Unfortunately I didn't spot anyone with the red, white and blue ribbons. We decided not to go to the picnic, which I suppose might have helped in order to spot the ribbon wearers. Maybe we can try the ribbon thing for PPW also.
It was a gorgeous day. Our plebes definitely lucked out with the weather! The weather has been so hot and humid in this area for the last couple of weeks, that we were all worried what I-day was going to be like.
DS said that check in was a little nerve racking for him. He was telling us how when he went through the immunization line that he couldn't find the copy of his immunization record that he was supposed to have in his folder. They told him that they were going to have to re-do all of his vaccines (which wouldn't have been a good idea as he has a major aversion to needles!) Fortunately, they found their copy. When he was being fitted for his uniform, they gave him size 36 pants (he usually wears 28-30). They told him that what they gave him were fine, so he just cinched them up as tight as he possibly could. Only problem is that there is a pocket on the inside that you're supposed to put your Reef Point book into, and with his pants cinched up he wasn't able to get his book in and out. Oh well. Guess he's going to have to figure it out.
This forum was so helpful in giving suggestions on how to handle the day. As soon as they put the chairs up in Tecumseh Court, we noticed that everyone was putting down blankets to reserve chairs, so we went ahead and did that too. We made sure to bring him dinner after the Oath of Office Ceremony. (They had been given lunch but he didn't eat much so he was starving.) Drydock had a line going out the door before the ceremony so we ran over to Moe's and got him his favorite meal. We did bring a blanket to sit down in the shade, and fortunately he didn't spill anything!
The Mids that were on the yard on I-day were so helpful. A couple of them gave suggestions for plebe summer care packages (we did mail his first one on Wednesday before we headed to Annapolis). The Mids said they love receiving pictures, letters, food (even junk food during plebe summer
), and extra underwear!
It will be so interesting to see how much they've change in 6 weeks!