The Rock Ball

Last weekend I was invited To the ball of the AIRBORNE 2nd Battilion, who returned from Afganistan in November. It was easily one of the best nights of my life. (The reason for that might have been the perfect chemistry between my date and me..)

It was very intense to get a peek inside the US Army. We got to see the best of it, but at the same time we got to understand what hell is waiting beneath the celebration and the beautiful uniforms. Later in the evening, when people were tipsy, some soldiers started crying for the awful things they had seen, some got very aggressive. It was so sad to realise what they go through, how violence is their job. One said to me: "Those people, who want war, have never seen it."

The ceremony was very beautiful. There were about 300 people, or maybe 500 or even more. Hard to say. Someone said 1000, but that seems a bit much to me. First we had cocktails, our dates introduced us to everyone, and the etiquette requested them to salute all the higher ranking officers. Before we sat down around the tables, we heard a speech, the flags were presented, two prayers, remembrance of the fallen, another speech, followed by a lot of toasts, including a toast on Obama and one on the ladies.

When the formal part was over we went dancing. I couldn't have enjoyed this night more. We had so many interesting conversations, took hundreds of pictures. The mood was overly friendly and everyone was congratulating each other. Enough said, check out he pictures!

I got to try on his uniform!!!