The Northern Illinois Parents’ Clubs

For the United States Service Academies

The 25^th Annual Illinois All Academy Ball

The weeks leading up to the All Academy Ball the weather was very cold with lots of snow.  Prior to the Ball it warmed up and rained so the roads were clear of snow.  The attendance overall to this years Ball was down an estimated 300 people, but with around 375 the crowd was still impressive to first time attendees.  With the increase in the ticket price to $60 that was thought to be a factor in the attendance in these uncertain economic times.  Hopefully next year will be back to full strength.

For those who have not attended before there will be pictures below to give you a flavor of what it was like.

This is the table setting for the event.  Since this was the 25th Annual Ball, the Silver Anniversary, the commemorative glasses were trimmed with silver.  Very nice.  Alot of work went into the Ball and we all extend our thanks to the following NIPC members who contributed their time and efforts to this successful event:  Joan & Donald Kubik, Terri & Bruce Lanphear, Jeff & Lisa Lutz, Jim Riley, Cindy & Chuck Schmidt.

The music was provided by the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest - 566th Air Force Band, directed by Captain Bryan Miller.  The welcome was made by Robert Murray, President of the Coast Guard Academy Parents Club.  Following that the Presentation of the Colors was made and two of NIPC's cadets, C4C Thomas Kashul, Jr. and C4C Joshua Park represented the Air Force.  Josh is holding the flag.

There were 7 special toasts; Toast to the Colors & The President, presented by Lt. Cmdr. (retired) William L. Bishop.  Toast to the Active Duty Service Men & Women, presented by Lt. Cmdr. Bishop and a Toast to each individual service Academy.  Major Tanya S. Regan provided the AF toast.  Maj. Regan is a 1980 USAFA graduate, current Illinois ALO and is one of the 96 women in the first graduating class that included women.  She is pictured on the right during the toast.

Finally there was the presentation of the Fallen / Missing in Action Table.  This was a special and quite honestly, moving ceremony where the approximately 89,000 fellow military servicemen and women who could not be with us were honored with a place setting from each service academy.  Thomas Kashul, Jr. was the Cadet representing the AF and laid down his hat and gloves at the table.

Then the dinner started and the food was excellent.  What follows are some pictures from the Ball.  If you couldn't make it this year, plan on making it in 2009.

During the AF recognition, the Cadets stood up.  From L to R are C3C Brendan Lanphear of Elburn, Joshua Park of Lisle and Le Wang of Vernon Hills.

On the left is the pic of the beginning of the Fallen / Missing In Action table.  On the right is the picture after all the Service Academies Cadets were present.

At this table is Major Tanya Regan, Don and Joan Kubik (Matthew, class of 2008) and Le & Kathy Wang (C4C Tom).

Brian & Karen Johnson with their daughter, C4C Amanda and their son.

C4C Caitlin Glitz and C4C Jan Teope enjoy the night and share it with Caitlin's twin sister, who is an Army ROTC at Providence College.

Sandy Primm and C3C Joel Primm speaking with 1973 USAFA grad Col. Robert Glitz (retired) and his wife, Wanda.  On the right is Caitlin with her father during the Father / Daughter dance.

Chip & Carol Wilson, of Rockford, with their son, C4C Joshua.  Joshua is a Biology major and in CS40.

C3C Brendan Lanphear with his girl, Katie.  They attended high school together and although Katie attends college in Virginia, she has helped with and attended several NIPC functions, including the Doolie Picnic in July.

This is the Center piece that was on each table.  These were given to the person at each table whose birthday was closest to USAFA's graduation date.  On the right is the 25th Anniversary Commemorative goblet that each attendee could take.