Thread by @flynavy

Here are the nine Naval Aviators who will honor Captain Rosemary Mariner at her funeral Saturday: (thread)

CDR Stacey "Stigs" Uttecht, CO, VFA-32. Stigs: "I've loved flying since my Dad, a pilot, would fly us around West TX. I loved the freedom of being in the skies. I wanted to fly military because my grandpa flew F-86 Sabers in Korea and told stories of flying up “MiG Alley.”

CDR Leslie "Meat" Mintz, XO, VFA-213, Meat: "I chose Naval Aviation because I wanted to serve amongst the finest women and men in the fleet. The opportunity to fly jets was a lifelong dream and I knew that I wanted to fly in the most demanding and challenging environments."

LCDR Paige "PUFN" Blok, VFA-32: PUFN: "I told my parents my dreams of becoming a fighter pilot at age 8. I'm blessed to serve & regard the pioneering women of Naval Aviation as foundational in making my dream possible. I met CAPT Rosemary Mariner; she's a beacon of leadership.

LCDR Danielle “Purple” Thiriot: "I saw the Twin Towers fall on Sept 11, 2001 & signed up a few months later. After seeing fighter squadrons in NROTC, I loved the camaraderie, professionalism, & ethos of the fighter ready room. I knew I wanted to fly."

LCDR Jennifer “Cujo” Hesling: "I knew I wanted to serve my country after watching the Twin Towers fall. This desire to serve steered me toward attending the Academy. As a Midshipman, I had the opportunity to fly in an F/A-18 Super Hornet, and I was immediately hooked."

LT Emily “Gong” Rixey: "I grew up with a love of all things aviation & would ask my mom to take me to nearby Dulles Airport to watch planes take off and land. In HS, my passion for flying only grew along with my desire to be a part of something bigger."

LT Amanda “Stalin” Lee: "I first served as an Enlisted Sailor. I'm humbled to have come full circle, and now fly the very aircraft I used to work on as a maintainer. It's because of women like Capt Mariner that "equal opportunity" won't be in our vocabulary in future generations"

LT Christy “Buzz” Talisse: "I chose Naval Aviation because I grew up watching F/A-18 Super Hornets launch out of NAS Lemoore, near my hometown. Between the jet noise and excitement I felt watching them take off, I knew I wanted to fly jets."

LT Kelly “Ston’er” Harris, VFA-213, The Fighting Blacklions. During her last deployment with VFA-213, Ston'er flew 25 combat missions in support of Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria earning an Air Medal. She has flown over 500 hours in the F/A-18F & 100 carrier traps.