Military Ball

MCPT Military Ball 2014

I have described us as an LDS, military family many times, and I have shared thoughts of faith many times, but I have not so often shared the military side of things. Here is a great one full of traditions....the military ball!

First off Uniforms -

There are a few different  uniforms the  soldiers wear. From PT - Mess dress. This one is a dress blue. You can not see it in this picture of us, but the blue on the pants and the blue on the jacket do not match. I used to think it was the ugliest thing, Once I learned the story and tradition behind it; it didn't bother me so much.

In the old day of soldiers on horses, the soldier would take off the jacket while riding which would result in sun bleached pants and today they make the uniform that way out of tradition.
I do feel bad for female soldiers. I do not care what you do for a living, most girls love a chance to dress up and go out like a princess, but the female soldiers must wear uniforms to the ball as well.

I love buying a fancy dress and figuring an up-do. Getting something sparkly to wear around my neck. I enjoy getting my nails done and getting all beautified! 

Dan hates it! Well I think he puts up more fuss than he actually hates. Sure the uniform is a bit stuffy, and its like being at work for him with superiors and work people about, but he knows its tradition and he's proud to be a part of that.

The traditions of the evenings events:

At every ball there is a small table set up with the chair tipped  and all the settings for a full meal. There is no food on this table except for salt sprinkled across the dish. This table is a memorial for the fallen soldier. It is a reminder of a seat that wont be filled. The salt is for the tears of the family and friends that won't be able to welcome their soldier home again.
Now a days, most serving in the armed forces can place a face or two to that chair when they walk in and see it.

A reception line is a frequent, but not always required event. Well let me clarify, If there is a reception line it is not optional, but they do not always have them. The highest ranking officials and dignitaries will be there and you will greet them and shake hands. The male or the soldier always goes first and after he has greeted the official, he turns to his guest and introduces her to the dignitaries. My mother in law (Dan is third generation military) often tells stories of "In her day" A reception line required white gloves. Some ladies would not have any and they would share by passing the gloves back through to the next person in line. However the soldier can never shake hands in a reception line with gloves on.


Posting the colors happens at every military event.

I am sure you have witnessed this before at a sporting even or a scout function. Its the same, but everyone is very silent and very respectful.The way a soldiers back is stiff and straight and arms are at their side with hands cupped is awe inspiring. They never let it out of their sight making tiny adjustments with their feet and never changing the stiff form of their body to always see where it is in the room. These are the people who know, they know what that flag stands for, they are willing to do what it requires to keep it held high.  I wish all Americans could stand there in a silent group of hundreds like that and watch the fine details of how a soldier salutes the flag.

Then there are the toasts. Always an awkward moment for the Mormon, or non- drinker. It is extremely rude to not participate, or even not so nice to toast with water (If you are in the navy it's like flipping them all off if you toast with water) Some wine is always available to toast with. A few times we have seen sparkling cider provided for us and designated drivers, but not always so water it is.
There are specific words used and replies to be shouted as part of the toast. Don't worry if you have never been to one before they usually provide it in writing in the program.





Ladies and Gentlemen, I propose a toast to the United States of America
                        Group-      The United States of America

Ladies and Gentlemen, I propose a toast to our commander and chief
                        Group- The commander -in-chief

So on- To the United states military, To the United states Army, To the unit's, To the Base
After they have toasted all the military head quarters and units, they toast

Ladies and Gentlemen- I propose a toast to our distinguished guests.
                     Group- Our distinguished guests

"Men, Seat your ladies"

Gentlemen I propose a toast to the ladies
                   Men- To the ladies


The grog- Thank heavens this is one left up to the units and isn't done all the time, but it is frequent and usually the mark of a less than elegant ball.

This is where each unit, or platoon or special guest or anyone with anything to say who has  a bottle of any type of alcohol will stand and say why it is important to remember XXXX and why this alcohol is being added to the grog. Before long 10-15 (or more) bottles of a mish mash of booze is in one giant punch bowl, and cups are dipped freely.  Ugh! Not my favorite.


Of course there are always a speaker or two and like at any event that can be long and dry or short and sweet. You never know.

There is always dinner and I can remember dinner at a ball being delicious once (In Germany and I was pregnant) Its mostly like banquet or  wedding food.

We pay a good chunk to attend, but the Army is good about charging the officers more to make it easier on the soldiers to attend as well. It's good to see the younger group learning the traditions.


The colors are retired and that ends the official part of the ball. Then the DJ starts up the music and dancing ensues. This is the part where it turns into "Prom" Sure at this age people are allowed to drink, but no one should drink that much. Sure we are old enough to choose what to wear, but no one should wear that little!

