Foto Friday: Twas the Night Before Army-Navy

…and all through this Long Gray Line house is nuttin but SPIRIT!!! This is our year. For the LOVE OF SWEET BABY JESUS and the Commander In Chief Trophy…For all that is Holy…WE HAVE TO WIN THIS!

 

Spirit Week was in full force here at True Blessings Estate…

  

I even got The FireMarshall to get into the spirit…kinda/sorta. SIGH.

 

And then I went the extra mile to light the way for our guests who will be celebrating our VICTORY at the EPIC GO ARMY-BEAT NAVY PARTY. As a side note…while I was out in the yard putting these signs up, a SUV does a U-Turn and pulls into my driveway. Driver gets out and starts walking towards me. WHO DAT! I immediately stand up, assume the fighting position (didn’t put my hands up yet), but I’m on my toes, knees bent – fight or flight ready – and this man says “So, who graduated from West Point?” I tell him that both Ron & I did and he introduces himself adding that he is a ‘89 NAVY (cough, cough) Grad and lives across the street. “Awesome!” I say and invite him to the party. Hey Randall! We will be gentle, promise.

I’m making the INFAMOUS RUM PUNCH, Go ARMY GOAT CHILI and GO ARMY CAKE! (Well, The QueenMum has got the cake). And with this being the 30th Anniversary of Class of 87 Army-Navy Football Games, this portends to be

THE Best.Party.EVVVVVEEERRR

You know you’re invited, right?

GO ARMY – BEAT DA HELL OUTTA NAVY WITH A FUGGING BIG AZZ STICK!

5 Pointed Star–Super Reunion II

Super Reunion II – Service Academy Graduates-
Leadership * Diversity * Mentorship

Honoring Service with Service

 

Super Reunion II is more than a follow-up to the incredibly successful and historic 2010 Inaugural Super Reunion in Washington, DC.

 

Interested in Honoring Service with Service?  Super Reunion II (www.superreunion.org) is open to all. We are; however, putting out a special "CALL TO ACTION" to our diverse graduates & individuals that value diversity interested in RAISING THE NATION through service to underrepresented populations.

 

JOIN US - REGISTER NOW!

 

Super Reunion II is more inclusive and extends a special invitation to African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American, Pacific-Islander and Native American graduates from each of the 5 service academies and all graduation years. We will again honor service academy graduates who broke race and color barriers. Super Reunion II also provides professional development seminars and a jobs related career fair. Additionally, we will have a full day of teen oriented seminars and a Youth Inspiration Luncheon.

 

INVEST IN YOURSELF. INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE!

 

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU? We added a session about starting your own business and winning government contracts, we added a session for 200 kids to help raise their GPA and we beefed up the discussions to add more grads who our young grads like you need to know (execs at companies like Lockheed, Northrop Grumman and Disney).

 

Who might you meet and mingle with while at Super Reunion II? Keynote Speakers/Panelist include:

• General Lloyd J. Austin, III, US Army Vice Chief of Staff (USMA)
• Maj Gen Chris Cortez, Senior Executive at MICROSOFT (his son is a Naval Academy Grad)
• Maj Gen Ronald Johnson, Senior VP Referee Operations, The National Basketball Association (USMA)
• Captain Barrington Irving, Youngest Pilot to fly around the world solo
• Donna O. Johnson, Founder, Guaranteed 4.0 Learning Systems
• LTC Rodney Lewis, The White House, Office of the First Lady, Joining Forces Initiative
• Dr. Leo Mackay, Lockheed Martin, VP Ethics and Business Conduct (USNA)
• Dr. Kevin Roots, Lockheed Martin, Program Mgt Director Information Systems & Global Solutions (USAFA)
• Kia Silver Hodge, Northrop Grumman, Corp Manager Diversity Recruitment programs
• Cheri Griffin, Northrop Grumman, Corp Manager, Talent Acquisition
• Craig Griffin, Senior VP Bradley-Morris (connects military vets with jobs)
• Nate Hope, Lucas Group, Executive Senior Partner (military search firm/recruiter for private sector jobs)
• Bryan Zawikoki, Lucas Group, VP Military Transition Group
• Pillip Dana, Amazon.com, Talent Acquisition Manager
• Brian Britton, Walt Disney Company, VP Global Park Operations & Initiatives (USNA)
• Young Grad entrepreneurs Ron Steptoe (USMA), Antoine McNeal ( USAFA), Richard Lewis, RTL Networks, CEO, Cisco Small Business Partner of the Year 2011 (USAFA)
• USAA Team of Wealth Management Advisors
• Kelly Edwards, NBC-Universal, VP Strategic Initiatives & Diversity
• Eric Garvin, Northrop Grumman, Manager, Global Hawk - $13 billion high altitude reconn program (USAFA)
• Afredo Sandoval, Member, USAFA Board of Visitors (USAFA)

