This year we attended, for the third time, the annual US Marine Ball, celebrating the 263rd birthday of the United States Marine Corp. It is always a big event, a formal dinner with about 200 guests, including civilians, military personnel (from all branches) and their spouses, employees from the embassy and consulate and other distinguished guests. There is a cocktail hour before guests are seated for dinner, which is followed by a formal military service, led by the most senior embassy official (last year the US Ambassador, this year the US Deputy Chief of Mission) and a somber reminder of marines lost and stories of marines. Both the oldest and youngest marine in the room are acknowledged. After the ceremony there is music and dancing and lots of merriment. It is particularly rewarding to see the young marines enjoying themselves - and always a delight for me to be photographed with them in uniform :)
Many of my AWC friends regularly attend, and it is always a fun evening.
This year we met some new friends and did lots of dancing. At about quarter after midnight our cab arrived to take us home to get to bed in order to be ready for a wine tasting on Sunday afternoon!
What a weekend.
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