The U.S.S. John F. Kennedy, also known as ‘Big John’ has made Boston her last port of call prior to decommissioning on March 23 of this year. Boston.com has a decent gallery of photos you can view here.

I was aboard the JFK along time ago, as a guest of my uncle who was flying from the Kennedy with VFA-14 (if I remember correctly) at the time.  I can’t recall the exact year but it must have been after 1974 (when the Tophatters transitioned to Tomcats).  I can’t remember much from that trip - after all I was only four or five, maybe six, at the time.  What does remain with me, long after the details have faded away, is a vague of impression of bigness (for lack of a better word.)  The JFK is impressive for an adult to gaze upon; to my five year old self it must have been the biggest thing in the world.

N.B: the title of the post comes from the Masefield poem ‘Sea Fever.’