Who can attend I day? - Page 2

jadler03 · 06-24-2008, 09:25 PM

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when you make your June Week (cannot bring myself to say commissioning week) plans, remember to plan for inclement weather, when only the parents are allowed to attend graduation due to seating constraints.

This is somewhat of a myth. There is a limited amount of seating in Alumni, but the ceremony is streamed to the stadium, where unlimited seating is available.

I know of plenty of people who brought 40+ people to graduation, regardless of the weather situation. Plus, the last time graduation was indoors was in 1970 something.

Jaybee9590 · 06-24-2008, 11:15 PM

I don't know. I have a big Italian family as well and a lot of what we do is possibly overboard. But for I Day, the only people coming down with me are Mom and Dad. Especially after seeing pictures of exhausted plebes with their parents after the oath of office, I really wouldn't want it any other way (not to mention all the seats they would be taking up). And I for sure wouldn't want to be some photo exhibit having to take 26 pictures after 12 hours of carrying things around and being yelled at.

beachmom · 06-25-2008, 08:10 AM

I guess everyone has their own comfort level. DD only wanted mom and dad with her. Dad was planning to swear her in personally, but we were so hot and tired by the end of the day that we opted to hang out on a bench and share a sandwich, instead. Your plebes are going to be pretty whipped; I would recommend picking up a sandwich (Drydock has good ones) or salad and lots of water, finding a quiet place to visit for a little while, then sending them on to the next phase of their adventure. Be sure to bring a towel or blanket to keep their white works clean!

USNA1985 · 06-25-2008, 09:56 AM

I suppose that every family is different. And, it seems from the various posts that parents are MUCH more involved in the entire process than they were in my day. We didn't have parents' clubs, etc. and, for some mids, the ONLY time their parents attended any event was Commissioning Week. Not saying the old days were good or bad, just very different.

IMHO, I would low-key I-Day unless the plebe-to-be really, really wants a cast of many. Yeah, the Oath of Office ceremony is nice, but I-Day is not Commissioning Week. I was just going through some old pictures from my I-Day (in my parents' belongings) and they helped me recall that it was not a great moment. Sure, I was excited, but there are so many conflicting emotions that day and I'm glad only my parents came. I don't think I personally would have wanted throngs of people.

navy2010 · 06-25-2008, 11:12 AM

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Just thinking of the 12 sets of parents that had to stand in all that heat and humidity because one family had staked out 26 front row seats.

Which, no doubt, could have included us had we not planned better.

The opportunity was there for anyone willing to arrive early, and someone has to be in the front row. Trust me, we were joined my many, many others, thus, the advice to "arrive early." And there are plenty of "front row" seats....we hardly made a dent!

From what I have heard, this applies to commissioning week as well- where seats are staked out as soon as the gates open at 7am!

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It is perhaps abuses such as this which is causing the present administration to be less accommodating to parents.

Hardly.

I make no excuses, and no apology.

We have been blessed with a large Irish family, and we were honored that so many of them were willing to spend their time- and $$$$- to watch our son on I-Day. His grandfather who was a SEA-BEE could not be there, but his uncle (who found himself without that great dad) could be. His other grandfather who served in the USNA for 20+ years with a distinguished career could not be there (God rest his soul), but his wife- our son's "Oma," could, and at 5 foot nothing and in a wheelchair, the front row gave her a good spot to witness her grandson take his oath. His cousins- his sister- his girlfriend- people who have been present in his life since day-1.... we were honored that they came..... and they were "honored" to have been there. And from that first exposure, I now have 2 nephews wanting to "follow" in those footsteps.

Anyway-
different strokes for different folks. You will see lots of large family groups there, some Plebes flying solo, and everything in-between. Do what is right for YOUR family, and let no one deter you from your course. Isn't that what we teach our kids????

Damm the torpedos- full steam ahead!!!!
(there is a reason why the early bird gets the worm!)

navy2010 · 06-25-2008, 11:32 AM

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Sure, I was excited, but there are so many conflicting emotions that day and I'm glad only my parents came. I don't think I personally would have wanted throngs of people.

true---
so my best advice would be to allow your son/daughter to make the call, and respect that. He did, and we did. No regrets.

On that note-
every family needs to decide for themselves, what is right and wrong for them, to go or not to go, etc.

A few months back, I posted something on another thread- at the time, a lot of discussion whether or not to attend I-Day, Herndon, Sea Trials, etc.... and 5 pages worth of differing opinions. I reflected back on one particular story that moved me then, and continues to direct my course now. While I will not repost it here, you can follow the link below if you are inclined to do so. But before you cement your opinion, I would recommend thinking about it from a different point of view.

New News.

Post #47

grad/dad · 06-25-2008, 01:33 PM

navy2010: Do what is right for YOUR family, and let no one deter you from your course. Isn't that what we teach our kids????

Now they are being taught to do what is right for the people under them. Their personal desires are now secondary. Leadership 101

USNA1985 · 06-25-2008, 01:48 PM

I didn't comment before on the saving of seats, but I will now. I abhor the practice. I hate it when, at a pool, people "save" lawnchairs. I hate on a cruise when people put towels on deckchairs at 0700 and don't show up until hours later. I hate it when, at any event, one person lays claim to several seats.

