Living overseas with my husband working for the foreign service I have had the chance to go to a number of balls: The St. Andrew's Ball (Scottish), Trafalger Ball (British), St Patrick's Ball (Irish), Marine Corps Ball (US) and the Navy SeaBee Ball (US). All of the balls have some sort of opening ceremony, followed by eating, drinking and dancing. Each ball's opening ceremony is moving in it's own way, but hands down the ball that is most likely to wreck my makeup is the Marine Corps Ball.
The opening ceremony is pretty much the same regardless of where the ball is held. There is the address from the Commandant of the Marine Corps which is projected on to a screen for everyone to see. A message from the Secretary of State, which will be read by a guest of honor, at a Embassy Ball generally the Ambassador or the Chargé d'Affaires. High ranking officers will also make speeches. Then there is the cake cutting ceremony, a huge cake will be marched in cut with a sword then a piece offered to first the guest of honor, then the oldest Marine present and finally the youngest marine present. There is always a collective gasp when the birthday of the youngest Marine is announced, and you realize just how old you really are. This year's youngest Marine present was a young (emphasis on young!) woman born in 1989. I will give you moment to recover.
I did video the cake cutting ceremony but opted to use my little point and shoot instead of dragging the big cameras along, which explains the quality of the Wordless Wednesday pictures, so I will spare you that experience but instead will post the Message from the Commandant and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. This is usually the point at which my make up begins to go wrong and the tears start flowing. It is very moving, expecially with all our brave young men and women in the middle east right now. Grab some kleenex and spend a few minutes remembering those so far away.
Showing posts with label Marine Corps Birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marine Corps Birthday. Show all posts
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Happy Birthday Marines! 1775-2008
Saturday we were privileged to attend a ball celebrating the 233rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps. There is just something about a man in uniform, and really is there any sharper uniform than the marine dress uniform?
The ball always opens with very moving speeches honoring the men and women who put their life on the line protecting and defending our country. Makes it a little hard to keep the make-up intact. Following the speeches is the presentation of the cake. Yes there is a cake, a very large cake. It is cut with great ceremony using a sword. Sadly we didn't have a good view so no pictures of the cake cutting this year. The first piece of cake is offered to the guest of honor, in this case Consul General Jo Ellen Powell. The second piece goes to the oldest marine in attendance. The third piece goes to the youngest marine in attendance. The youngest marine in attendance was born in 1987. I am feeling old y'all!
After the opening ceremonies comes the eating, the picture taking, and the dancing. So much fun.
David and I have been taking bets as to which, if any, of our children will follow us in a life with the foreign service. Last night I think we figured it out. Just before we left Colin come running downstairs yelling "Wait for me I am going too I am all dressed, I just need my shoes." He looked so cute wearing his recital clothes. We said we were sorry this was a no kids kind of night but took his picture 'cause he is just too darn cute! Perhaps some day he will put on his tux and head to the ball himself.
The ball always opens with very moving speeches honoring the men and women who put their life on the line protecting and defending our country. Makes it a little hard to keep the make-up intact. Following the speeches is the presentation of the cake. Yes there is a cake, a very large cake. It is cut with great ceremony using a sword. Sadly we didn't have a good view so no pictures of the cake cutting this year. The first piece of cake is offered to the guest of honor, in this case Consul General Jo Ellen Powell. The second piece goes to the oldest marine in attendance. The third piece goes to the youngest marine in attendance. The youngest marine in attendance was born in 1987. I am feeling old y'all!
After the opening ceremonies comes the eating, the picture taking, and the dancing. So much fun.
David and I have been taking bets as to which, if any, of our children will follow us in a life with the foreign service. Last night I think we figured it out. Just before we left Colin come running downstairs yelling "Wait for me I am going too I am all dressed, I just need my shoes." He looked so cute wearing his recital clothes. We said we were sorry this was a no kids kind of night but took his picture 'cause he is just too darn cute! Perhaps some day he will put on his tux and head to the ball himself.
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