A Manchester Township police officer with near deadly case of COVID, tours the Philadelphia landmark that gave him inspiration to battle on during his illness.
"And then I went to South Philly, to Magee Rehabilitation on the riverfront and I spent time there every day, driving over this bridge and seeing this ship," Ellis explained.
The ship is considered America’s flagship and it has not been simply an old, rusty ship to Ellis, but a shining monument of hope. "The ship was a beacon of hope. You know, she sits here today, where she’s been for over 20 years, waiting for her new lease on live and throughout time, when other ships have gone to the scrapyards, this ship perseveres," Ellis remarked.
As he toured, Officer Ellis’ eyes kept scanning every inch of the historic ship that stands today and a ship that still can be something tomorrow. For Officer Ellis, that spirit is what pushed him through his years of recovery and rehab. "Appreciation is a journey and the good and the bad, if you take it all in and you try to make yourself better from that. And, you know, I’ve been very fortunate," Officer Ellis added.