When Newport News shipbuilder Mavis Echols sang the national anthem at the December christening ceremony for Arkansas (SSN 800), her No. 1 fan was in the audience.

That would be her husband, fellow shipbuilder Charles Echols Jr.

Charles could appreciate his wife’s challenge. He sang the national anthem in August 2022 during the keel authentication ceremony for Enterprise (CVN 80).

Music has always been a big part of life for this husband-and-wife shipbuilding team.

Charles and Mavis were high school sweethearts in their hometown in Arkansas. They grew up in the church – different churches, but the town was small and everyone knew their neighbors. Singing in the choir and with praise-and-worship teams was the norm.

Charles later joined the Air Force. In the late 1990s, he completed a leadership school and organizers wanted a volunteer to sing the national anthem for the graduation ceremony. He volunteered and did a great job and became the go-to for other Air Force ceremonies, such as changes of commands and retirements.

“I loved doing it,” he said. “I loved being part of the ceremony.”

He retired from the Air Force in 2017 after serving at Langley Air Force Base. Soon afterwards, he landed a job at NNS. He is a manager in Visual Instruction Operations (E92).

Although he is no stranger to singing the national anthem, the keel authentication was somewhat different. At military ceremonies, he would arrive 30 minutes before the start and then perform. NNS events are much more involved.

“A lot of things going on prior to the ceremony,” he said. “So you’re trying to be engaged in that, and enjoy it, but you’re also thinking of the anthem.”

Mavis started at the shipyard two years after her husband, and she took a different path to the NNS spotlight. She had never sung the national anthem at an event, but when volunteers were sought for the SSN 800 christening, she decided to try.

After being selected, she kept things low-key. She didn’t tell her colleagues, and she did not rehearse in front of her husband. Singing in the car helped.

“I would practice in random spaces to hear myself,” she said.

She was nervous before the ceremony, but Charles said that is perfectly normal. “I’m just as nervous every time I do it,” he said.

When she sang during the ceremony, it was the first time Charles heard her do the national anthem. “I was in awe,” he said.

Being part of NNS ceremonies is something they will always remember, not only as singers, but as proud shipbuilders. The couple has three sons in U.S. military service: Navy, Air Force and Army, and building good ships is personal for them.

“We are part of putting out a good product to ensure the safety of not only our children who are on these ships, but for all Americans,” Mavis said. “I take pride in what we do.”