado's, there are families franciscos-family.JPGat home waiting for their return.  Nuts About Southwest wishes Godspeed to Francisco and the Nimitz.
75 Comments
joe-mdw-plane-d
Frequent Flyer C
Leah J, Mrs. Dingboy is the mother of our dinglets. She also resides in the same house I do and sleeps in the same bedroom. I'm not sure where she came from or how she got here, but until I figure it out, I am going to keep her! She drinks large quantities of iced tea. Yuck! Remove foil before microwaving. Ding! boy Joe
Francisco_Delga1
Adventurer A
Leah u will find someone soon... age does not matter and yes Michael is a cowboy fan i have pictures.... he is just in denial... i am on my way to PHX... home was great.. USS BLOG BOY I STILL HAVE TO PACK
Jeramy_Brian1
Adventurer B
Paco Don't thank me for the nickname. Thank one of the greatest USC alums ever. (Mr. George Lucas himself) That guy is great. I love the starwars movies. Darth Vader is my favorite. He could've destroyed all the jedi by himself if he wanted to. You don't know the power of the darkside. -Darth Blogger
Leah4
Frequent Flyer B
Okay, Phil! I just had to ask. Ha, ha. :) USS Blog Boy, I hope I find someone again soon. Maybe if I don't look, it will happen when I least expect it. SWA LUV!
Dr__Suzanne_J__
Explorer C
Hi Buddy! Hang in there! Now is NOT a good time to be in the military. Trust me. I know. I just feel for all of you. I am an ex-Navy psychologist, so I did not get a chance to "Join the Navy, and see the world." All I saw was 4 walls of an office.
FriendofBlogBoy
Frequent Flyer B
Hey Jedi Blog Master and Darth Blogger, I've got a riddle for you two. Why is duct tape like The Force? Because it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together! External Blog Boy, who is neither of your fathers... 🙂
Mary23
Explorer B
USS Blog Boy Now that you have your picture posted, your likes and dislike along with you telephone number. Let us know if your voicemail when your voice mail gets full.
Francisco_Delga1
Adventurer A
Hello everyone... well i made it back to San Diego. Paco i did recieve your message and i was meaning to call you in PHX.. My friends picked me up at the airport and i had a brief stay with them. I ran out of time.. i wish i could have seen everyone but time did not permit. My apologies. Home was relaxing for the most part. i ate a lot of good New Mexican food... now its time to buckle down and get ready for the months ahead. GO COWBOYS AND CHARGERS!! USS BLOG BOY
pcerda
Adventurer B
Francisco, Hey, at least you got my message and your cell phone # is saved in my phone! I wasn't even awake until 2pm today, so that worked out okay! Kim, LOL!!!! You are crazy! Jedi Blog Master
Phil_Willman
Adventurer C
Hey Ding! Boy, Sounds like Mrs. Ding! is a southern belle, if she drinks that much iced tea...sure beats Coke...(but not Dr. Pepper, of course!)
Jenny3
Explorer C
USS Blog Boy Send me your mailing address and I'll get you candy corn and honey roasted peanuts. It is the least we can do... Seriously, can we send a care package? Contact Kim for my email address - Congratulations on your official appreciation day...what a wonderful way to celebrate coming home....but now that you are heading back to sea....know we are all thinking of you and are appreciative of your service to our country. I'm running a marathon on the 28th of October - love a training buddy - think you could run 26.2 on the treadmill....maybe we can organize a simultaneous run....if you think there is interest I'll contact the race director. Take care! Let us know if we can send stuff !
Jenny3
Explorer C
Han Foal O! I laughed aloud.
Francisco_Delga1
Adventurer A
JENNY HERE IS MY ADDRESS... SKSN FRANCISCO DELGADO SUPPLY S-6 USS NIMITZ CVN 68 FPO AP 96620 Here is my e-mail address Francisco.Delgado@cvn68.navy.mil I would enjoy eating honey roasted peanuts... mmmm... I am not sure if i could run 26 miles on a treadmill, the most i have done was 10 and that was in my prime. I will let you know USS BLOG BOY
Jenny3
Explorer C
10 miles in your prime? What was that yesterday?! *smile* I'll have those honey roasted peanuts to you soon and anything else you'd like. Keep in touch.... Jenny
Jeramy_Brian1
Adventurer B
USS BLOG BOY Why are you cheering for the wrong teams? You should cheer for the real AMERICA'S team. The Oakland Raiders. Raider nation for life baby!!! 8) Trojan Blog Boy
joe-mdw-plane-d
Frequent Flyer C
Raiders? No way. the Lions roar baby! Open seven days Ding! boy Joe
FriendofBlogBoy
Frequent Flyer B
Hey USS Blog Boy, Have you gotten any of my e-mails that should have been waiting for your return to the Nimitz? External Blog Boy
Francisco_Delga1
Adventurer A
I cannot stand the RAIDERS!! I forgive you.. GO COWBOYS AND OF COURSE MY SAN DIEGO CHARGERS USS BLOG BOY
Francisco_Delga1
Adventurer A
Kim, no i have no t recieved any e-mails.. i leave today. francisco.delgado@cvn68.navy.mil
FriendofBlogBoy
Frequent Flyer B
Francisco, I've re-sent the first two e-mails and a new one after confirming that I had your e-mail address correct. Maybe check your "spam" folder to see if my incoming ones were diverted there perhaps. Look for an address from an AOL account that begins with "TX". It could be that the government e-mail servers had to censor one of them...it was a picture of Shelley when she fell asleep and was using her neighbor's shoulder as a pillow. Munching my candy corn, Kim 🙂
joe-mdw-plane-d
Frequent Flyer C
They could be deleting you Kim because you owe them $$$$! :-P Thank you for your order. Ding! boy Joe
FriendofBlogBoy
Frequent Flyer B
Joe, I believe the interagency connection between the U. S. Navy and the IRS is less thorough than you've suggested. Besides, those taxes aren't past due...YET. Beware the Ides of April, External Blog Boy 🙂
Vic_Pascarella
Explorer C
Congrats and say hello to my son ABH Michael Pascarella. He's in Divison AV1. Hope you all have a safe cruise and come home soon. We'll be waiting for you. Vic
Jesse
Explorer C
I love Southwest airlines!
Jacsr
Explorer C
Best Of luck to the USS Blog Boy and the crew of the USS Nimitz, keep your head down on the flight deck, enjoy those midwatches (Midnight to 4am). Thank You from a former sailor for each to you and your crew mates. SK3 (USS Independence CVA-62)(68-71) Jacsr