Amanda was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy on 06 February 2009 at Naval Station Newport, RI. Commander Bob Allen administered the oath of office in a private commissioning ceremony prior to the graduation proceedings. Here are all my photos.
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| Amanda served with Commander Allen in Japan and he was kind enough to be present to administer the oath of office to Amanda. Cdr Allen also graduated from OCS here 20 years ago and he is a great Patriot. I can not thank him enough for teaching and encouraging Amanda and setting a wonderful example. |
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| Commander Allen administers the oath of office to Ensign Farnham. He did much better than the Chief Justice did two weeks ago, and without notes! |
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| Oath administered, and a new Naval Officer is made! |
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Mike Deno was my new son-in-law, and a fine young sailor himself (although today he was a civilian.)
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Amanda with her grandfather, Red Smith. Amanda received her Bachelor's Degree in International Relations from Syracuse University in 2002, and received her MBA while deployed aboard the USS Blue Ridge and homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.
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| Below are photos from the public ceremony. Before the ceremony began, my flash didn't go far enough to light up the color guard, or Gunnery Sergeant Salazar sitting in the reviewing stand. |
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| Then they let us go out on the floor and take photos before the dignitaries arrived. |
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| The band was really excellent! |
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After the ceremony we were allowed to photograph the class. Amanda was right in the front row, right next to her Chief and her Gunnery Sergeant.
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| A close-up of Mandy in the class photo pose. |
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Mandy is lined up for "first salutes." This is a ceremony where each new Ensign goes on stage, and receives her first salute from enlisted personnel, specifically, her Chief and her Gunnery Sergeant. The new Ensign then passes each of their former instructors a silver dollar. She then exchanges a salute with the class officer and the ceremony is complete.
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In the photo above, Mandy is at the top of the stairs, and she is next.
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| First Salutes. Thanking the Gunnery Sergeant above. Congratulations from the Lieutenant below. |
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Amanda and some shipmates signing the class guidon.
| Although it was only 14 degrees F, these brave officers posed for photos in front of the bridge. For the record, they were the ONLY officers out here. Thank you Commander Allen for suggesting this! That's snow on the ground, not sand. |
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Veterans of the Pacific Theatre. Thank you both for your service to our country!
At breakfast afterwards, two pairs of Mr. and Mrs. Deno.
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