OpenEye is honored to receive an American flag that flew on the USS Momsen. The Momsen is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the U.S. Navy’s fleet. It is named after the Vice Admiral Charles B. “Swede” Momsen who was involved in the first successful rescue of a sunken submarine crew. The ship was commissioned in 2004.
Brandon Pockell, brother of OpenEye’s Kris Pockell, serves as a Leading Chief Petty Officer of Navigation Division on the Momsen and gifted the 8' 11 3/8" x 17-foot flag to OpenEye. QMC Pockell enlisted in 2004, has served on four ships and has been deployed overseas nine times.
“By passing along a flag that has served the United States Navy to be displayed as a symbol of reverence and honor, I am proud to present this flag to OpenEye that has flown over us, day and night, through extreme hardships at sea,” said Pockell.
"My shipmates and I take a great deal of pride in our flag and we're happy to see other people honor it. We feel like we're all being celebrated when someone does something like this. This is a piece of our history; our history as a ship, as a crew, and as a nation."
The flag was installed at OpenEye’s facility on Friday, May 27, in honor of Memorial Day.