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The Unveiling
Plebe-Parent Weekend is, in many ways, a surreal celebration. West Point Plebe cadets have survived more than half of their first year at the famed military academy on the Hudson River, not to mention New York's sometimes brutal winter weather. Families from all over the nation get to spend a weekend with their son or daughter who have now endured both Beast Week and Fall finals.
Among the many activities that occur during the event-packed couple of days if the formal dinner where the formal crest of the Plebe class is unveiled. Class members have worked on their crest design since October. During that time, representatives from each company have pitched ideas with three companies having then been selected to mock-up a design for consideration. Eventually, one company is selected to produce the final product which is kept under black veil at the full dress uniform banquet until its ceremonial introduction.
West Point will tell you, "The image will be something the members of the class carry with them for the rest of their lives and it will one day be engraved on one side of the ring the cadets receive on Ring Weekend to start their firstie year.
"For many of them," West Point adds, "this moment at the Plebe-Parent Weekend banquet was the first time they saw it."
Plebe-Parent Weekend is held annually the weekend spring break begins at West Point. The gathering gives plebes a rare chance to show their families around the academy. It also marks the period when plebes assume cadet leadership positions for the remainder of the weekend since the upper classes have departed the post for their holiday week.
“It’s great to see where he lives, his everyday interactions and meet some of the cadets that he’s become friends with. It’s an amazing place and certainly a lot different than Orlando,” said Sid Cash in an interview posted to West Point's website. Sid's son Gaines was a plebe with the class of 2023 from Central Florida.
“We didn’t know what we were getting into up here," Cash said. "This is our first child in the military and to have an experience like West Point is just an amazing opportunity.”
Among the many activities that occur during the event-packed couple of days if the formal dinner where the formal crest of the Plebe class is unveiled. Class members have worked on their crest design since October. During that time, representatives from each company have pitched ideas with three companies having then been selected to mock-up a design for consideration. Eventually, one company is selected to produce the final product which is kept under black veil at the full dress uniform banquet until its ceremonial introduction.
West Point will tell you, "The image will be something the members of the class carry with them for the rest of their lives and it will one day be engraved on one side of the ring the cadets receive on Ring Weekend to start their firstie year.
"For many of them," West Point adds, "this moment at the Plebe-Parent Weekend banquet was the first time they saw it."
Plebe-Parent Weekend is held annually the weekend spring break begins at West Point. The gathering gives plebes a rare chance to show their families around the academy. It also marks the period when plebes assume cadet leadership positions for the remainder of the weekend since the upper classes have departed the post for their holiday week.
“It’s great to see where he lives, his everyday interactions and meet some of the cadets that he’s become friends with. It’s an amazing place and certainly a lot different than Orlando,” said Sid Cash in an interview posted to West Point's website. Sid's son Gaines was a plebe with the class of 2023 from Central Florida.
“We didn’t know what we were getting into up here," Cash said. "This is our first child in the military and to have an experience like West Point is just an amazing opportunity.”
For Additional Questions About Plebe-Parent Weekend
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