Our Events

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 The Firstie Graduation Luncheon is a  special and exclusive event hosted by our club on the West Point post.  It is a lunch hosted for graduating cadets, Firsties, their families and friends before graduation day.  Besides graduation itself, it is the last event to share with your cadet on post. 

The luncheon will  be held in late May at West Point.  To reserve your and your  guests' place please complete the Luncheon link below.  

The WPPCGH will pay for your cadet and 4 guests.  Tickets in addition to the five paid by the club are $25 per adult and $20 for children between 3 and 10 years old.  Children under 3 are free.  

A PayPal button will be added prior to the event for payment.  After completing the form, you can pay for added guests using the link to the PayPal button below.  To pay for both Adults and Children select the PayPal Adults first, pay, and then return to select pay for the Children option in the PayPal button.  Please Note:  You can pay with credit card rather than PayPal by choosing the credit card option.

 An informal gathering is held two weeks before New Cadet Candidates (NCC) report to USMA for R-Day.  This is the time where NCCs can mingle and visit with Cadets who have returned to the area for summer vacation.

This year's Annual New Cadet Picnic will be in June 2025 in Houston.  After a brief presentation by the West Point Field Force , the 50-year USMA affiliate, club members, the NCCs and cadets break into small groups to discuss life at USMA.  Meanwhile, club parents answer last-minute questions that NCC parents have.

The 28th Annual Texas Tamale Tailgate will take place in September or October 2025 on the USMA campus.  It follows the Army vs Air Force football game. 

Started in 1995 in response to a Texas cadet’s plea, “Dad, we’re starving for tamales up here,” T3 has grown into a major event that gives us the privilege of recognizing our young men and women for their service and dedication to our country.  

Every year we provide about 600 Texas cadets, their fellow cadets, and friends some down-home hospitality, good country music, and familiar tastes of Texas BBQ and tamales with all the fixin’s.

 The Joint Service Academy Military Ball (JSAMB) will be celebrating its 39th anniversary on December 26, 2025.  Each year, the Military Ball is hosted by one of Service's Parents Club and will be held at  Moody Gardens in Galveston. The theme of this year’s celebration is to be determined Dinner will be followed by music and dancing. Tickets will be sold on a per person basis. Formal invitations will be sent out months prior to the event.

The Ball is a celebration to honor the commitment of the Cadets and Midshipmen of the five military academies from the Houston and surrounding areas. These dedicated men and women will soon be serving as military leaders and proudly representing the United States throughout the world.  We honor and celebrate these Texas men and women with a formal event which they can enjoy alongside their families and friends.

If you have questions regarding the JSAMB, please contact Mike and Margie Painter at tx334legal@gmail.com 

 Our club is proud to support the West Point Admissions Field Force by serving as host and setting up refreshments for the AIM meeting. Current cadets returning home for winter break are encouraged to attend and offer insight for those interested in the academy. It is impressive to see the quality of our cadets as they present themselves from the many classes of West Point.

 West Point is renowned as a historic and distinguished military academy, and leading progressive institution of higher education. Each year the West Point Admissions team and local Field Force host an information meeting in December. The presentation is designed to help prospective candidates learn more about the institution recently named “America’s Best College” including the admissions procedures, academic and athletic programs, student life, and career opportunities after graduation. 

 Come see why a popular West Point expression is “Much of the history we teach was made by the people we taught.” 

 Once a year, WPPCGH will ask members to donate items that can be sent as gifts to the Troops overseas. Assembling these gifts is generally part of the program at the January meeting.  The items listed in purple are the most frequently requested.

·        Kcups: cappuccino flavor is the most requested

·        Pistachios

·        Sun flower seeds (roasted salt, black pepper and salt, hot and spicy)

·         Tide pods for our laundry

·        Body lotion

·        Mints for bad breath

·        Air freshness

·        Spray febreeze

·         5 hour energy shots!!

Food, Snack and Drinks: Please no canned foods and please check expiration dates

·        POWDERED DRINK MIX (Gatorade, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light)

·        TUNA & CHICKEN SALAD (in foil pouches, or ready-to-eat kits-no cans)

·        BEEF JERKY / SLIM JIMS

·        SUNFLOWER SEEDS & PUMPKIN SEEDS

·        CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS  - Accepted only OCT. through FEB (it will melt in high temperatures!)

·        Hard Pretzels / Cheetos / Fritos / Chex Mix / Wheat Thins / Ritz Crackers

·        Granola Bars / Power Bars / Cereal Bars / Cliff Bars

·        Fig Newton’s/ Oreos / Cheese & Crackers - Small Packs/ Trail Mix /Dried Fruit / Granola /Fruit Roll-Ups / Fruit By  

         The Foot / Fruit Gummies

·        NUTS: Peanuts, Mixed Nuts (salted preferred)

·        MICROWAVE FOOD (Chef-Boy-R-Dee, stews, etc.)

·        COOKIES / Girl Scout Cookies (with chocolate: Oct. - February only!)

