Graduation Information please

[az1cowgirl]

I am leaving tomorrow to attend my fiance's graduation ceremony
at Great Lakes, IL. I have already been through an Air Force
graduation but I would love it if you would share information on what
I can expect. Here are a few questions to get started but PLEASE give
me any information that you feel is important for me to know.

1. I am in Arizona, where the temperature is still 85 degrees. In
Waukegan, the forecast is for 32 degrees! Yikes! How warmly will I
need to dress for the indoor ceremony? Is it comfortably warm in there?

2. After the ceremony, how and where do we find our sailors?

3. After the ceremony, how soon are we allowed to leave base?

4. Does the Navy have the 3 second rule in regards to hugging or
kissing our sailors?

5. How far is the walk between the parking lot and the graduation
center? (this will help me decide how high my heels are going to be!)

6. The graduation brochure says that liberty is between 7-8:30 am and
TBA in the evening. In your experience.. .what time was TBA?

Thank you all very much for your responses in advance. I am a nervous
wreck as it is and your help is much appreciated.

Linda

[Barbara's Page]

Dear Linda,
I just wrote to you on your MY PAGE on what to expect for the Chicago graduation. I answered all your questions.
Have a safe trip.
Take care and God bless.
Barbara

[Leigh]

We just got back from our sons graduation last week, and it was cold. At the graduation it is warm inside, so be comfortable, but outside the wind was cold. It was a long walk from the parking lot to the center, so wear comfortable shoes. No rules about hugging and kissing that we know of. TBA for Zack was 8:30,but he always went back earlier, as you do not want them late or they will lose the next liberty night; without be able to contact you. They had to be out of the center right after graduation, and it was pretty easy to find them down on the floor after graduation; as they are looking for you too. Get there early, as we had to sit in the balcony. We arrived around 7:30am and it was packed already. Remember to be patient as it is worth it. It was the most wonderful thing I have ever seen. Good Luck and enjoy all the time you can with your sailor. Bravo Zula

[Simone]

Linda, Congratulations on your engagement and for having a sailor in your life. I attended my son-in-law's graduation from Nuclear Power School and it was so amazing. Be prepared to be in awe! I'm sorry that I don't have any information on the Great Lakes Ceremony; however, I just wanted to encourage you that you will be amazing and everything will be okay. Don't forget your camera. I was amazed at the Nuc Graduation in South Carolina how casually some people dressed. I think you should wear what will be comfortable to you, however dressy or casual. Take kleenex because when those flags are displayed I felt my heart well up with tears and knowing how much apart of something really big we have become. You are going to have an amazing life. Give that sailor of yours a hug for us and I am so glad you came to Navy for Moms for advice and answer to your questions. We hope to hear more from you in the future as you begin your life together.

[az1cowgirl]

Thank you so much Simone...your very words brought tears to my eyes as I am so very proud of him. I can't wait to see him tomorrow and I already have the kleenex packed!!

[Pam M]

1.Yes, there is heat in the ceremony hall. Just wear a coat for outdoors.
2. You will sit in the section for his division if you get there early, so when it is over, you get up and RUN! haha You will have a general idea where he is and the stands empty out quick, everyone is running to their sailors!
3. You leave right away usually, unless he is a grad and go.
4. don't know about any 3 second rules.
5. The walk is half across base. (I'm sure he will want to see you in your heels, so just bring them with you and change in the hall!)
6. they seem to always pick a division (no rhyme or reason) that gets to stay the whole weekend at the hotel. We weren't that lucky. They had to be back at 9 one night and 8 the other. They CAN"T BE LATE. So you take them back a little early and sit in the parking lot and talk more until they have to start walking. It is like a 20 minute walk for them.

Have a great time! It is the best weekend ever! The trip to Chicago was a joke. Don't spend your time trying to walk everywhere and see everything. The sailors seems to want to "chill" and go to Chicago for everyone else but they really just want to sit around. That is what I heard from many of the sailors and families...after it was over... Just enjoy being together and try not to put too much into the weekend. They have been through alot in the past two months...

