I-Day Parent Questions

F

f18176

New Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Messages
4
Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions on where to get lunch for the picnic following the swearing in ceremony.
 
The Big Cheese is a suggestion. I think they take orders ahead of time on I-Day. Probably with lots of extra napkins.
 
We ordered two days in advance with The Big Cheese. They were very easy to work with. We set a desired time for pick up and had a collapsible cooler with us to keep them cool.
 
if you have a home rented you can make your plebe a sandwich to bring - that is what we did - she wanted basic and plain turkey sandwich with no dressing or mustard so she did not spill - she ate like half of it.....
 
And if your family cannot make the trip, your plebe will be scooped up by other families and their link in the chain alumnus.

We are a Covid IDay family and we didn’t get to go. It worked out. We all survived and our then plebe handled what needed to be handled.

A year later during a summer school he observed IDay. Said he was kind of grateful he didn’t have to worry about our emotions. Dealing with his was enough. Life works out.
 
The dude originally wanted a certain place for breakfast, but when we left for his drop off time, it wasn't open yet. So he got a bagel and some OJ from a convenience store. Barely ate anything.

So, we went to the place he wanted and got him a big old sandwich for the time after swearing in before they marched back in through the doors.

He only ate about half of that.
 
A lot of Mids had Chik-Fil-A. As others have mentioned The Big Cheese is popular and it's very close to Gate 1.
 
It’s not a “picnic” is the relaxed sense of the word. 1200 or so plebes and family groups will be right there with you. They are tense, tired, worried about time, on an emotional rollercoaster, and they need a moment to sit down - on a towel or something to protect the white uniform (some lessons are already inculcated) - and take a breath. Stomachs may be in knots, and eating will be simply taking on fuel. Power bars with protein, cool water, a sandwich, nothing massive or greasy. They are going to go through those bronze doors and be physically active until lights out.
 
Capt MJ said:
It’s not a “picnic” is the relaxed sense of the word. 1200 or so plebes and family groups will be right there with you. They are tense, tired, worried about time, on an emotional rollercoaster, and they need a moment to sit down - on a towel or something to protect the white uniform (some lessons are already inculcated) - and take a breath. Stomachs may be in knots, and eating will be simply taking on fuel. Power bars with protein, cool water, a sandwich, nothing massive or greasy. They are going to go through those bronze doors and be physically active until lights out.
Click to expand...
So much this. I don't know where the idea of a picnic came from but it is not the norm nor is it accurate. Plebes
do get Lunch and Dinner on I Day although it is a bit hectic. That short time after the oath is a last chance to say goodbye, not
designed to be a family dinner or to cram food into the new plebe.

I have vivid memories of the I Day lunch in King Hall (before it was called King Hall) but have no memory of dinner after the oath although
I know that we had one. Lunch was . . . "interesting" and "difficult". The menu by the way was cold cut subs, potato chips, iced tea, coffee
and milk ( in the old official USNA milk cartons).

1681146545184.png
 
I honestly do not remember eating at all. I'm sure we did, but I must have blocked it out. :p

My kid only got a few Clif bars and some water the whole day last year. He also nearly passed out during the blood draws as a result. He was happy to get the food we brought him for the goodbye session, knowing the next few hours were going to be "fun" with the detailers.
 
if you're wondering what to get for your new mid to take on iday, we got Gatorade protein bars so the mids stuff their shirts with the bars
 
Parents . . . your child will not starve on I-Day, during PS or during his/her four years on the Severn.

Plebes are fed lunch on I-Day. Many will be too nervous or worked up to eat well. They will be fed dinner. The next morning, there will be breakfast. And lunch. And dinner.

Brining water is a good thing.
 
usna1985 said:
Parents . . . your child will not starve on I-Day, during PS or during his/her four years on the Severn.

Plebes are fed lunch on I-Day. Many will be too nervous or worked up to eat well. They will be fed dinner. The next morning, there will be breakfast. And lunch. And dinner.

Brining water is a good thing.
Click to expand...
LOL I was more concerned about the hungry father!
 
It is nice to have something….mine missed lunch and dinner due to a bottleneck somewhere. Yes he would have survived. But yes it was very, very appreciated. Especially the cold beverages.

Nothing special, just something in your pocket or whatever. Don’t overthink this. Just be there, with something to snack on and a drink. Nbd.
 
f18176 said:
Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions on where to get lunch for the picnic following the swearing in ceremony.
Click to expand...
Being from SE PA it had to be Wawa...

There will be posts with letters A-Z along both sides of Stribling Walk. We were several yards past the Mexican monument. We had left our cooler under a tree in our designated area off Stribling Walk earlier so we didn't have to carry all day. After oath, we easily found a patch of open grass in that area to lay a blanket (no grass stains). I brought a towel for DS to lay on lap while he drank and ate. I had turkey hoagie for DS and waters and clear colored gatorade. Stay away from anything greasy or colored drinks. Less that can stain the better. Alumni Assoc took care of solo Plebes... He normally is a big eater, but he really enjoyed just sitting and having a couple ice cold waters and only finished 1/2 his hoagie. Last thing your Plebe needs if to return with stained White works :eek:
 
My DS just picked at the food. It’s a really weird moment. For a parent, it’s full of conflicting emotions. About all I remember is my son talking to his oldest brother on our cell phone and saying, “Guess what - I’m in the Navy.” It was a big “turn the page moment “ and everyone knew it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top