Van, good to hear from you, my family and I are keeping all the guys and gals in our Thoughts and Hearts what they good through this long day.

HooYah to him and all his shipmates.

Van, that phone call will be one of the most gratifying you will receive.  Then the anticipation for the next week's PIR begins in earnest.  

It was certainly a thrill to pick my son's face out of his division when they came marching through the bay door.  Take a lot of pictures if you can.  When the ceremony is over, and they announce liberty, get down to the floor and see your boy.  My son wanted us to go outside to talk and we did that.  We spent some time walking around, went to the NEX for a while and then out to eat.  Let your sailor decide what kind of food he wants, but have some suggestions based on what is available nearby.  We went up to Gurnee.  Lots of restaurants near the Gurnee Mall at Grand Ave and I-94. Your son should have his flight information on a piece of paper that he can give you.  Make sure you get that from him.  

My son was Saturday departure also, but his flight was for 7:00 pm.  He actually was bussed out to Midway at 2 in the morning to wait for his flight.  We met him at the airport, then we were surprised when he suggested we could spend the day in Chicago since his flight didn't leave until late.  He had us ride the train from the airport to downtown which was interesting.  The ride was about 40 minutes long and cost $2.25 each way.  Armed forces personnel ride free.  If his flight is later in the day, this is a possibility rather than hanging out in the airport.  

Congratulations Van.  That is exciting news indeed! You will enjoy the PIR very much.  Make sure and get there early so you can get a seat in front of your son's division.  They will have signs pointing this out.  I heard of one parent whose daughter was an honor grad, arrived late and sat far down the hall from where her division was.  He didn't get to see her much at all until PIR was over.  Gates open at 06:30.  

I had seen someone post that parents were to enter the base via Illinois which is the main gate. Instead, they directed us to the next gate just to the east, and we entered behind the PIR hall. There is a parking garage where you leave your car, then you go through an entry building that is full of photos and displays of life at Boot Camp and in the Navy.  This is where they checked our ID and stamped our hands for entry.

If you are there Thursday evening, the Ramada Inn sponsors a Meet n Greet with the N4M's. You will be able to meet a lot of moms and dads like you with sons or daughters going through what your son has gone through.

If you get a chance to go to Chicago with him, just see as much as you can of downtown.  We walked Michigan Avenue and then over to the waterfront to see the lake and the skyline from the Navy Pier. Also saw the Chicago River. We were very cold that day and quite weary from the long walk we had.  Bravo Zulu to Brian.  Godspeed to him wherever he goes in the Navy.

John