Centennial Birthday Ball

 On August 11, we got to go on yet another Command forced date (no complaints here!), this time to celebrate the 100th Birthday of the Navy Dental Corps. The dress code for the active duty folks was dress whites, which are totally hot. I think this was Spencer's first time wearing this particular uniform since he did his ODS training the summer after his first year of dental school.

 All dressed up at the Butler Officer's Club.

 In true form, we arrived a bit late. After a big wig in the Marines gave a speech about the Navy corps involvement in the military, the program moved on to the ceremonial cutting of the cake. 

As per tradition, they highlighted the Commanding Officer, the oldest active duty dental officer in the room (in our case it was Captain Waterman, a former Navy seal and now periodontist), and the youngest active duty dental officer in the room (this year it was Spencer's good friend Lieutenant Matt Durschlag, who works as a general dentist at Evan's Clinic). Lots of people laughed when they read that Matt was born in 1987 :) The oldest and youngest officers cut the cake with a sword, then the first piece was served to the CO, the second piece to Captain Waterman, and the third piece to Matt. 

 Captain Roncone, Captain Waterman, & Lieutenant Durschlag

When that was over, we all stood for a round of about eight scripted toasts- to the Dental Corp, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force, the Army, deployed members of the military, fallen comrades, etc. It was all pretty cool. I have to say that it made me laugh when I imagined what this ceremony must have looked like last year when the Dental Birthday ball had a 70's theme and everyone was dressed up like hippies.

Another highlight of the evening was our friend Camron proposing to his darling girlfriend Natalie in front of everyone! I may have gotten emotional multiple time, which is silly because that's so unlike me (heavy, heavy sarcasm). 

 Me, Spencer, Camron, & Natalie

We rounded out the night with a cool, but loud performance by some Japanese drummers.

I was expecting some dancing afterward, but even with the DJ spinning tunes, people cleared out pretty quickly. It was a fun evening out!