Friday 7 October 2022
Seniors Get Their Rings! Freshmen get General Leave!
General Leave:
Upperclass: After their last class until 0100 (1AM). Seniors get an overnight!
Freshmen: After their last duty which is after the Seniors enter the Chapel (~1500/3PM) until Midnight (2400).
Key Events:
0900/9AM-1300/1PM: Pre-ordered Parents’ Weekend T-Shirts and Tote Bags pickup and sales on the second floor of Mark Clark Hall
1030/10:30AM: The Citadel Family Association (CFA) Annual Meeting featuring General Walters who will provide an update to Parents and Families – Buyer Auditorium, Second Floor of Mark Clark Hall.
1445/2:45PM: Seniors March to the Chapel for the Ring Presentation Ceremony. Freshmen will form a path for them – Summerall Field. For those who want to watch, please be aware not to block the area where the freshmen will form up.
1500/3:00PM: Class of 2022 Ring Presentation Ceremony – Summerall Chapel – Cadets only – lasts about an hour and a half. When the Seniors leave the Chapel they will render honors to the War Memorial then head to their respective company areas.
1700/5PM: Ring Reception – Deas Hall
1800/6:00PM: Ring Walk-Through Ceremony and Sword Arch Performance – McAlister Fieldhouse – we will post the times for each company when available. Don’t forget that the Clear Bag Policy will be in effect.
The Details:
Parent’s Weekend starts for Parents and Families on Friday 7 October with the CFA Annual Meeting. We hope you will start the Weekend’s festivities by attending this meeting and hearing from the President what his priorities are for the College.
Here is our recommendation for the day for everyone:
Make sure you and your Cadet coordinate when and where you will meet. Note: the General Leave schedule above, Underclassmen can leave as early as after their last class. Freshmen can leave after their last duty which will be after they form a path for the Seniors to walk through to the Chapel. Make sure they know how – and ask them – to contact you in case they are delayed or if they are going to take a nap!
0700: Starbucks and Chick-Fil-A are open!
0900-1300: Pre-ordered T-Shirts and Tote bags pickup and sales. We’ll be located on the second floor of Mark Clark Hall – right outside the auditorium where the CFA Meeting will take place. If you placed an order you just have to show up. We did order a few extras, so if you are interested in purchasing one the shirts are $25 each and the Tote $20 – please bring exact change – an ATM is in the lobby of Mark Clark Hall.
1030-1145: The CFA Annual Meeting featuring the President’s Update to Parents – Buyer Auditorium in Mark Clark Hall. A great way to start off Parents’ Weekend! CFA Chair, Tabitha Bemis, will call the meeting to order at 1000 sharp! First order of business will be to have General Walters and his senior staff provide an update on the College to the Membership (which is all parents). As your Cadet’s advisor, it is a great way to find out what his top issues are for the school and then ask any questions you may have – don’t be shy!
1145-1445: Lunch: This is the first meal you will have to make a decision on. For the Parents and Families of Junior and Sophomore Cadets, you may want to find out when your Cadet is able to leave campus before deciding whether to eat on campus or not. Many may want to depart as soon as possible and eat somewhere off campus. For those Freshmen and Senior Parents waiting for their Cadets, you may want to take advantage of the following eating locations on Campus –
1) The Canteen which includes a Chick-Fil-A and sandwich/salad bar
2) The full-service Starbucks located in Mark Clark Hall.
3) The coffee shop in Daniel Library – Starbucks drinks and sandwiches
1500/3PM: The Ring Presentation Ceremony – In a nod to the “Old Corps” the Seniors will receive their rings in a cadet-only ceremony in Summerall Chapel.
Around 1445 (2:45PM) the Freshmen will form a path for their Seniors from the Battalions to the Chapel at 1500 (3PM). If you are out watching, please be aware of where the Freshmen line up and not get in their way. Freshmen may leave if they have no additional duties after the Seniors enter the Chapel – make sure they know to call or text you if they are delayed.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Seniors will exit the Chapel and pay their respects to the fallen at the War Memorial before heading back to their Battalions.
Although Parents and Families will not be allowed in the Chapel, you are welcome to watch them march across the parade field to the Chapel and leave after the ceremony – just make sure you are watching the time if you intend to go to back to the hotel before the evening ceremony – traffic can be terrible on Friday afternoons.
Before the ceremony, make sure you and your cadet arrange when and where you will meet after they are dismissed (for Freshmen) or completion of the ceremony (for Seniors).
For parents of Freshmen, you will find most want to eat, sleep and then get something to eat. It is always good to get them back a little earlier than the expiration of leave.
1700 (5PM) – through the evening: The Ring Reception – Senior families only. Let me set some expectations. Although all family members are invited, the main purpose is to serve as the staging area for the cadets and those they will be escorting through the ring. There will be food and drinks available, but not enough to serve as a meal. You should arrive based on the time your cadet’s company is scheduled to walk through the ring – early enough to get in line – see the schedule below. Also, please be patient, sometimes the schedule stays on schedule while other times it can be delayed. Don’t let that ruin a wonderful evening with your cadet! Depending on your cadet’s company time for the walk through, you may want to take advantage of a photo op with large ring on the other side of campus that will be displaying the shiny new “22” on it.
1800 (6PM): The Sword Arch Performance and Walk Through Ring Ceremony in McAlister Field House. The Sword Arch team will present to the Seniors a precision performance which will be the culmination of weeks of hard work and dedication. Please be in your seats before 6PM as there will be no movement during the presentation. This will be a chaotic time for Senior families, so we recommend that all families consider attending the performance at some point before your cadet is a senior when you have time to watch – and think about when you will be going through the Ring!
At 1815 (6:15PM) Cadets and their special guests will begin their walk through the Ring starting with the Regimental Commander, Senior Class President, Regimental Activities Officer and the Ring Chairman. At 1820 (6:20PM) the Senior Football Players (need to get them to bed for the game the next day) and Active Duty Seniors will make their walk.
As a reminder, especially for the earlier folks, Charleston traffic is at its worst on Friday afternoons and then you have to find a place to park. Please plan to get to McAlister Fieldhouse early. If you miss your time slot, you go to the back of the line and will go through after the last company.
For Parents and Families of Seniors, this is a fairly formal event. When considering what to wear, keep in mind your cadet will be wearing their most formal uniform for this ceremony.
Ring Walkthrough Times by Company
The Special Instructions for the Ring Walk Through Ceremony and Reception from Cadet Activities.
Finally, tell your Cadet to be prepared to introduce you to the VIPs (General and Mrs. Walters and Colonel and Mrs. Gordon) at the end of the walk. They have been trained how to do this. Over the past three years they have developed a habit of avoiding the Commandant . . . but this night, there is only one way out!
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