I told DS there's an "up" side to the uniform, and that includes some free transportation. DS had any number of times when the LIRR conductor would not punch his ticket.But following him around Manhattan with his 2 other friends and watching everyone thank them for the service, want photos with them and having grandmas come up to him asking for his number so they could set their granddaughters up with him, made me cry, be proud, laugh and have memories we wouldn't have gotten. It was a blast watching them trying to figure out the exits and entrances to the subways.
Last year the plebes left on Columbus weekend. I had a housefull in Virginia who lived too far to travel to their own homes.
After parents weekend, it seemed like DS was home all the time. I think fall break has been eliminated but last year, they had Columbus weekend, semester break (a week around Nov 1st), Thanksgiving, Christmas, long weekend in mid january (MLK day?)... then a long dreary haul until spring break.
DS had so many scheduled regimental holidays, he had trouble taking "earned" long weekends/extented liberty by the end of the trimesters, as required.
All that changed in the spring when he didn't come home due to a spring sport from February until Memorial Day weekend (ALERT- when they have to be back SUnday night for a parade on MOnday).
I think I remember seeing DS pix from Mets game, which they well and truely loved... being AWAY, for a few innings.
However, my biggest recollection of the first liberty was in our planning to go and do ALL SORTS of stuff when we got him at Parents Weekend.
Once we fed our P/C as much steak as he could eat, he got quiet and comfortable in the back seat. Snoring quickly followed. Over the next hours of liberty, I think the only time we woke up again was to eat
And we loved it.
So psyched about the liberty on Columbus Day weekend...does anyone know if there are liberty boundary limitations for Parent's Weekend? Are the Plebes allowed to leave the state of NY for their PW liberty or is there a certain amount of miles that they have to stay within????
They just have to be back at the Academy at the required time(s) for accountability checks, etc. There are no milage or state boundary limitations but they really don't want to return late from liberty - they might not like the consequences.
Also as noted, on Parent's weekend they really just want to get away from the Academy, put on civilian clothes, eat some good food (early and often as the saying goes) and sleep in a laid out position on a bed without trying to do so faking it like htye are studying with their head in a book at their desks...
Lilcola99: My understanding is that the football team will have practice mid-afternoon (2:00 or 2:30 or so) on Sunday of Parents Weekend. But then they would be off on Monday. So we're just planning to stay in a hotel in the area during the weekend liberty...maybe at most take a trip into NYC if he's up for it; but expecting it's very possible he may want to do very little but eat & sleep. Even before we knew about the Sunday practice we were hesitant about making the trip home because Labor Day traffic could be brutal in getting back to KP on time on Monday.Thank you, Does anyone know if the football teams has less liberty because they practice on Sunday. Also, any former football players know if there will be film for the football team on parents weekend.