Friday-Sunday, November 2-4

It’s been a busy whirlwind weekend enjoying all the festivities for the Blue Angels Homecoming here in Pensacola.     We went to the practice show on Friday afternoon – wow!    Very awesome and lots of people there to clap and cheer on the Blues with camera and cell phones clicking away!    That night we went to a party at the Captain’s home and met the team, spouses and parents!
Saturday – we met John’s parents and friends when they stopped by to see the house.     Mark and I ran some errands and then off to the big air show and grand finale for 2012.    It was a beautiful day and thousands of people were on hand.    It was such a neat experience.    Unfortunately, Jackie who was to come for the weekend from New Orleans was not able to make it as her Dad is in the hospital.    We did get to meet her son just before the air show started.   Brandon is in training to be a Navy pilot.
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Brandon and Mark
The Blue Angels
Blue Angel Moms - Chris (John's Mom) and Pat
Saturday night we went with family/friends to Seville Quarter for a party – lots of celebrating for a great 2012 season and welcoming the new 2013 team.    This same place is where Ryan and we partied 6 years ago this past July when he graduated from OCS school.

Sunday…..enjoyed the extra hour of sleep especially Ryan who’s been going, going, going all week long on very little sleep!
We all went to 9:00 Mass at St. Paul – love this parish with their beautiful new church, music and young priest.     Came back and more projects happening on the home front before we all gussied up and went to the “Change of Command” at 2:00.    This was held at the Naval Aviation Museum – we assembled in the large atrium with the Blue Angel jets overhead and sailors surrounding the balcony.   The US Navy band from New Orleans played beautiful patriotic music and along with the speeches and all the pomp and pageantry, it was an awesome experience – Ryan is officially a “Blue Angel”!     We went to a reception afterwards at the Squadron Hangar.   
Our Blue Angel
John
Proud Mom and Dad
 
 Ryan is now at a special recognition dinner for the 2012 team!     What a memorable weekend for us and Ryan is off and running for a very busy 3-year career with the Blue Angels!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi Pat: Sounds like a great and meaningful weekend, but just a tad busy!!!! So glad you were able to attend this important event in Ryan's career. I know you and Mark are proud parents. JudyB