Commander-In-Chief Ball News and Information
Posted 3/26/2009
The Commander-in-Chief Ball is an official ball thrown in honor for all veterans of the war on terror, started in 2005 as one of President Bushs attempt to honor the veterans with his inauguration.
In 2005, the Commander-in-Chief Ball was free for all war veterans and their spouses and dates. The guests were greeted as heroes and ushered down a red carpet into a glamorous ballroom. The decor of the party expressed President Bushs southern roots, with a menu of Texas barbecue and Texas-style hor douvres served by waiters in cowboy hats.
The ball was put on by the Defense Department and was held at the National Building Museum, where more than 2,000 members of the armed forces attended.
While many of the attendees were not the same Washington Society that attended many of the other balls, the veterans certainly were dressed to the nines in their uniforms and ball gowns. The veterans were very humble at the event - most arrived by the metro, as opposed to the limousines that showed up to most other balls.
President Bush ended his evening at the Commander in Chiefs Ball, where he and his wife separated for the traditional dance to cut the rug with a member of the Armed Forces.