·        Rice Krispy Treats (Store-bought only) / Little Debbie’s & Hostess cake products

·        Cereal (Small, individual boxes)

·        Condiments, Spices; Sugar; Salad Dressing (no glass jars)

·        Caffeinated energy gum or candy

Toiletries: Please no hotel samples

·          Lip Balm / Chap Stick / Carmex / Blistex

·        Hair Gel (for female troops to pull hair back)

·        Combs / Brushes / Bobby Pins (in original packaging, please)

·        Deodorant (travel size)

·        Shaving Cream in Tubes / Shaving Soap (No CANS of Shaving Cream!)

·        Hand & Body Lotion / Moisturizer (travel size)

·        Sunblock SPF 45, Zinc/ Aloe Vera Gel

·        Bug Spray / DEET / Skin-So-Soft

·        Mouthwash (travel size) / Breath Mints / Breath Strips Lozenges / Cough Drops

·        Loofah Sponges / Buff Puffs/ Nail files / Emery Boards / Nail Clippers

·        Feminine Hygiene Products

·        Moleskin & Shoe Insole Cushions (gel kind is best)

·        Tylenol/ Motrin/ Advil or Aspirin Packets (Please check expiration dates)

·        Eye Drops (i.e. Visine)

·        Nasal Spray

·        Vitamins (Please check expiration dates)

Entertainment and Sports:

·        iTunes Gift Cards

·        DVD Movies (new or used, recent releases please)

·        Xbox Games/ PSP/ PS2 and PS3) Games (new or used)

·        Board Games (Top request!)

·        Computer Flash Drives & Thumb Drives

·        Portable CD players / head phones

·        Electronic handheld games

·        Small homemade gifts - reminders & comforts of "home"

·        Yo-Yo's/ Dominoes/ Poker Chips, Mats, Dice/ boxed playing cards

·        Board games (UNO, Othello, Checkers - travel size is great, too!)

·        Dart Boards (regular or magnetic - any size)

·        Nerf Footballs / Whiffle bats, balls & Mitts / Sports equipment / Frisbees / Hacky sacks

Other Gift Ideas:

·        Gift Cards to send home to loved ones (for Restaurants, Supermarkets)

·        Keurig Coffee Makers & "K-Cups" (to be shared)

·        LINENS: Pillow cases/ twin sheets/ towels & washcloths (green & tan}

·        LAUNDRY DETERGENT/ FABRIC SOFTENER SHEETS:

·        FLASHLIGHTS - SMALL (battery operated. Surefire Brand preferred)

·        AIR FRESHENERS (stand alone-not plug-in. Car types are also good)

·        Holiday and Seasonal Decorations

·        Fleece Blankets (Yes, it gets very cold in the winter over there!!)

·        Disposable Hand warmers and Foot warmers (in the wintertime)

·        Winter Hats (Yes, it snows in the winter over there! Hand knitted hats in black, tan or green  are always welcome!)

·         PHONE CARDS - Pre-Paid

·        Small toys (Beanie babies) & school supplies for foreign children

·         Patriotic knick-knacks/ USA flags/ flags from your state/ bandanas/ baseball hats/ football jerseys/ banners to tack  

         on their walls or tents.

Tools:

·        Staple guns, paintbrushes, adhesive wall hooks, wall screws, small tool kits, rubber gloves, sponges, unused 

          rags, etc. Dust masks, carpentry tools, Fly swatters, fly paper, mosquito netting, bug repellent in plastic pump 

          bottles only - NO AEROSOL or PRESSURIZED CANS.

·        Gun cleaning supplies (lube) such as Militec-1 & CLP

·        Alarm Clocks (Small in size; wind-up or battery-operated)

·        Small, portable heaters & fans (110 voltage okay)

·        Water Bottles, Travel Mugs & Thermoses with Lids (for Coffee, Soup, etc)

·        Coffee Makers & Filters (110 voltage okay)

·        Coffee Bean Grinders - small (electric or battery-operated)

·        Microwave Ovens (55 pounds max; 110 voltage okay)

·        Hot Pots – Small

·        Elixir & Water Purification Tablets for Camelbacks

·        Combat Application Tourniquets (black only)

·        Religious booklets, small bibles, inspirational readings (recent, please)

·        Musical Instruments requested (please contact us before sending)

·        T-SHIRTS: Cotton green & tan under shirts - new (Sizes: M, L & XL)

·        [Note: The DOD banned "Under-Armor" shirts due to its material being potentially flammable & bad reactions to 

          open wounds.]

·        SOCKS: Black, Olive Green or White (cotton or wool)

K-9 Items:

Dog chew sticks / toys / shampoo /flea collars /harnesses and leashes

CARDS & LETTERS:

The troops love to hear from all of us and Mail brightens their days!  These are the MOST IMPORTANT items we can send the troops & we can never have too many, so please keep writing! Consider making a patriotic banner or poster to send inside one of our care packages.