Shannon Franzen

Shannon Franzen knows firsthand that being a Navy wife isn’t for everyone. “It’s an honor and privilege to serve my country as a Navy wife,” she said.

Franzen met her husband in college. They spent 9,507 days, or 26 years, on active duty together. She pinned the wings of gold on his chest and sewed on every rank he earned.

Being a Navy wife allowed Franzen to use her servant’s heart to its fullest potential. During her husband’s first deployment, her Navy sister learned she would have a baby while her husband was away. Franzen jumped in and offered to attend Lamaze classes with her. She also drove her to the hospital when she went into labor. “What an incredible privilege to be able to share such an intimate, treasured family moment,” Franzen said.

The most difficult part of using her servant’s heart came when the unthinkable happened. A good friend and squadron mate crashed at sea while flying a T-45 Goshawk. “I sat with my Navy sister in their closet and wept with her the night his plane went down,” Franzen said. “I was honored to support my Navy sister during some of her darkest days.”

Franzen reflects on the many special, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that she’s had as a Navy wife. “I have made so many incredible friends who are really more like family to my husband and our three children,” she said. “I called 14 different houses my home. I have sailed (for the afternoon) aboard some of the greatest warships ever built. I’ve watched air shows from the deck of the USS Carl Vinson while sitting next to a member of Congress. I traveled to meet my husband in ports of call in Hawaii, Hong Kong and Bahrain. We enjoyed William and Kate’s wedding with members of the Royal Air Force and rode on parade floats down Main Street. Simply put, I have been blessed beyond measure.”