On Friday night we attened the Navy tradition of a dining out. Here is the skinny on the history of a Dining Out to explain the photos below....
Since the beginning of organized society, there has been a military establishment. Today, our sophisticated multi-service military observes many customs, traditions, and procedures traceable to the earliest of warriors. The dining-in as a military tradition has its roots in the shadow of antiquity. The pre-Christ Roman Legions probably began the dining-in tradition. Roman military commanders frequently held great banquets to honor individuals and units. These gatherings were victory celebrations during which past feats were remembered and the booty of recent conquests was paraded. The second century Viking War Lords stylized the format of the victory feast. "These celebrations saw all clan members present with the exception of the lookout, or watch. Feats of strength and skill were performed to entertain the members and guests. The leader took his place at the head of the board, with all others to his right and left in descending order of rank."
From the northlands, the custom was transplanted to the British Islands. In the sixth century, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table surely practiced a form of dining-in. One author suggests that in sixth century England the tradition spread to the nonmilitary society. "Its roots are embedded in the old monasteries where monks, who followed a most rigid regimen, had their form of dining-in as an integral form of monastic life." As educators, the clergy spread the custom to the academies and universities. The British officer corps comprised of those graduated from the centers of learning then carried the tradition to military units. The dining-in became increasingly formalized after the first officers' mess was established.
The party was held out in town at a beautiful hotel on the beach
Our good friends here Heather and Tristin
The party starts out in the court yard and once the bag pipes are played you have to hustle in to find your seat. The key to this is to use the restroom before as one will have to request a leave chit to use the potty and who knows if it will be approved! Above is the bag pipe player playing before everyone sits down!
There was bread throwing, nurf guns.. this is my type of party!
This is called the grog.... if anyone breakes any of the rules then they are sent to the front of the room and they have to drink a cup full of this salute the bowl, drink the mystery juice, put the empty cup on your head to show it's all gone, and salute the bowl again.
There are lists and lists of just fun silly rules that can't be broken and if a rule is broken you can call someone out on it!
Another part of the Dining Out tradition is saying goodbye to the one's that are PCSing (moving). Our friend Ben was dressed up as the XO of the base intimidating him as part of a skit of having him leave.
We had a great time and this is one Navy tradion that we are a big fan of!