 

RECRUITERS RECRUITERS RECRUITERS from our Sponsors and Supporters!!!!!

Amazon Bradley Morris Carter Industrial Automation Comcast-NBC Universal Edward Jones Harvard Business School Humana Liberty Mutual

Lockheed Martin Lucas Group MICROSOFT Northrop Grumman Olive Tree Publishing Sodexo State Street T-Mobile USA

USAA Walt Disney World USAFA USMMA USNA USMA USCGA

PLUS you meet your counterparts from other services.

JOIN THE LIST OF COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS!

ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT TO SECURE THE DISCOUNTED GROUP RATE!

REGISTER TODAY

Registration Link

Army-Navy Football 2011

We won the Tailgate, the March On and the Coin Toss…but we (Army) lost the game…AGAIN. A Decade of Depression. At least this game was respectable in that it was close. We just can’t seem to stop fumbling and making error after error after error. We just can’t seem to hold the line, to stay strong, to bring our A game. Sigh.

 

Despite another year of crushing disappointment, I had a wonderful time hanging with my friends & classmates at the game. Absolutely a BLAST! I’m still in recovery and probably need a detox session.

 

Enjoy the video of the day! BEAT NAVY 2012…please.

‘Twas the Night Before Army-Navy 2011

Santa and Rudolph are back at it, trying to ensure that Santa's beloved Black Knights will be victorious at this year's Army/Navy Game!!! On Brave Old Army Team...

 

Once again…grown folk talk. You’ve been warned.

‘Twas The Night Before Army-Navy

This is a repeat from 2010. Careful...grown folk ARMY talk here. You've been warned.

GO ARMY!
BEAT DA HELL OUTTA NAVY WITH A STICK!

First Ever Super, Super Reunion

Written by CPT Marcus Brooks, USMA 2007
Youngest USMA Graduate in Attendance at the Inaugural Black Service Academy Graduates Super Reunion

During 26-28 August 2010 history was made as the “First Ever” gathering of African-American Graduates from all five US military service academies got together for a Super Reunion. The focus for the Reunion was to connect diverse skilled professionals with limitless opportunities for collaborated community service; network on one of Maryland’s finest golf courses, learn how to access the many services available through the Veterans Employment Office, rekindle old relationships and expand their social and professional network. (Photo: LTC (R) Minton Francis '44 and Captain Marcus Brooks '07)

The attendees learned how to best leverage their pool of resources from Herman Bulls '78, CEO, Public Institutions, Jones Lang LaSalle (USMA ’78); William “T” Thompson, CEO, USAF Academy Associates of Graduates (USAFA ’73); Rear Admiral Michelle J. Howard, the first African-American woman to command a ship in the US Navy (USNA ’82); Eugene Campbell, Vice President, Domestic Minority Business Development, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.

