Since 1989, the Rams Head “offices” have been located in downtown Historic Annapolis.  For our lunch breaks, we can enjoy the cobblestone streets, the speciality shops & and even salute the meter maids.  Week-to-week that is a bonus to our jobs.  But, one of the most exciting weeks to work in Annapolis is the USNA Commissioning Week. 

Yes, you do have to deal with some extra traffic & have your yearly duty as a “official direction giver”, but it’s all in the name of our US Naval Academy grads, which we as a community beam as proud parents.  That graduation is called “Commissioning Week”, and one of the locals favorite traditions includes a visit from the Blue Angels, in the form of a flight demonstration.

Official word from the Blue Angels website says:

A Blue Angels flight demonstration exhibits choreographed refinements of skills possessed by all naval aviators. It includes the graceful aerobatic maneuvers of the four-plane Diamond Formation, in concert with the fast-paced, high-performance maneuvers of its two Solo Pilots. Finally, the team illustrates the pinnacle of precision flying, performing maneuvers locked as a unit in the renowned, six-jet Delta Formation.

 It is cool to watch from the ground, as demonstrated by the slew of boats that arrive in the harbor, the picnics that are set up and the people who watch from the rooftops.   But, by far the most ridiculously amazing account of this event is this raw footage from WITHIN THE COCKPIT:

We salute you Class of 2009!  We thank you and your families for being a part of our community and we look forward to your return visits as Alumni.  Congratulations…

Blue and Gold
Now colleges from sea to sea may sing of colors true,
But who has better right than we, to hoist a symbol hue?
For sailors brave in battle fair, since fighting days of old,
Have proved the sailor’s right to wear, the Navy Blue and Gold!
“Beat Army!”