A Judge's View: Naval service has been both an honor and a privilege

This year, Veterans Day has special meaning for me. It will be the last one I celebrate as an active member of the military. On Dec. 1, I officially retire from the United States Navy’s JAG Corps after 23 years of active and reserve service. Although I am looking forward to having my weekends back - and eating poppy-seed muffins anytime I want - it is going to be hard to take that uniform off for the last time.
The Navy gave me a great deal of practical training and experience, making me a better lawyer and a better leader. The semi-annual physical-readiness test was a great motivator for me to stay in at least serviceable shape. I had the opportunity to live on both coasts and to travel to some interesting places for temporary duty (getting sent to Kodiak, Alaska, in January was particularly memorable). My work in the military justice system was both challenging and interesting. I tried cases, handled appeals, developed policy, and served as an appellate judge. Those experiences helped shape who I am.What I will miss most, however, are the people. They came from all parts of the country and from every walk of life, representing nearly every race, ethnicity, and religion. Their talents and dedication were amazing. The nature of the military is that assignments only last a couple years, so people are constantly coming and going. Yet, when you run into someone from your past, it is as though you have stayed in touch the entire time. Some of my closest friends to this day are people I met while in uniform.As I close this chapter, I also need to express gratitude to some people who made it possible, particularly during my last 16 years as a reservist. My fellow judges never complained about the added work for them when I did my annual two weeks of training. Court staff always found coverage for calendars, even those times when they got panicked phone calls that I was stranded somewhere and wouldn’t make it in time for court. The attorneys and litigants whose schedules were turned upside down because of my military obligations were nothing but supportive.Most of all, I appreciated my family throughout my service. My wife was introduced to life as a Navy spouse when I managed to miss my own wedding rehearsal. I missed a lot of birthdays, soccer games and trips to the emergency room over the years. Even though I never did a major deployment, I still spent well over a year’s worth of days far from home. And now I watch as my oldest son is applying for appointments to service academies to start his own military career. President John F. Kennedy once said, “Any man who may be asked … what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: ‘I served in the United States Navy.’ ”It has been my honor and privilege to wear the uniform, and I thank everyone for their support. Dale Harris is a 6th Judicial District judge in the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth.This year, Veterans Day has special meaning for me. It will be the last one I celebrate as an active member of the military. On Dec. 1, I officially retire from the United States Navy’s JAG Corps after 23 years of active and reserve service. Although I am looking forward to having my weekends back - and eating poppy-seed muffins anytime I want - it is going to be hard to take that uniform off for the last time.
The Navy gave me a great deal of practical training and experience, making me a better lawyer and a better leader. The semi-annual physical-readiness test was a great motivator for me to stay in at least serviceable shape. I had the opportunity to live on both coasts and to travel to some interesting places for temporary duty (getting sent to Kodiak, Alaska, in January was particularly memorable). My work in the military justice system was both challenging and interesting. I tried cases, handled appeals, developed policy, and served as an appellate judge. Those experiences helped shape who I am.What I will miss most, however, are the people. They came from all parts of the country and from every walk of life, representing nearly every race, ethnicity, and religion. Their talents and dedication were amazing. The nature of the military is that assignments only last a couple years, so people are constantly coming and going. Yet, when you run into someone from your past, it is as though you have stayed in touch the entire time. Some of my closest friends to this day are people I met while in uniform.As I close this chapter, I also need to express gratitude to some people who made it possible, particularly during my last 16 years as a reservist. My fellow judges never complained about the added work for them when I did my annual two weeks of training. Court staff always found coverage for calendars, even those times when they got panicked phone calls that I was stranded somewhere and wouldn’t make it in time for court. The attorneys and litigants whose schedules were turned upside down because of my military obligations were nothing but supportive.Most of all, I appreciated my family throughout my service. My wife was introduced to life as a Navy spouse when I managed to miss my own wedding rehearsal. I missed a lot of birthdays, soccer games and trips to the emergency room over the years. Even though I never did a major deployment, I still spent well over a year’s worth of days far from home. And now I watch as my oldest son is applying for appointments to service academies to start his own military career. President John F. Kennedy once said, “Any man who may be asked … what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: ‘I served in the United States Navy.’ ”It has been my honor and privilege to wear the uniform, and I thank everyone for their support. Dale Harris is a 6th Judicial District judge in the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth.