Rick Scarpa waves his flag and cheers from a parking lot in Groton as the U.S. Navy Virginia-class attack submarine USS North Dakota comes into view on the Thames River en route to the Naval Submarine Base in Groton Monday, January 11, 2020. Scarpa, a retired navy chief petty officer and submariner, is friends with the Chief of the Boat on the North Dakota and is three years removed from the last homecoming of his career.  (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)