Graduation Gift Suggestions

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mumsyto3

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JennyP, in another thread, suggested someone start a thread on what would be useful/appropriate gifts for our future plebes for their high school graduation. I know there are threads from last year but perhaps we can start a new one with what people are thinking about for gifts. JennyP perhaps you can share with us how you worded your suggestions to friends/family members on what to get.
To current mids or mid parents, if you can suggest local establishments that deliver to the yard, that offer gift cards, etc.
 
I've heard that money is what is most desired today. :) In my day, I received lots of naval-oriented (vs. Navy-oriented) things, such as a ship's clock, books about sailing, pictures of sailboats, bookends with ships, etc. While much of that stuff isn't useful as a mid, I still have much of it today in my home. I also got savings bonds (probably not the best deal with today's interest rates). Gift cards would be good -- don't forget that mids DO get leave and probably wouldn't mind hitting the stores.
 
:eek: Well, some dear friends of our wanted to give DS a really special gift for graduation. They bought the materials for a quilt...and had the quilt hand-crafted by another dear friend of ours. Now, keep in mind we are still waiting...

The quilt has a big Navy insignia on it along with ANNAPOLIS and DS's name!

So this gift with either be WAY cool or WAY not!

Kat
 
Money or Olympus makes a waterproof, shockproof digital camera that I really like because it's small enough to fit in a pocket but if you end up in mud or water it won't hurt it.
 
mumsy: I found the little ditty I sent with son's graduation announcements...enjoyed digging through a box of memoriabilia as well.

Here's what I said: Son has accepted an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He will be majoring in Systems Engineering. Plebe summer begins July 1. He takes nothing with him to USNA. He is permitted no media during plebe year and very limited during plebe year. No facebook, cell phone, etc. Call us after July 1 for his address! He'd love to hear from you! Anchors Aweigh!

Anyway, it worked, we got the message out as about what he was doing following graduation and that he did not need "typical" graduation gifts.......he got mostly cash and gift cards. One set of monogramed towels that will be ready to take when he leaves USNA! Plus he got lots of mail. I got some very patriotic stationery and printed it on each sheet four times and then cut the sheets on quarters, so the border was on two sides of the message.

We got him a watch. There was a good deal of chatter here last year about watches. He wanted a Luminox military watch. I'm sure some other parents and mids will weigh in with gift ideas.

It is fun to watch this site making the transition from waiting to planning for the big day!:thumb:
 
Chick and Ruth's deli in DTA has gift cards and is popular with mids. Also Papa John's delivers to yard. There used to be a Subway near the yard, but I think it has closed.....
 
Kmaidaho, I too am making my son a quilt (even though he won't be able to take it with him to the academy if he gets in). It is made from many of his team shirts and jerseys and looks great but I am waiting before purchasing the fabric for the border. Admissions, if you are checking, Navy would look the best.
 
Our Plebe son says having money on the "yard card" was very handy too ... and most restaurants deliver to Gate 1 ... even restaruants that don't deliver anywhere else in town ... dominos and papa johns regularly show up on our guy's debit card statement ... there are so many school supplies that they need after PPW ... when went back we bought him a printer (none is issued with the computer) ... an iron, an ironing board ... paper ... the usual pens, etc ... plus they need a killer calculator ... the exact model is at the mid store and can be purchased with yard card money or other $$$/credit ... the ice cream stores in town have discounts for mids ... and special delivery gift packs for mids, even Whole Foods has a mid package that can be delivered ... check it out! During the year ... and over plebe summer ... care packages and letters are the best gift any plebe could wish for ...
 
From what I learned during my CVW visit, midshipmen are issued their calculators (and they're like a $300 model from what I've heard).
 
What my son most useful was: (in no particular order)
1. a good, sturdy watch. He received the Casio G-Shock Frogman watch and loves it because of its ruggedness.
2. An inexpensive dress watch (black and gold) that matches dress uniform.
3. VISA/MC gift cards.
4. Money.
A good money clip - fits better inside uniform pockets than a wallet.
That is it. Everything else was boxed up and put aside for his "next life".
 
Money. Or gift cards. Preferably money.

Or you know, normal things they like. If it really ends up being something they can't have plebe year, get it to their sponsor or hold onto it. To be honest, the least useful gifts I got during my Academy years were when people went out of their way thinking they were accommodating.

Watches are useful too I guess.
 
Sure, but they're more of a pain until you make it to 2/c year and throw on your own clothes on weekends. Money is the most useful and least cumbersome gift you can give/get, especially the first year. Anything that takes up a lot of space and is fragile just makes moving more difficult. It gets easier as you go along. Some of the things I got include Foreman grill, rice cooker, coffee maker, portable air conditioner.
 
1. Commemorative Engraved Beretta Silver Pigeon 12g O/U ($3,000)
2. Lifetime NRA membership ($375)
3. Humidor with 25 Romeo y Julieta Churchills ($200)
 
I think Luigi wants to go back and do it all over again.
This time with the proper gift package! :biggrin:
 
One other thing that he liked - a digital picture frame (after Plebe Summer) he received from his GF- takes up very little space and we could send him pictures to add....
 
From the USMA "R Day/Beast supplies" thread, I thought this was worth noting here for USNA as well:

another13mom said:
for what it's worth, don't spend a lot for a watch during beast -- my son went through 2 -- the really nice one we bought w/ the bells and whistles, which was smashed w/in a few days of the second half of beast, and a cheap replica, -- lesson learned -- timex makes a great ironman w/ multiple alarms, stop watch and a night feature for about $35 on sale (kohl's coupons make them really cheap) :)
Click to expand...

I know that USMA's Beast and USNA's Plebe Summers differ (USMA go out in the field for 3 weeks), but if they receive a good watch for graduation, perhaps they should bring a cheap one for Plebe Summer and keep the good one for after PPW? Or will it really not matter at USNA?
 
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