Those who live near the Naval Academy and in truth, in any part of Anne Arundel County, recognize the value, tradition, and respect the United States Naval Academy garners. Established in 1845, the Naval Academy is arguably one of the most well-known symbols of Annapolis area. The events and strong presence of all things Navy further the love and respect we have for it. Perhaps the most notable event, especially at this time in May, is Commissioning Week. Though mostly significant for the brave servicemen and women (and their friends and families) graduating, Commissioning Week can be valuable to you too. What you’ll find below is, as I introduced already, all things Navy–a brief history on the Naval Academy itself to establish the significance of Commissioning Week, the breakdown of Commissioning Week, and upcoming Navy events you can partake in.
According to the USNA’s “A Brief History of USNA,” the impetus for the inception of the Navy Academy started around 1842. At this time, those who belonged to the Navy were tasked with furthering their education by their own means in conditions not suitable for learning. In December of that year, what was assumed to be a mutiny involving midshipmen and their captain kick started the need for a better, more structured learning environment. Finally, three years subsequent to the perceived mutiny, newly appointed Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft established the Naval Academy in Annapolis. The school started out with programs in English, math and navigation, philosophy, French, gunnery and steam, and chemistry but has grown to offer much more. What started out as the site to educate 50 men in the Navy increased as the esteemed place of education and service preparation for thousands by the time 1850 rolled around. Fast forward to 1976, the Naval Academy continued to grow and during that year, allowed women to study at the academy for the first time. The information here is simply an overview from what’s offered on USNA’s site. You can learn much more about the timeline on the following link: http://www.usna.edu/USNAHistory/history.htm.
As far as Commissioning Week goes, it exists to graduate the men and women who have worked hard and upheld standards; however, it also speaks to the progress the Naval Academy has made from 1845 until now. From a time where education was not nearly as privileged as it is now, it is clear that the Naval Academy has made major strides and in turn, has improved the lives of countless men and women.
Though the Blue Angels demo and fly-by have been cancelled, the show proudly goes on. There are concerts, showcases of research projects, receptions, and more that the families of graduating midshipmen can experience. See the full schedule on this link: http://www.usna.edu/CommissioningWeek/_files/documents/2013_CommWkScheduleOfEvents.pdf. Though the majority of these events are not open to the public, the multiple museums and restaurants on the Naval Academy property will be open for all the enjoy. Here’s a list of the Naval Academy locations you can go to:
•The Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center and Naval Academy Gift Shop: This is the official visitor center located at 250 King George Street. Tours of the premises are given from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 12 noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday. If you happen to be a midshipmen or are the parent of one, you receive 10% off items at the Gift Shop. To contact the gift shop, call 410-293-4483. To contact the visitor center, call 410-293-8687. Or, head to the website: www.navyonline.com. Maps for the other buildings on the property are available at the visitor center.
•The Naval Academy Museum is open from Monday through Saturday. The hours for these days are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday’s hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum houses exactly what it sounds like: navy history. During Commissioning Week, the museum displays an exhibit for the War of 1812 in the Mahan Hall Hart Room. This exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Peruse the museum and revel in the history of your city. Contact 410-293-2108 to learn about the museum.
•Dahlgren Hall’s Drydock Restaurant is also open during Commissioning Week, serving breakfast, lunch, and snack foods like pizzas and sandwiches. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restaurant can be reached at 410-293-2873.
Some more Commissioning Week activities include music concerts and religious services. Wednesday at two in the afternoon, there is a Commissioning Week Music Festival scheduled with music by Crabtown Stompers and the Electric Brigade at Ingram Track. There are no tickets required and the dress is casual. As far as religious services go, St. Andrews Church hosts mass on Wednesday at 12:50 p.m. and on Thursday at the same time. For a schedule of more Commissioning Week events, head to http://www.usna.edu/CommissioningWeek/Schedule/index.php.
Bear in mind that parking will be limited and thus, taking a bus, carpooling, or even walking is encouraged.
If the above message (about parking) is enough to deter you from driving into the city to witness the graduation, tune into Navy’s All Access channel (http://www.navysports.com/allaccess/?media=384382) at 9 a.m. or watch the graduation on the Pentagon Channel at 10 a.m. (http://www.PentagonChannel.mil/).
After Commissioning Week, there are more noteworthy events headed your way from Navy. June marks the month of I-Day, another exciting event that brings in a new batch of midshipmen. Several musical performances are scheduled for June as well, like the National Music Festival on June 2. Plebe Summer also begins. Head to www.usna.edu to learn about these events and more. The final piece left to say: Go Navy!
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