[az1cowgirl]

Thanks Curlysuezz....you were the first one to get that the heels were for his pleasure..not mine!! And I completely agree with you about going to Chicago. I'm not interested in being a tourist, I am interested in just having some quiet time, time to talk, to plan, and to just be together. He just wants to take me out for a nice dinner so he can "show off my lady on my arm while I am in Uniform."

Linda

[JANIE HAZELBAKER]

Good Morning,
I did not read every one of the responses, but I just wanted to put my Two Cents in. LOL
My son had to be back on base every night, and it put a damper on our "THINGS TO DO LIST", So to save time and money,Carl went to neps and into the travel agency and bought train tickets to chicago and he also bought the sight seeing tour tickets, thats where you get on a double decker bus and it takes you to all the hot spots. At that time the tickets where $11 each and well worth it. The train is also double decker, so for the better view sit up top.
There is this huge mall close to the base, it has a bass pro shop, in door neon put put golf and all of the shopping you'll ever want to do. We had our brother in law with us and he had already been in and out of the navy there so he knew how to get around and where to go. Sears tower is awesome. If you're doing a scrap book, remember to keep everything. If you take pictures in the sears tower, remember to use the flash or you won't be seen because of the back light. The navy pier is awesome, but I don't know how it is during the winter. You can google everything around there. Have a great time.

[az1cowgirl]

Those are some fantastic suggestions Janie...thank you very much.

[Carol CGB]

1. I am in Arizona, where the temperature is still 85 degrees. In
Waukegan, the forecast is for 32 degrees! Yikes! How warmly will I
need to dress for the indoor ceremony? Is it comfortably warm in there?

Dress in long sleeves, but nothing too heavy-overcoat that you can take off. It gets stuffy inside the hall.


2. After the ceremony, how and where do we find our sailors?

Best advice, sit in the section in front of his division sign, then come out to the floor and stand there and let him find you...

3. After the ceremony, how soon are we allowed to leave base?
If your sailor is cleared for liberty, you can leave immediately, but be prepared for a long wait in car lines to get out.

4. Does the Navy have the 3 second rule in regards to hugging or
kissing our sailors?

Not aware of this, of course, I just gave my son a big hug and peck on the cheek. It's always best to show respect in a crowd.

5. How far is the walk between the parking lot and the graduation
center? (this will help me decide how high my heels are going to be!)

About 1/4 mile. Don't wear heels in case of snow or ice. Again, show respect for your sailor and all the other families. Choice of clothing should reflect that.

6. The graduation brochure says that liberty is between 7-8:30 am and
TBA in the evening. In your experience.. .what time was TBA?
ceremony lasted about 2 hours, all sailors were expected back on base by 8:30 pm- make sure he gets back on time or the rest of the weekend will be lost.


Most of all, enjoy your time together. They usually want a great meal - there's a great steak place, Ponderosa in Waukegan on Belvedere road.

Good luck.

[Sarah]

Hi, I don't really have anything to share this topic but I just wanted to thank you for posting this because my fiance is also at boot camp in great lakes and i was curious about what was going to go on also. My fiance just left last week though, so I still have a little while to wait. But thanks again for asking about this, it really helped me out.
- sarah

[Laurie]

Hi, I went to my sons Nov 7th It was cold and windy,wear warm clothes.You will find your sailor right away ,and yes do hug and kiss him. You can leave right after but will be stuck in the parking lot for awhile.There is so much traffic in Chicogo plan on being in the car alot unless you stay at your hotel most of the time. Just enjoy your time together they are so glad to get out it wouldn't matter if you didn't do anything but eat and be together. Bring him some pjs to wear in the hotel other wise he has to stay in uniform the whole time. Enjoy your time with him

[az1cowgirl]

Thank you Laurie,
I'm in a hotel just 5 miles from the base but I heard that the traffic going in and out can be thick. We are going to stay pretty close to the hotel, just relaxing, nice meals, maybe the Gurnee mall...but no trips into Chicago.