Need ideas for my hubby's Navy retirement party
TV ClubHouse: Archive: Need ideas for my hubby's Navy retirement party
Pamy | Friday, September 06, 2002 - 08:09 pm     My husband will retire from the Navy after serving 20 yrs(he went in at 18 so this is really the only job he has ever known). I am having a BBq/poker party for him. I would like to do something fun/funny/embarassing to him during the party. I can't think of anything!!! Can you????The usual retirement type things won't work since he is going to start another job in November(hopefully!!)Only a few of his Navy pals will be there, so the party will be mostly his 'civilian' friends. My husband is the best thing that ever happened to me so I want to make this special for him. So I thought I would see if any of you would help me out...again!!!!!! THANKS!
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Knightpatti | Friday, September 06, 2002 - 08:13 pm     Retiring at 38! I have no ideas, but a knife would make a nice gift! I hope that you have a great time! |
Gail | Friday, September 06, 2002 - 08:19 pm     Pamy, I work with the Air Force and in August, three really well liked guys retired from our office. At the request of their coworkers and families, I scanned in a lot of photos and setup slide shows with music for them to be shown at their retirement ceremonies. The retiree's didn't know it was going to happen and it really was a lot of fun seeing pictures of each of these guys as children and through their years in the Air Force. You could do this at his retirement part too. If you can't get the pictures scanned in and do a slide show, perhaps you could put together a photo album for all to see? |
Laluna | Friday, September 06, 2002 - 08:25 pm     Pamy..my husband retired from the Navy last year...20 years there plus 2 in the Marines when he was a "kid". The ceremony is something else...there wasn't a dry eye in the place. Congratulations to both of you, I am sure you are very proud of him! I read my husband a poem...I am sure you will come up with something fun and perfect for your husband at the party, after all, you know him best! Best of luck!  |
Halfunit | Friday, September 06, 2002 - 09:02 pm     Hubby suggested hiring the Village People to sing "In the Navy", lol... Actually, I bet they're doing private gigs CHEAP now.... |
Pamy | Friday, September 06, 2002 - 09:07 pm     Knight..a knife? I am curious, why? Gail...good idea, I can do a slideshow, and I can end it with pics we took at his official retirement ceremony, Laluna, you're right! not a dry eye in the place! They even read a poem for me the navy wife! and gave our son and I appreciation certificates, it was awesome. His ship is back at sea so they had his ceremony early. Now bring on the embarrasing stuff we can do to him!
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Pamy | Friday, September 06, 2002 - 09:24 pm     Half..LOL! Actually it gave me an idea! I could have some of our friends dress up and sing it to him!!! We are a wild bunch so I know they would do it! At our wedding reception we re-did the ceremony but in costume. The reception was vegas themed(we had gotten married there 4 mo earlier) I was a vegas showgirl,Elvis gave me away, Maid of honor was a cig girl(gum popping and obnoxious!), Best man was a boxer, Hubby was Don King, and Liberace married us. Everyone said it was the best wedding ever!
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Wargod | Friday, September 06, 2002 - 09:48 pm     Because a knife is a great gift at any occassion, lol. I'm a bit biased, as is Lance, since we collect swords, and Knightpatti sells them, LOL! That sounds like an awesome wedding! |
Pamy | Friday, September 06, 2002 - 09:57 pm     OOOOhhhh now I get it! LOL, thanks War! |
Goddessatlaw | Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 07:52 am     Actually, Pamy, my dad retired after 38 years (Gulf War extension) in the Army Reserves and was given, among other things, a mounted and inscribed bayonet from the units under his command. He loves that thing. Very nice gift. |
Pamy | Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 11:06 am     Goddess..the Navy gave my husband a huge shadow box filled with his medals, pins, little plaques of all the ships he was on, a navy seal, and a flag that was flown over the white house a week before the ceremony. It brought tears to his eyes when they presented it to him. |
Flyonthwall | Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 11:28 am     When my dad was in the Navy...many moons ago in the 40's... They had a ceremony when they crossed the equator. They all dressed up like pirates, some as hula girls! LOL Then they had a kind of hazing type thing. I looked at photo's millions of times from some my dad had. It was really funny! Anyway, it was a HUGE right of passage back in the day. Everyone was involved and it was expected to happen. So my thoughts maybe look in to that aspect. Have a Luau with hula skirts etc buy some eye patches for the guys and then make some table deco with palm leaves and serve shrimp coctails! LOL THe in the Navy song and dance would go great! If you have a pool you could make your hubby walk the "plank" at the end of the ceremony! Splash into the pool! Get ya a "huck" inflatable shark... Maybe some blow up "seals" and make them Navy seals! LOL Decorate things up like an old time cantana..watch Pearl harbor to see some of their set decorations when they are at the bars. we had a luau once. I used cardboard to make a cabana top, used trellis to work for holding it up and then draped misquito netting all over it, to protect the food. Tons of palm leaves for the roof and over the tables. Tiki torches all around. Had tons of food! Fish theme and Hawaii all around! Oh and don't forget the watermellon! Cut a deco top like a basket, cut a flat spot on the bottom,(so it won't topple over), then cut out most of the meat of the mellon. Then pour in some sangria and mix in some pinapple and cherries with burbon and wow zowie you have some hula dancin' punch! LOL We had a great time! Hope your party goes super!! Let us know and post some pics! FLY |
Pamy | Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 11:43 am     Thanks Fly!! Those are great ideas! Your luau sounds like fun. That hula dancing punch sounds wonderful! I wish we had a real pool(only have a kiddie pool), the walking the plank would be perfect! I could still get some seals and a Huck for the little pool though. Thanks for the great ideas!
