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    Dress to Impress this ball season: Operation Ball Gown displays ‘Jersey Shore’ do’s and don’ts

    Dress to impress this ball season: Operation Ball Gown displays ‘Jersey Shore’ do’s and don’ts

    Photo By Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom | ‘Snooki,’ left, played by Jesi Flora, shows off her new dress with the rest of her...... read more read more

    MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, UNITED STATES

    09.23.2011

    Story by Pfc. Cory D. Polom 

    II Marine Expeditionary Force   

    MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - On Nov. 10, 2011, Marines everywhere will celebrate the Marine Corps birthday, but the hunt for the perfect ball gown has already begun.

    Marine Corps Family Team Building made it a little easier here with Operation Ball Gown, which offered Cherry Point patrons a free ball gown for attending an etiquette skit at Miller’s Landing Sept. 23.

    “It was nice to get out with the girls,” said Katie E. Smiley. “It’s good to get out of the house and do something that doesn’t cost anything at all. It is great that the base puts on these events for the Marines’ spouses.”

    Smiley said the best part of the evening was seeing the dresses modeled off to the wives of Cherry Point.

    The evening started with a few door prizes given away from local sponsors of the event. This was followed by an invite from a local sergeant to “Jersey Shore” star “Snooki,” played by Jesi Flora, an employee at Cunningham’s.

    After showing the invite to Snooki, Alesha N. Burkeen, director of MCFTB, started off the festivities with a rundown of events for the evening, which involved modeling ball gowns and a skit showing what is inappropriate and what is acceptable.

    “The Marine Corps Ball is a way to show respect to our traditions in the Marine Corps,” said Burkeen. “As spouses we need to respect those traditions because we are a part of the Marine Corps family – so they are our traditions as well. This event helps show what is inappropriate for the ball.”

    The skit consisted of “Snooki” and her fellow “shore girls” showing up in extremely revealing dresses with excessive makeup, and the Marine wives in the skit took them away, redid their makeup and dressed them in appropriate dresses for the ball.

    Sgt. Maj. Thomas W. Foster, sergeant major for Marine Wing Communication Squadron 28, said it’s easier and more interesting to tell the Marines what not to do.

    “If we were to use a Powerpoint on what was allowed, the wives would fall asleep. These spouses don’t go to many formal events and this is a fun way to teach the ins and outs of the Marine Corps Ball,” Foster said.

    Smiley added that it was nice to be informed on the etiquette expectations.

    “Even for those who are experienced in going to Marine Corps Balls, it’s nice to have a refresher course on the way we are supposed to act, along with being offered a free ball gown. To not have the extra stress financially on a family is a blessing,” said Smiley.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.23.2011
    Date Posted: 09.30.2011 10:26
    Story ID: 77827
    Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US

    Web Views: 622
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN