The Trinkets we Parents buy.

mysonusna06

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Apr 13, 2011
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My son graduated from the Naval Academy in '06 and the entire 4 years was as much an adventure for his parents as for him (though not as grueling for us of course). During that time we got hooked on USNA stuff on EBay and collected a set of Wedgeware dinner ware, first issued in the 1930s then reissued in the 1950s as their series of U.S. Universities. When we started buying in 2002 the plates were about $30 each, we stopped when they reached $130 each and since have reached as high as $300 each, with Tecumsah going higher. At any rate, we now have 12 different designs (all related to the USNA). They will be handed down to our son when he marries.

I also collected films related to the USNA. The following are what I currently have, and there is one other silent film with Ramon Navarro that I know is in some cateloges.
Annapolis - Johnnie Mack Brown - 1927 filmed at USNA
John Ford's Salute - John Wayne - 1929 - filmed at USNA
Midshipman Jack - Bruce cabot - 1933 - filmed at USNA
Shipmates Forever - Dick Powel - 1935 - filmed at USNA
Navy Blue and Gold - Jimmy Stewart - 1937 - filmed at USNA
Annapolis Salute - Van Heflin - 1937 - filmed at USNA
An Annapolis Story - John Derek - 1955 - filmed at USNA
Mine Sweeper (about 1940 - slight connection to USNA only)
Crash Dive - 1943 - Tyrone Power - slight connection to USNA only)
Patriot Games - Harrison Ford - 1992 - some filming at USNA
Faith of Our Fathers - the John McCain story - 2005
Annapolis -2006 - not filmed at the academy - no reality to this film - very bad film!!!!

It is fun to find something that you can collect (we also have some Lucky Bags (USNA yearbooks) - from previous years (years Jimmy Carter graduated, Alan Shepard, Jim Lovell, etc.)

By the way, for those parents of cadets at West Point, the West Point dinnerware from Wedgewood in EBay is very very very affordable (haven't looked lately, but for some time they were going for as low as $4 a plate and high's in the $20s.
 
Dear moderator,

Please delete this post before my wife has a chance to see it.

We just spent $650 at the USNA gift shop after our son received his appointment during a recent CVW.

I may have to take on a part time job just to support our new obsession.:rolleyes:
 
response

Ah, but think of all the money you've saved on tuition, room and board and living expenses!!!! For all that we spent visiting the gift shops and ebay, we still got off cheap. You might want to start saving up now for the sword at graduation...they don't come cheap either.
 
I came home from the parade yesterday with a trailer hitch cover to which my daughter said: "Really, like we need more Navy bling for the car!" It's so hard to resist! And...since I wasn't dressed warmly and there was a cool rain I had to buy another sweatshirt for the day. Fortunately there was a sale rack. HA!
 
Here's a hard one to get. If you can find it let me know.

The TV series in the late 50's-early 60's "Men of Annapolis" produced by ZIV.
I think some 40 plus shows produced. West Point had a similiar series same production. I would like to get a copy of these series.
 
Men of Annapolis

Sorry, but we can never get that series. The only copies that exist are at the Nimitz Library at the Academy (for library viewing by mids only - no duplication) and the originals are at the University of Wisconsin or some U. in that general area (they made copy available to the academy with proviso that no duplications could be made). I don't know why these are to be locked away from the public forever, but that seems to be the case. I've spent many hours trying to find a way around this, but to no avail.
 
Jack Engeman authored of story picture books on the Academies. They were printed in the late 50's/60's. Neat to collect and to see how things were back in the day.

I have 'The Coast Guard Academy'(The Life of a Cadet) and 'Annapolis'(The Life of a Midshipman)son-older brother grad also has one. Other older brother grad has 'West Point'(The Life of a Cadet).
 
Mother's State License Plate: USNA-11 with USMC window sticker. Kid hates it and will not allow us to drive on the yard with that car. God save the parents from their progeny.
 
Did a quick search; those books are available on Amazon and eBay.
 
There is also a series written about 1910, Dave Darrin (sp?) at the Academy...four books cover the four years at USNA, then series continues through his career. Fiction...very dated for reading, but an interesting look at life at the academy in that period. We bought the series on Ebay.
 
Charms

Those adorable sterling silver charms from WP - a cadet, a knight on horse, athletic "A", Tarbucket, Cadet Chapel, WP Crest, etc....I soldered them onto some silver charm loops I found so I could put them on my Pandora bracelet :shake:
 
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