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Flyonthwall | Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 12:10 pm     LOL you could still have him walk the plank... Use some cinder blocks..the gray kind you know? lay several close together and then lay a board across them. Let it extend over the kiddy pool. Put some palm plants by it so it disguises the blocks underneith. When he walks the plank he "steps" off the end into the kiddy pool..only mucking up his shoes! LOL Blind fold him before this ceremony so he won't know what's going on. Have a serious saying prepared. "Darling hubby, after all your 20 years in the Navy you have rightfully eared your right of passage into the civilian world. To help you, we will guide you across, lending you a helping hand of support. (someone take his hand and led him across the plank to the end. then stop. they say something like) You were a huge asset to your Navy comrades and now you will be going forward into the new world to see how big a splash you can make. (at this point give a little shove so he has to step off the end of the plank) when he steps into the pool and makes his "splash" then have everyone throw confettie or water on him and cheer him on! After this I'd be really serious and hold a toast up for him and say something mushy like. Dear we know it's a big old world out there and your splash may not be huge but it will send ripples of who you are near and wide. We love you and respect all you've done in your life and know there is so much more to come, because that's they kind of guy you are." Okay this is not really good but you get the idea. It's all in the words and play on words you need to use to get him! Some fun some serious, but in the end he'll know he's respected and loved and everyone wishes the best. I wish I was there! LOL Good luck sweetie! I know you'll make it grand!! FLY |
Vanillarose | Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 12:20 pm     Fly, you have a brilliant and devious mind!!! LOL!!! I can picture all of this with the Village People playing in the background! Hilarious!!! I can't believe I came by to offer my poor little suggestion of having a professional video done of pictures of your hubby all through his career. Make sure that there are plenty of silly, goofy pics as well, and make sure that it is set to The Village People's "In the Navy", of course! |
Egbok | Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 01:39 pm     What a timely thread!! My sister's husband will be retiring from the Navy after 26 years. She would like to throw him a retirement party and we were just talking about it over the phone last weekend. I'll have to follow this thread and give her some of your wonderful ideas. They have a pool with a diving board and I know she's going to like the "walking the plank" idea!! If she comes up with some fresh ideas, I'll be sure to post them here. |
Urgrace | Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 02:17 pm     As a keepsake my mother had some note pads made up, with a simple line drawing of dad's ship with the ship's #s and letters on it, for each of the guests and of course dad. They were also used as a place setting on the table with each pad having the person's name written on the top sheet. If your get together is not a sit down type of affair you could also use them for games and such. The unit my dad was in has a reunion every two years. Maybe you could organize the 'guys' to set up such a reunion for the future. |
Cjr | Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 03:43 pm     When my dad retired we had my Uncle make him a memory book (Uncle works with wood). We had everyone at the party write their favorite memory of my Dad and then put them in the book. Some had funny stories, some were emotional. Some drew pictures. It really is a beautiful scrapbook he takes out on occasion. |
Pamy | Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 03:56 pm     Fly..you're the best! I wish you were here too! I love the kiddie pool plank and the speach ideas, I will use them, now to find the village people cd! I love the scrapbook and memo pad ideas, I was thinking of combining them. Have the pads out at the party and have people write messages and then put them in a scrapbook. Vanilla..I am having someone video tape the party and later we will edit it with the official ceremony stuff. Egbok..Great! We can both get ideas. You HAVE to do the plank on the real pool, then we can post pics side by side of my hubby's kiddie plank and your bro-in-law's big plank!!! I am getting excited for the party! Thanks and keep the ideas comming cuz now we are planning for 2!
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Twiggyish | Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 05:17 pm     Also, video tape different people recalling memories of serving with your husband. It would be an additional walk down memory lane. |
Pamy | Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 03:12 pm     Good idea Twiggy, I will have the camera guy go around and get people to say things.
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Admin | Monday, October 07, 2002 - 02:37 pm     What every good party needs, strippers popping out of large cakes. Okay okay...I know this will be moderated, but someone had to say it!! |
Pamy | Monday, October 07, 2002 - 05:22 pm     Admin..I told my hubby what you said and he has one question for you "WHY DIDN'T YOU SUGGEST THIS TO MY WIFE WHEN SHE WAS PLANNING THE PARTY!!" He now is suggesting we have another retirement party, 'just for fun'! LOL! |
Secretsmile | Monday, October 07, 2002 - 05:25 pm     One of the best retirement parties I ever attended was for my brother in law. They had a karaoke machine and used it as a speaker, then one of his brothers dressed up like him, and did a whole day of 'being Gary' using all his mannerisms only exagerated and ended by singing a song, still pretending to be him! |
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