Invaluable dialog was exchanged with the Military Leadership Diversity Commission with invited panels; Commission Chairman General Lester Lyles (USAF Retired); Lt Gen John Hopper (USAF Retired): and, Brig Gen Rebecca Halstead '81 (US Army Retired). The culmination of the event was the celebration of History in honor of those who first blazed the trail – the “Most Senior Living African-American Graduates” from each of the five service academies and recognizing the “First African-American Female Graduates” from each academy. From West Point LTC(R) Minton Francis USMA Class 1944 and Pat Locke USMA Class 1980 were honored with gold medals and a thunderous standing ovation from the all those in attendance.

The West Point Admissions (represented by Major Michael Burns '00, Captain Marcus Brooks '07, Captain Maurice Hickman '06, and Captain Kirsten Rowe '06) held a 150 min breakout sessions specifically for the West Point graduates to dialog about the State of the Academy, a Minority Admissions update, Field Force opportunities and the expansion of Strategic Partnerships.

The energy was transferred to the Potomac as the graduates sailed along the Potomac during sunset while enjoying great food, a live band and a beautiful ambiance. It was an epic event, a beautiful event, treasuring the past and looking towards the future with a collective positive and opportunistic approach.

Highlights from Super Reunion

LT Tyrone Broxton, USMS, highlights the Inaugural Black Service Academy Graduates Super Reunion held August 26-28th, 2010 at the Gaylord National Resort & Conference Center with interviews of graduates from all the service academies & scenes from various events.

Just the beginning of awesome things to come.

Celebrate the History - Accept the Challenge

We kick off the Inaugural Black Service Academy Graduates Super Reunion tonight at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. The FireMarshall and I have a hospitality suite and will be hosting our fellow comrades in arms starting this evening around 9:00pm. We hope to see all of you there!

GO ARMY!
Beat Navy & AF...
Coast Guard Academy & Merchant Marine are too intellectual to play...
but we welcome all for grins, giggles & cocktails.

At Home w/Victoria Interview - Inaugural Black Service Academy Reunion

Listen to internet radio with At Home wX Victoria on Blog Talk Radio

Would you like to learn more about the reunion? Please take a moment to tune in for about 20 min as we talk about the mission, purpose and events happening at the Inaugural Black Service Academy Super Reunion - August 26-28th at the Gaylord Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, MD

I'm so excited about next weekend, I think I'm gonna burst.

2010 USNA Herndon Monument Climb

We are very honored to be a sponsor family to a couple of midshipmen every year. When The FireMarshall and I were Cadets at West Point, our lives and sanity were saved on numerous occasions by the sponsor family we were assigned. They were a Godsend.

Well, we don't live close enough to sponsor West Point Cadets but we are close enough to the Naval Academy and when I found out they they have a Sponsor Family Program, we signed up. We always ask for 4 kids and every year only about 1-2 of them end up coming around. That's okay - the ones that don't ever come around - ya'll sure do miss out, 'cause you know we be the "KoolAid Momma House". We know how to have a great time over here.

This past year we were assigned 4 Midshipman and only one, Mohammad Kahn, ever took us up on the offer to hang out...and he does a lot. We love it.

Mohammad was over last weekend and he invited us to come and watch the Herndon Climb. I have heard about it for years; saw it on the news; but have never seen it for real. I packed up the camera bag and trekked out to the Naval Academy.

I got there early, got a great spot and waited TWO HOURS for the thing to start...TWO HOURS for a climb that took 2 MINUTE & 5 SECONDS. Why so short this year...cause they didn't even grease the dag on thing. Why, you ask, did they forgo YEARS of tradition...cause the Superintendent was dissatisfied and concerned with the possibility of injury associated with the climb and wanted to stop the whole tradition. BAH HUMBUG to the Vice Admiral. HUMPH. Sounds a tad wimpy and whiny to me.

N.E.Way...it was fun to watch and to see the joy on all the plebes faces that they were "Plebes No More".

Congratulations USNA Class of 2013 on officially making it to the end of plebe year.