My husband is retiring from the Air Force. His coworkers pulled together funds and have him a shadow box for my husband to decorate so that it can be presented at his ceremony. Well, we are having a difficult time finding stuff to put in it as we have started packing for the trip home, so in order to fill it, we are going to have to buy medals, pins, ribbons, ect..Today my husband text me to say he is also responsible for providing food for after the ceremony. We are trying to be frugile because funds are tight. I do not want to stress about all these expenses, but I'm a little aggrivated that he has to provide everything for his own retirement. He actually told his boss months ago that he would prefer to have nothing at all, but his boss was very insistent and dismissed my husbands wishes telling him he would regret it. What do you recommend for an appropriate "meal" for after the ceremony? Do I also need to buy a sheet cake? I was told to make arrangements for about 50 people. Help!
Thank you all for the input. My husband was approved for the early retirement just last month, so we have literally had zero time to prepare for this. TERA is part of force shaping that the Air Force is doing to cut costs-we weren't even sure if he would get approved because it was so competitive. I have been married to my husband his entire career, but I do not participate in anything with the military and seldom even went near the base. This is a new base as we have only been here for about a year. I think I will just do a couple of food trays and serve a cake and punch. Since it will be in the afternoon, it will be in between meals, so I'm just not going to sweat it. Thank you for offering to help me Momma! It was so kind and thoughtful of you to help me-a stranger! Blessings!
Can you ask if the boss could organize a pot luck? This sounds really inappropriate to have the guest of honor provide the food...never heard of that before.
Thank your husband for his service and sacrifices to our country.
If you've been married to him all 20 years, then you would know by attending other retirement ceremonies that the retiree is the one who provides the food and drink.
It's been that way for as long as I can remember. When my dad retired from the USN - we had a HUGE retirement party. HUGE - like 200 people - and we provided the food for it. My dad retired from Balboa Naval/42nd Street - there's a HUGE facility there.
I would buy a sheet cake.
I would keep the food simple. People aren't expecting lobster and caviar - unless of course he's got a couple of stars on his shoulders...then people will be expecting a tad more...
What installation is your husband on? Is he at the Pentagon or Andrews AFB??? Or Columbia? Wait - Hollywood, MD is SOUTH...is he at Dahlgren???
Any way - when is the ceremony? I'd be happy to come help make food and serve!
Jimmy Johns can do mini sandwiches...Subway can too...finger foods - something that is easy to eat while standing up. Meatballs...fruit platters..veggie platters..
Send me a message and let me know how I can help!
I would do chicken salad sandwiches, chips, veggies with dip and a big sheet cake,
Serve country time lemonade squeeze some real lemons in there and be done.
Congratulations to you and your husband.
As a wife of a retired USAF serviceman, I understand your frustration. You are moving, the life of a stable job and income is going away, you'll have his retirement pension, it's not the same. It's nerve-racking! We moved across the country when Tyler retired.
He should NOT skip out on the ceremony, he WILL regret it. He didn't spend 20 plus years of his life for nothing.
It appears that some do not understand this. You are having a party. It may not be at your house, but you are having a party. Do you invite people to a party you are having and expect them to cater it? No. YOU do.
When Tyler retired 2 years ago, we had a party. It started at 2PM. It was over by 3PM. We hosted a happy hour party at the Officers Club on base. We had finger foods and drinks from 3 to 5.
As for those who think large chains are tacky? Apparently, they don't know much. It's not. They do NOT wrap their sandwiches in their wrap, they put them on platters. There is no advertising. And guess what?! If you tell these "large chains" it's for a military retirement ceremony? They will give you a discount. If you are concerned about funds? Tell them what it's for and ask for a discount.
We ordered a sheet cake from Costco.
If you can't afford to do that? Ask friends to come over and put together a light fare, vegetable platters, fruit platters, bowls of nuts, drinks. You are not expected to serve alcohol.
You have someone here who has offered to help you. Take her up on it.
What time of day? Maybe just cake and fruit.
I'd tell them no thanks and be done. How RUDE! No one pays for their own retirement party.
I am an Army Wife of 16 years and this is very typical. Yes, you need to have a retirement party! I assume the retirement ceremony is during the day. Try to have it at 2pm-ish, so you can just serve a sheet cake and some finger foods. People won't look for a meal at 3pm. You can order a couple trays from the grocery store (not sure if your commissary does any). It will be more expensive, but less stressful than doing it yourself! Congratulations!!!
Find a good local deli/Italian store. Not a large chain--that might seem, well, tacky...
If you cannot afford a complete dinner spread, consider providing a cheese station, with crackers & bread, a fruit station, maybe a soup station (wedding soup maybe?) and/or a few hot finger foods.
Yes, I'd do a sheet cake!