I have no problem with someone showing up early to get his/her seat povided that person stays in that seat until the event. Have no problem with someone "saving" a seat while a friend/family member uses the restroom. However, I think it is absolutely terrible for one or two people to hoard a large number of seats, preventing others from taking them, while other members of their group are off having a good time.

Think about the single parent on I-Day. Or the family who can only afford to send one person with the plebe. How does he/she attend the events and also get a good seat? Maybe some would say, "tough luck," but one thing you learn at USNA is to think of your shipmate before yourself.

The fact that "others are doing it" is never an excuse. I accept your "right" to save seats, accept that you are non-apologetic. But the practice -- no matter who does it or where -- irks me to no end.

As for who attends I-Day, as stated, it should be the plebe's choice. But for you parents out there, be sure whatever happens really is his/her choice. Saying, "you wouldn't mind if all your relatives come to see you off, would you?" is very different than, "who, if anyone, would you like to come with you on I-Day?" Some plebes may be uplifted by having a support group; others may be terrified.

Finally, one point to ponder. Typically, a handful of plebes quit on I-Day. Everyone thinks it won't be his/her child but these kids are someone's child. Consider whether those you invite would be understanding if it is your child who wants to go home the same day he/she arrives.

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(there is a reason why the early bird gets the worm!)

And why the early worm gets eaten.

JustAMomOf4 · 06-25-2008, 02:18 PM

Navy2010 - please consider this point of view - I wonder how Lt Winchester's familiy or any family for that matter of a fallen soldier would feel if they had been prevented from seeing him take the oath of office because his classmate's family of 26 forced them to the back.

What it looks like - is that you "parked" two elderly grandmother's to save seats (gotta agree with USNA1985 here) while you and your husband got to enjoy all the events of I-Day. Great planning on your part but how are the parents who are going it alone supposed to plan? Should they park themselves for hours before hand so they can see and miss the rest of the day's events.

hersheybear04 · 06-25-2008, 02:51 PM

It's much different for large groups of people to reserve seats, when you can have one person reserve 26 seats while the rest go out and enjoy the other I-Day activities. What about those of us only bringing our parents? Are they forced to sit in two front row seats all day long?

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The opportunity was there for anyone willing to arrive early

You say that like it's no big deal, but in reality you weren't the one sitting on the chair all day long. You got to go around and enjoy the other I-Day activities while someone else seized this "opportunity" for you.
What kind of attitude is that for your son's first day at USNA??? "Do what is right for YOUR family..." no matter what it means for other families? That's possibly one of the most inconsiderate things I've ever heard. I realize it's a special day for you and your family, but you're not the ONLY family for whom this day is special.

jadler03 · 06-25-2008, 03:24 PM

Re: my post above....that was suppose to be in reference to graduation.

I agree wholeheartedly with USNA1985 and grad/dad about reserving seats. For graduation....take as many as you want....they have never ran out of room.

funnyesq · 06-25-2008, 03:55 PM

Saving seats sucks. I agree. It should be limited to about 5-10 minutes MAX.

That said...the EVENT can and should DO something to prevent this practice. Don't allow access to seats until the event is about to start or say within 30 minutes to give people time to take seats and get situated.

I was at a resort recently and there was a sign posted that said NO saving deck chairs...personal items will be removed after 30 minutes if unattended. They had pool personnel patrolling but they NEVER did a damn thing to remove the personal items. Had they done this, the message would have been loud and clear.

USNA69 · 06-25-2008, 04:36 PM

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Originally Posted by navy2010

I make no excuses, and no apology.

Unbelievable, but somehow I am not surprised.

Someone help me with this math problem here and tell me if my assumptions are correct. I am looking at a scaled map of the Yard and it is approximately 200' from the inside corner of Wing 1 to Wing 2. The photograph that I am looking at is about 4 years old but it appears that the bleachers are about 8 tiers deep. There are no bleachers on Stribling. Therefore, the total width of the bleachers is approximately 160'. At 22" per person, this equates to approximately 90 seats per row. This allows for a total of 720 family members in the bleachers. Maybe another couple of hundred standing on Stribling. Now if only half the 1200 candidates show up with a couple of parents and a little sister, over 800 of them will not be able to see the swearing in. And 2010 sees absolutely nothing wrong with hogging 26 front row seats.

CelticClan07 · 06-25-2008, 04:41 PM

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keeping vigil with the gf outside alumni hall to catch a glimpse.... others sitting outside bancroft hall for the same....(everyone texting everyone for any and all sightings!)

Our kiddo would have been mortified had this 'stalking' gone on. But, to each his/her own. For me and my little one, we found the air conditioned hotel a welcome relief until the presentations in Alumni.

USNA1985, grad/dad and USNA69, hersheybear I'm with ya!!

haillmary2012 · 06-25-2008, 05:39 PM

Typically, a handful of plebes quit on I-Day.

My s was on the wait list until we got the thin letter yesterday. It said fewer candidates declined than anticipated. So - should we be there on I-day to take the place of someone who quits?