NORFOLK, Va. — Every year on July 17, the United States recognizes National Tattoo Day. And this year, the Trident's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 9 at Naval Station Norfolk showed off their "inked" aircraft.
Commander Robert Knoerzer showed off the HSC-9 Trident 610, a ceremonial aircraft, decked out with traditional tattoo artwork inspired by a combination of Naval traditions and customs, deployments around the world and modern pop culture.
"I think it's pretty important. I mean, it lets people, you know, express themselves and see that's not just all down to business, we actually get to have some fun here and there," said Aviation Structural Mechanic 2 Anthony Harmon. "It's something we don't normally get to do, really around the base or in the Navy, period."
According to Knoerzer, much of the aircraft's artwork was done by sailors in the squadron, including AM 2 Harmon.
According to the National Tattoo Day website, tattoos are permanent ink etchings used to immortalize significant events, religious or status symbols, or on a whim on the skin. They date back as far as sometime in 3000 B.C. in ancient Egypt.