Three Sailors Aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt Receive 2025 Homeward Bound for the Holidays Awards from Theodore Roosevelt Association
In Coronado, California, on Tuesday, December 2nd, three U.S. Navy sailors serving aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) were honored with the 2025 Theodore Roosevelt Association’s Homeward Bound for the Holidays award. Captain William Mathis presided over the presentation of the award certificates to MCSA Nathan A. Austin-Fink, LS2 Abigail L. Bolden (absent for presentation), and LS2 Ernesto A. Serrano.
The Homeward Bound for the Holidays program, organized by the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA), provides financial assistance to selected sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt who might otherwise be unable to visit their families during the holiday season. Many service members spend months—or even years—away from home due to their duties.
TRA Member, former Board Member, and long-time friend Melanie Bayless Veteto attended the ceremony to personally congratulate the sailors while presenting the awards and thanking them for their service. TRA Executive Director Chris Cosentino emphasized the program’s purpose, saying, “Theodore Roosevelt believed that duty to one’s country began with strength of character and devotion to family. Our Homeward Bound for the Holidays program reflects that same spirit—honoring service through compassion and connection. By continuing this support, the Theodore Roosevelt Association affirms that the courage to serve is sustained by the bonds of family, and that every homecoming strengthens both the sailor and the nation they protect.”
About the Theodore Roosevelt Association
The Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to historical scholarship, education, and public service. Through its programs and partnerships, the TRA preserves the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt while inspiring and enriching the lives of individuals across the nation.
Learn more about the Theodore Roosevelt Association and become a TRA Member today!
Visit www.theodoreroosevelt.org.