In the Navy, operational units are recognized for their preparedness for their mission with the Battle Efficiency award. Individual members of the unit are authorized to wear a ribbon, a Navy blue field bracketed by gold and white stripes, with a large metal E attached in the center. Ships that win the award are allowed to paint the letter in white on the stack. When I was a young girl mastering the alphabet, my father was part of a ship that had won the Battle Efficiency Award. Visiting the ship one day, I saw the large E and mistakenly thought that the crew had put it there as a sign of appreciation for my dad. It was during the early days of my active duty career that I learned the true meaning of the letter E. As an Ensign, it was a thrill to be part of an aviation squadron that won the award, and to be able to wear the special letter on my own uniform.
The wearing of decorations is a great way to instill pride and morale. I’ve learned that in the civilian sector recognition comes in different forms. I recently catered a dinner for a new client. He wanted a buffet of simply prepared foods for a special birthday celebration. I wanted to live up to the expectations of the friend who'd made the referral and to serve a meal that he and his guests would enjoy. A couple of days after the event I received a great thank you note, the client writing that the meal “suited me to a T, simple, beautiful and made with love.” Those words didn’t come in a citation with a medal but they meant just as much.
One of the dishes I prepared for the dinner was a simple salad of beets, oranges and feta cheese, sprinkled with mint. And a hint of love.
