Syndicated columnist Sarah Smiley tries to explain the military tradition of ‘constant change,’ noting the prevalence of “farewells” (sometimes called “Hails and Farewells,” since newcomers are often welcomed as others leave).  She also recounts the story of her husband, a Navy helicopter pilot, finding Jesus:

One Cinco de Mayo, we hosted a party, complete with a Mariachi band from Guadalajara, in our backyard. The band’s leader’s name was Jésus. That’s “HEY-soos,” with an accent mark over the e. Every-one loved Jésus and hoped he could return for our second annual party the next year. By the time spring came around, however, there had been a rash of deportations in Pensacola, and Jésus was not answering my many phone calls. We feared he had left the country. Co-workers in Dustin’s squadron wanted to know, “Will Jésus be at the party this year?”

Then finally, Dustin ran into Jésus at Walmart. So he sent a mass e-mail to his command. It read:

“I know there has been some concern that Jesus might have left the country, but a late-night sighting in the produce department at Walmart confirms that Jesus is alive and well, and in the USA.”

Oops! Dustin forgot the accent mark over the e.

Dustin’s new boss, who had not been at the previous year’s party, was not aware that Dustin meant Jésus, leader of a Mariachi band. There was a personal reply from the executive officer (XO), and a few frantic moments that included Dustin rushing down to his superior’s office and explaining that, no, he was not making a statement about religion in the United States by mass e-mail at work.

Who knew?

Read the rest of Smiley’s observations in Farewells: A military reality at the Bangor Daily News.