The Hylton High School Air Force Junior ROTC was honored at their annual “Dining Out” event at VFW Post 1503 in Dale City.
Around 300 members of the community came out to recognize the cadets on their achievements over the past year.
More on the event, from a release:
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Award of Excellence presented to Cadet Andrea Lemus. Cadet Lemus was recognized for her outstanding leadership and Americanism as an AFROTC Cadet. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7916 Commander Chuck Wilson, Col USAF Ret, presented the award. Cadet Lemus also received a $200.00 scholarship award from VFW Post 7916.
The Order of Daedalians Achievement Award was presented to the JROTC Cadet Caroline Humphreys. Cadet Humphreys received this award for superior academic achievement, leadership, and intent to pursue a military career. The Order of Daedalians is the National Order of Military Pilots, of which Wilson is a USAF Command Pilot and 35 year Daedalian member, dates back to World War I.
Some background on Dining-Ins and Dining-Outs:
A dining-in is a formal event for military organizations believed to have begun in 16th-century England, in monasteries and universities. The British Army incorporated it during the 18th century, in the form of formal dining within the regimental mess. Rules of the mess were institutionalized as “the Queen’s Regulations.” The “mess night” or “dining in” became a tradition in all British regiments.
Our Army, Navy and Air Force refer to this event as a dining-in. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard call it mess night, while the Army sometimes calls it a regimental dinner. The Air Force dining-in probably began in the 1930s with General H. “Hap” Arnold’s “wing dings.” The close bonds enjoyed by Air Corps officers and their British colleagues of the Royal Air Force during World War II surely added to the American involvement in the dining-in custom.
A Dining-In involves only the members of the unit. Dining-Outs allow guests. The dining-out follows the same basic rules of the dining-in, but is sometimes tailored for the civilian guests to encourage their involvement.