All in all, I feel very privileged to attend and witness the rich traditions, and immense pride of the soldiers old and young, experienced and new, and the proud spouses that love and support them through the years of a military career.
 

Dan and I at one of our first balls BYU ROTC

Nut- Meg Strode

It was October 2000 and we were visiting a pumpkin patch in order to get our pumpkins  to make Halloween jack-o-lanterns. We were living in Sierra Vista , AZ and so I think we were after a little of that "Fall" feel. This pumpkin patch had a small farm with some animals. Goats, chicken, donkeys etc.

The farm had a few different breeds of dogs that roamed about. The dachshund's had recently had puppies and there was one that was smaller than the rest. it was like a tiny peanut.

Of course the kids wanted to take one home, I have never been a big fan of animals, but it was adorable!
I was just with the kids and jumping up and down begging Dan. "Please, Please"

Dan was strong (although he loves pets) He said "this is not how we buy a pet, we go home and think about it" So we left without the dog. We pulled in the drive way and I said " Go get it!" Being pregnant with Paige may have been a contributing factor. He made me think about it for 24 hours.

I called the farm and they wanted $300 for their puppies. I knew we didn't have enough for that so I specified which dog we were interested in "EVEN THE RUNT?"

"Oh we could give you the runt for $100 off"  I didn't tell them how we were a family of runts and we would think of nothing less (or as others may think better) than the tiny runt. "I was thinking more like $150" I said to the Farmer. A deal was struck and the next day (Which happened to be the day before Tori's B-day party) Dan drove back to the farm, and the pet store and brought us home a puppy after all the kids had gone to bed. He and I cuddled and pet the little rat sized dog. Then we listened to her cry all night and wondered what we had gotten our selves into.

Once the kids got over the excitement, we sat around discussing our new doggie and what we should name her. Dan mentioned we got her at a pumpkin patch and she looked a lot like pumpkin pie. I told him she wasn't pumpkin color, but more the pumpkin mixed with cinnamon and nutmeg, and there it was..... Meg (Nut-Meg)

She ate diapers, pee'd on the floor, bit birds, dug in the mud, growled at dogs bigger than her, licked every blanket pillow and couch she got her nose near. She loved to wait till you got out of the shower and clean up any shower water you would drip on the floor as though it were the best thing she could drink. She was stepped on more times than her share since she was so small and always insisted on hanging out under your feet. Meg would join any other family we were near when out on walks or car trips. Without any doubt she could find other dachshunds in the neighborhood when we were staying at friends and she knew when a small child was visiting to stand near them for the best chance of getting fed. She knew as Seth and Paige were learning to crawl that babies always have food on their face and they are at her height. She didn't care for any of our pools, or diving through the snow like a dolphin in the waves when we lived in Washington to get to the grassy pee area.

Meg was a well traveled Dog, living in and traveling to many European countries, She also had many adoptive families. Everyone who ever sat for her when we went away asked, no- begged to be able to watch her again. Everyone loved her.

Especially her people. Logan, Tori, Seth and Paige

She was a huge part of our family growing up years and we do not have any memories that do not include this wonderful puppy. I know for one I will miss her little click clack following behind me every where I go.

Nut- Meg Strode September 2000- November 2014

Rest in Peace our loyal friend 

.......and the medical adventures continue

E.R. @ St. Luke North

It was 2 days after an out patient surgery Dan had to repair a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder.


 ( It was a tear that had happened nearly ten years ago in a snowboarding accident. It had gotten a bit worse over the years with some scar tissue and bone rubbing on bone. It was to be a few days at bed rest, a few days with taking it easy. We were expecting a few weeks of Physical therapy and a month of a sling.)


Dan was complaining of pain in his calf, He had taken a PT test the day before the surgery and was concerned he might have pulled it. Then he started complaining that the cross strap on the sling was too tight across his chest because he was having pains in his chest. The pains were strong , more painful than the surgery sight and the pain meds didn't seem to help them very much.

We called into his doctor and asked about the pains. They recommended that we go to the ER and get checked out. The doctor ordered first  a CAT scan of his lungs and then  an ultra sound of his leg. Before the Ultra sound was done the CAT scan test came back positive for a multitude of blood clots in his lungs. It apparently started in his calf and spread up.

The doctors told us multiple times how fortunate it was that we had gotten there in time. We were told plenty that his health and healthy life choices (Specifically not smoking and drinking) were factors in him being able to combat this.

Dan was admitted and put on a Heparin drip. They kept him for three days, and released him to bed rest only and blood thinners. He still has more testing to do in order to see how long he will have to be on blood thinners. He is home now and doing well. Going back to work this week. He will still have a sling, and physical therapy, and a few extra dr appointments to monitor the blood thinners.

We are very grateful that everything has worked out so well and feel very blessed.