Stories from an I- Day mom

Greetings from mom (Tanya),

Well I-Day was an amazing experience for both Zach and for us. The night before, Zach had a sore tooth so we made a late night run to Urgent Care, got an antibiotic for a suspected abscess and arrived back at the hotel at midnight--only to be up 5 hours later to head over to the Academy. Not a great start to what was going to be a long day! However, thanks to a Blessing of Healing/Fathers blessing, when he arrived at the Academy, they sent him straight to the dentist who told him he did not have an abscess and the problem was easily corrected by reinforcing a filling. Yay! All body parts in good working order and reporting for duty...SIR!

Plebes spent the day being processed, running from bus to residence carrying 'super heavy' bags with all of their belongings, being yelled at and sweating in this hot, humid 100 degree Maryland weather. We on the other hand enjoyed a nice parents picnic, tours and greetings from Admiral Miller who assured us that we had done our work in raising good and moral young men and women and now it was their turn to take over and turn them into leaders. The Academy has produced 68 astronauts, more than any other branch of the service. They also have an 86% graduation rate for 4 year degrees as compared to a 29% for public and private schools four year degrees. We know he is getting a top rate education!

At 6pm parents met back at Bancroft Hall for the Swearing in of new Plebes. We looked for Zach but as tall as he is, with all the newly shaved heads, it was tough to pick him out in a crowd of 1200. At 630 we got to have 45 mins with midshipman Zach who was surprisingly cheerful and upbeat considering his short sleep the night before. He has no hair!! I will post pictures shortly of our Plebe with his shaved head. The day was a blur of activity and some crying Plebes not used to being shouted at. They are allowed 4 answers to any question from an officer...."Sir, yes Sir", Sir no Sir", Sir I'll find out Sir", "Sir no excuse Sir"---I believe he used the last one when he forgot to recite a part of the Academy's mission---hard to remember when you are being shouted at! He has a lot of memorizing to do of Reef Points, the Mission of the Academy, Duties of a Sentry and so on. Days will consist of being up at 0530, running, breakfast, more running, lunch, more exercise, dinner and lights out at an exhausted 10pm. Over summer, there will be firearms classes, lectures from a Holocaust survivor and Vietnam POW, sailing, validation exams and football games.
We get a phone call home every 2 weeks and a visit on Parents weekend over Aug 8-11 where we will get to take him off campus for the first time in 7 weeks in his new white uniform. Can't wait!

Well, that's all for now folks---letters are appreciated as he loves to hear how life is on the outside with those he loves and cares for. If you send care packages, please no junk food. I sent protein bars and fruit roll ups. He will get his phone and email on Aug 17th and then communication will be back to normal.
Keep midshipman Zach Lonsdale in your prayers, he will need to dig deep this summer to get through the grueling Plebe summer but it anyone can do it, we know that Zach can  :)