October 31st

By MIDN 1/C Annie-Norah Beveridge

Halloween at the Naval Academy may very well be the most entertaining Halloween experience for the Brigade of Midshipmen.  

Halloween is a wonderful morale booster that fosters creativity and pride.  Of all the costumes that were judged by theCommandant and the Deputy Commandant, the outfits that received the loudest cheers were those that showcased the Naval Academy experience.  There were two gentlemen who dressed up as Midshipmen X and Midshipmen Y, the characters that appear along with Midshipmen Z, in the XYZ cases that are sent out to the brigade to tell stories of inappropriate behavior and consequences. 

A group of ladies from 7th company dressed up as the crabs that race on the big screens during home football games; and, a pair of plebes from 21st company dressed up as lost laundry.  

The costume contest provided a theatrical forum for brave souls who dared to showcase their talents on the televisions in King Hall throughout the night.  Two first class midshipmen dressed up as “Yik” and “Yak” (another inside joke amongst midshipmen) and were in charge of the costume runway for the night. 

There was dancing, and laughter and candy apples galore.  The Commandant wore the whaite works uniform and the Deputy Commandant dressed up as Dorothy, from the Wizard of Oz.

The menu during the night’s festivities was Halloween-themed, and cobwebs and a smoke machine were added to the enhance effect of the night.  

After dinner, midshipmen were allowed to go trick-or-treating around Bancroft Hall but when the clock struck 2000, study period began and life went back to normal; the masks and glitter came off and the next day we went to school.

Naval Academy Midshipmen Celebrate Halloween

By MIDN 1/C Gabby Dimaapi

Halloween is one of the more exciting times of year for midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.

With company and battalion parties, the haunted house on Hospital Point, unique costumes, and a special themed meal prepared by the dedicated workers in King Hall, midshipmen have many ways to participate in the festivities.

This year, the Brigade celebrated Halloween on Thursday with a dinner in King Hall and trick-or-treating in Bancroft Hall, the school’s dormitory. The “Spooktacular” menu included bat wings (King Hall wings), bloody bones (barbecue ribs), mummy toes (pigs in a blanket), and festive autumn and Halloween-themed desserts!

There was also a costume contest, where each of the 30 companies chose an individual or themed group to represent the company on a runway in King Hall. Six winners were chosen by Commandant of Midshipmen Capt. Bill Byrne, in the categories of scariest, funniest, most creative, and 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place overall.

Finally, the Brigade finished the evening with an hour of trick-or-treating for candy voluntarily provided by the Plebes and some upperclassmen. Some company officers and senior enlisted leaders brought their children into Bancroft to participate in trick-or-treating and other events hosted by individual companies.

The festivities around the yard served as a welcome respite for the midshipmen, who this week faced 12-week exams, generally considered to be one of the toughest times academically during the semester.

The Naval Academy will also performed the annual Halloween/All Saints Organ Concert featuring the chapel’s organist and many midshipmen acting as singers, instrumentalists, tech support, dancers, and more.