<p>aspen: good thing you have a wife to look over you! :)</p>
<p>Aspen, did not make it to the laundry during PPW, but the Uniform Factory was more than one could imagine. They hand taylor all uniforms on site. Teh only academy to boast of this service. Imagine getting measured on R-Day and having a custom made wardrobe of uniforms by fall for 1300+ Cadets. Other academies contract this service. It is amazing to see the small quarters that they work in. Get there early to get your Army blanket and customized Army Parka (with class year). My wife and I both got a Parka after standing in line for a couple of hours and have yet to find a reason to put them on in sourthern Texas. Not too many freezing days here. But we will be wearing them while attending the football games at Homecoming this fall at WP and when Army beats Navy in 2006!</p>
<p>GEB: you mean when Navy beats Army…in any year!!!</p>
<p>HA! We can bring the rifles, but I’m afraid that the drilling will be a little sloppy- hubby is a retired submariner! Not a lot of room for drilling in those p-ways!</p>
<p>We do have an All-Academy Ball, but since we live in Fairbanks and it is an 8 hour drive from Anchorage, we have yet to attend a parents’ club function! And they look so close on the map! 
I’ve been starting to think about getting a Northern Alaska Club together for those of us up here in the Great White North (Anchorage is referred to as the Banana Belt). We have little enough time with our kids- don’t need to be driving for a day during leave! We would love to be involved, though! We really miss all of the swimming related activities we were involved in!</p>
<p>Have a Great Navy Day!</p>
<p>We live in the Houston Area and there is a Joint Military Ball that is very well attended. It is held the day after Christmas and over 300 Cadets and Midshipmen attend with their families. The Ball is hosted on a rotational basis between the 3 major academies (USCG and USMMA assist USNA). The “March In” is a great sight when each the representatives of each Academy marches in, in order of their founding. All families unite during this event and any rivalries are set aside for the evening as all celebrate with the future officers that will soon lead sons and daughters of America in pursuit of freedom. There is always a POW table set in a place of distinction on the stage to honor those that were held captive an may or may have not returned home. At the end of the evening you leave knowing that our future is in great hands.</p>
<p>Navy 2010…Whoever wins it is a great day. While my son attends USMA, two of his former high school team mates are on the USNA team. One is a leading running back for Navy. So no matter which team wins it is a great day for me and America. After the games have passed, the players will all be on the same team.</p>
<p>GEB: know exactly how you feel - both or son’s granddads are true-blue Navy (one career navy) and godfather is WP grad- you can immagine the conversations in this house when he got accepted to both…so always try and find seats in “neutral territory” just to keep the peace!!! Anyway, its a great day to “lighten up” a bit and enjoy the rivilary between these two great insitutions…the oldest rivilary in football…a brief chance to put aside those “fields of strife” they will share and get in the spirit and tradition of the event…even if only for a few hours— but on 12/3, you bettcha we’ll be rooting Navy on…but ya gotta love those cadets too!</p>