I have lived in a Navy town for over 41 years. My wife's father and grandfather were both career officers, Captain and Rear Admiral, respectively (I was enlisted Army). Both were aviators and carrier commanders. We have gone to a number of funerals, theirs and those of old family friends. That hymn, taking into account all the family separations, long voyages and sea battles of that generation, still chokes me up whenever I hear it done well, especially by a Navy choir.