“It felt a little bit surreal,” said S3 Pontejos. Selected for the Flag Party based on his drill performance, he spent several days rehearsing alongside fellow sailors before the event. “I found out the day before that the Prime Minister would actually be there,” he said. For S3 Pontejos, the event reinforced the importance of preparation, teamwork, and attention to detail. While the event itself was memorable, S3 Pontejos said the greatest source of pride came from representing the RCN.