Jesse Bishop was in the barracks at Pearl Harbor when Japan attacked the American base on Dec. 7, 1941. Bishop survived, and the attack inspired his younger sister Sarah “Jane” Garner to make her way to Newport News Shipbuilding months later to support the war effort.

More than eight decades later, Garner’s granddaughter, Julie Lane – an X32 lead general foreman – is proud to carry on her grandmother’s legacy at NNS.

“Every day, I think about how amazing it is to work in a place that does what we do – help deliver freedom. That’s the same reason my grandmother came here all those years ago,” Lane said. “I’ve been successful here at Newport News, and I have a niece who works here now. I’m grateful for what my grandmother and those other women did during World War II to pave the way for us.”

Garner – a Cullowhee, North Carolina, native – came to NNS at 18 years old after graduating from high school. She was among the women who entered the industrial labor force in large numbers during World War II to sustain production of materials needed to fight the war. Garner remained at NNS until men returned to their jobs from the war. She then worked at a department store in downtown Newport News, where she met Lane’s grandfather.

But Garner wasn’t done with shipbuilding. She returned to NNS in 1964 and retired in 1983. In the early 1990s, Bishop was awarded a Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Medal. He gifted it to Garner for her support of shipbuilding efforts during the war at NNS.

“Today, as the first in my family to follow my grandmother’s steps here at NNS, I have that medal. It serves as a great reminder of how brave my grandmother was those many years ago and reminds me of the importance of our great mission here,” Lane said. “We work every day to make sure our sailors always come back, and the quality that we put into every one of the vessels here helps ensure that.”

Lane came to the shipyard in 2002, about two years after her grandmother’s death. However, she said she has always felt like her grandmother is watching over her at NNS.

“There are a few moments in my career – including my graduation from The Apprentice School and my promotion to general foreman – that I know would’ve made her extremely proud,” Lane said.