graduation 12/24 seeking advice

[brenda walker]

Hi..My son is in bootcamp, div 046, boat 7..graduating 12/24. Any words of advice for Mom's going to graduation? I haven't been able to talik with him...have missed the last 2 phone calls. Ihave my plane ticket..haven't booked a hotel yet. If I give him gifts, will he be able to keep them? Is it difficult getting on base? will there be long waits? How will my son find me in the crowd?

[Jan]

Hi head over to the group section and check out the PIR 12-24-08 group hopefully you can get all you questions answered.

[Auralei - Mom of Chris]

Hi Brenda! Booking your plane ticket and hotel right now is key, especially since PIR is during the holidays. It is not difficult to get on base for graduation, you just need your green PIR pass (you'll get that in your PIR packet that your son will mail to you), and your driver's license. Gates open at 6:30am, I think, we were there at about 6:45am and it only took us about 20 minutes to get in and go through security. But that all depends on how many families are attending :) When you get to the PIR hall, there will be signs with the different divisions in front of the stands, just look for his division number and find a seat there, it makes it a ton easier to find him after liberty is called. As far as gifts, we didn't bring any to my son's PIR last week, we waited until he had checked into A school across the street just to be safe. All he wanted was a hot shower, lots of sleep, good food, and a cell phone :) Most of the new sailors I know of went out and got cell phones as soon as they could after grad, it makes it so much easier to keep in contact with them after Boot Camp. One bit of advice, we got lucky with weather last week, it wasn't super cold that morning, but it sure is now, and the wind chill is just crazy there, so for sure bundle up :) My very best to you and your son! What a wonderful gift, a new Sailor for Christmas!

[brenda walker]

thank you! I'm feeling better about all of this already...I'll pick him up a cell phone for sure..and wear a heavy coat! From the msgs Brandon has left, it sounds like he'll also want a hot shower and sleep..Happy Holidays!
Brenda

[Barbara's Page]

Dear Brenda,
I just wrote a message to you, on your MY PAGE.
Take care and God bless.
Barbara

[brenda walker]

thanks! I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate this site.....I can't wait to add pictures of the graduation and PIR to the site. Take care and God Bless you and your family
Brenda

[Sherry Johnson]

Hi Brenda...left you a message on the Corpsman Group Page also. You should get a packet with names of hotels and graduation information and a vehicle pass. The hotel that we stayed at had a shuttle service to the graduation, though we had rented a car instead. The name of the hotel was the Ramada Inn in Waukegan. They have special rates for family of graduates. You should probably wait until you get that packet to make sure he is graduating on the 24th so you don't have to change reservations etc. I wouldn't give him any gifts until he leaves boot camp officially and moves over to Corps school. The hall where they hold graduation is like a big gym...but I guarantee you that you will spot your son before he spots you! Just sit as close to his division as possible and you will be OK, though you won't be able to hug and kiss him until after the ceremony is over!! That was really hard!!

[brenda walker]

Thanks Sherry! How exciting! It appears our kids have chosen a very intense area to serve in..as Corpsmen...My prayers go out to all the moms and sailors! Brenda

[K]

I would advise that if you give him a gift, be prepared to take it back for him as they are not allowed to bring gifts back.

We brought our son's laptop up for him to use at the hotel and he bought an iPod but let it all with us. He should be at A school today (traveled yesterday) so we are waiting to ship his stuff to him now that he can have it.

The base wasn't too hard to get on. Just follow instructions. I do suggest you try and get there a little early as we noticed people having a hard time finding seats the later they came. If you have a chance to write him, tell him that you will be wearing a bright red sweater or a purple scarf or something pretty stand out ish and then he can scan better for you. They seat you in front of your son's division so it's not like he will have to scan the whole interior (unless you arrive late and they send you to sit in the nosebleed). We had our four year old daughter with us in bright pink and there is no way you can miss that! He found us easily. If he is in the back of his group then I suggest you try to stay put when they call liberty. It will be easier for him to go to your section to find you then the other way around. And, like the ladies say...wear a coat. We were there Nov 14 and it was BEASTLY cold. The wind! I know now why they call it the windy city! Holy Moly! When we got back to DC it was BALMY compared to GL.

You will have such a great time! Good luck!

[brenda walker]

Thanks K...It is so nice to have the resource of other moms who are going thru this too. I have booked my hotel for 4 days..hoping that maybe he can have some leave after he is processed into A school. Guess I'll find out when I see him....I think the hardest part will be leaving him ...................Brenda

[Cheryl De Hart]

Take a lot of pictures. Bring lots of tissues.