🇺🇸 “A Toast to Heroes at Sea — Veterans Meet Captain Arma on the Star Princess” ⚓️
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We heard about Fools of Honor the other day. I've been blessed with my family, especially one of my son-in-laws, started an organization called Veteran Outdoors.
You have set conditions on board this ship for your staff to be present, to be visible, to be friendly, to be courteous, and it goes from you all the way down to every member that's cleaning deck 19.
The young people on your ship need to hear our stories. We have stories and young people don't get them.
We do what we do because what we've done in the past, those before the NAS and uh those that we come up there.
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🇺🇸 “A Toast to Heroes at Sea — Veterans Meet Captain Arma on the Star Princess” ⚓️ On November 4, 2025, at 9:00 AM, aboard the majestic Star Princess, a powerful moment of unity and respect unfolded inside O’Malley Pub. Captain Gennaro Arma, Master of the Vessel, together with his senior officers, hosted the “Veterans Meet the Captain” gathering — an event that has quickly become a beloved tradition at sea. This historic meeting marked the third time during the Star Princess’ inaugural transatlantic voyage — a journey that began on October 4, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain, bound for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. What started as a simple idea among a small group of veterans has evolved into a heartfelt ceremony celebrating courage, camaraderie, and leadership. 🇺🇸 ⚔️ The Ceremony As the morning sun lit the deck, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Paul Stead, U.S. Army veteran and proud cruiser, called all veterans to attention. With military precision and deep respect, he personally escorted Captain Arma to the head table — a symbolic gesture of honor and gratitude from those who once led men and women in uniform. While walking through the room, Captain Arma paused to greet Col. Arthur Barondes, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) and proud USMA West Point Class of 1948, the senior veteran in attendance at 98 years young. The handshake that followed brought a smile to the Colonel’s face and a wave of emotion through the room — a moment of pure connection between generations of leaders. Once all veterans stood at attention, Brigadier General (Ret.) Jim Iacocca, U.S. Army, took the floor. In a moving tribute, he recognized all U.S. veterans, allied forces, and especially Col. Barondes. His words echoed across O’Malley’s: “Leadership starts at the top — and, Captain Arma, you set the tone for your ship and your crew. We thank you for your example and your heart.” Then, raising glasses of orange juice (yes — non-alcoholic!), General Iacocca led everyone in a toast to Captain Arma, to service, and to the Star Princess. 🥂 Following the toast, Captain Arma expressed his deep appreciation for the veterans aboard and spoke about the values that unite sailors and soldiers alike — dedication, honor, and teamwork. You can watch the full speech and celebration in this video. 🎥👇 💡 Fun Fact This “Veterans Meet the Captain” tradition began earlier in 2025 when veterans on the Star Princess organized informal meet-ups during the ship’s inaugural sailings on October 4, October 15, and October 22. What started as a friendly gathering has grown into a signature event — and may soon become a fleetwide program across Princess Cruises! “The freedom we enjoy today is built on the courage of those who served yesterday.” ⚓ A Message to Veterans at Sea If you’re a veteran sailing aboard the Star Princess, help keep this tradition alive! 🇺🇸👉 Simply drop a written request at Guest Services asking to meet with the Captain during your voyage. This simple note helps ensure that future cruises continue to recognize the brave men and women who have served our nation. From Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale — and across every ocean in between — this moment reminds us that service, respect, and gratitude know no borders. 🌍❤️ 🙏 Special Thanks To Captain Gennaro Arma and his senior officers for their hospitality, leadership, and dedication to honoring veterans at sea. To Ralph Dsouza (HGM) and Stefan Dimovski (AHGM) for ensuring every detail was perfect. And to all U.S. Veterans aboard the Star Princess — thank you for your service, your stories, and your spirit. 🔔 Join the Tradition ✅ Watch the full video✅ Like if you support our heroes✅ Comment your branch and years of service✅ Share to inspire others to keep the tradition alive 🇺🇸 Hashtags #VeteransMeetTheCaptain #StarPrincess #CaptainGennaroArma #TraditionAtSea #AToastToHeroes #USVeterans #HonorAndRespect #ProudToServe #SaluteAtSea #PrincessCruises #LeadershipAtSea #ArmyStrong #NavyProud #AirForceProud #MarinesForever #CoastGuardStrong #SpaceForceReady #GodBlessAmerica #VeteransAtSea #TransatlanticVoyage #HeroicTradition