It’s a family affair!
Andre and Tiffany Sutton met while serving in the Navy on the USS Arctic in 1999, Good Morning America (GMA) reports. A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Andre said he always knew he wanted more for himself and the Navy presented the perfect opportunity.
“I love the people in [Allentown]. I love the town. You know, I’m grateful. But that environment is not where I wanted to be in life, so I decided to go forward,” he recalled.
One week before deployment, Tiffany recalls going down to the mess decks when she first saw Andre, saying it was love at first sight.
“I walked past him, and I thought I saw sunshine. I even called my mom and told her I found my husband,” said Tiffany.
“The rest is history,” Andre added.
Together the two built a beautiful family, giving birth to triplets and settling in Virginia. Andre served 12 years in the Navy before serving in the Merchant Marine. Today, he works as a bosun for the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command.
VA siblings make history as first Black triplets to join the Navy, inspiring father to reenlist/Photo Courtesy of The Sutton Family/Good Morning America
Now the Sutton siblings Andrea, Ayrion, and Adrion are all 20-year-olds and they’ve decided to follow in their parents’ footsteps, enlisting in the U.S. Navy and making history as the first Black triplets to do so. The idea started with Adrion who said he was inspired by his parents and knew he was joining the Navy since he began high school.
“What motivated me to join was hearing my parents talk about how good the Navy was when we was growing up and seeing my dad come home from long months,” Adrion explained.
Mom Tiffany agrees about the vast benefits the family experienced as sailors in the U.S. Navy.
“I couldn’t find a better job,” said Tiffany.
Both parents are extremely proud of their children and Andre said he’s been inspired by them now, so much so that he’s decided to reenlist.
“[I’m] going back into reserves, so I can serve with my kids,” Andre told reporters.
While Tiffany said she was uncertain at first, she thinks it’s honorable that her husband wants to finish his last 8 years of duty alongside their children. And while the kids have made history, for them, it’s more important to bring honor to their family and their country.
“A lot of people would not do this. So for all three of us and our dad and mom, for all of us to do this, this is like a really big thing,” said Andrea
“It feels good to serve my country. It’s an honor to put on this uniform at the end of the day,” added Ayrion.
Congratulations Sutton family and thank you so much for your service!
Cover photo: VA siblings make history as first Black triplets to join the Navy, inspiring father to reenlist/Photo Courtesy of The Sutton Family/Good Morning America