THURSDAY

TACOS + HANGS @ 5:30

We would love to meet any friends and family who are already in town at our favorite neighborhood spot to kick off the festivities!

SHAKA TACO
2368 COUNTRY CLUB DR
HAMPSTEAD, NC 28443

PASS PICKUP 5:30-7:30

If you are a civilian and have gone through the base pass application process, please stop by Shaka Taco to sign and pick up your pass!

SHAKA TACO
2368 COUNTRY CLUB DR
HAMPSTEAD, NC 28443

FRIDAY

CEREMONY @ 10:00

Join us for the formal retirement ceremony of MSgt Andrew Perryman. Please note everyone needs Real ID and civilians need passes.

2D RECONNAISSANCE BN
2D RECON BLDG A-71
CAMP LEJEUNE, NC 28539

RECEPTION @ 12:00

Following the ceremony, please join us for a reception and celebration! BBQ, libations, live music and friends!

BACKYARD TAVERN
1940 NC-172
SNEADS FERRY, NC 28460

MORE INFO

You are invited to a retirement ceremony and celebration honoring, MSgt. Andrew Perryman
October 10, 2025
2nd Recon Bn
Backyard Tavern
September 20th
Important Information:

*BASE ACCESS

PASSES: If you are NOT active duty/reserve/military retired/CAC holder (or if for any reason you are unsure of your status): you need to complete a base access request form to register for the event and be issued a pass. 

DEADLINE FOR PASS REGISTRATION: Friday, September 19.

  1. Visit the following link to start the registration process: https://www1.mcieast.usmc.mil/IARA/
  2. After you accept the privacy terms on the first page, scroll to our event "10/10/2025 - MSgt Perryman, Andrew Retirement", click "Request Sposor", then click "I Agree" on the Privacy Statement pop-up (you may need to scroll up to the top of the page to see this).
  3. Fill out the form with your personal information as either a "Driver" (you will be the one driving a vehicle onto base), or a "Passenger" (you will be in a car with a registered driver). NOTE: All civilian guests will need a pass, not just the vehicle operators. Please fill out ONE FORM PER INDIVIDUAL over 18yrs of age.
  4. Pass Pickup: Once your passes are reviewed and approved, Andrew will be able to pick up the physical copies. We are planning a "Tacos + Hangs" night for any guests who are in town and want to meet-up on Thursday, 10/9/25. This will also be the "Pass Pickup" location! We will be at the Hampstead Shaka Taco from 5:30 - 7:30pm (2368 Country Club Dr, Hampstead NC 28443). If you are not in town and able to make this window, please let us know, and we will discuss alternate pickup.

REAL ID REQUIREMENT: As of Labor Day weekend, the base now requires Real ID for access. A complete list of acceptable IDs can be found here.

ceremony attire

The ceremony and reception are both outdoors, so come prepared and check the forecast for the day of. For your convenience, our average weather is detailed in a section at the bottom of this page. As far as the level of dress, you are welcome to wear whatever you're comfortable in! Our family will be "business casual" (sun dresses, jean jackets, collard shirts - Drew will be in Charlies).

Flights + Lodging

We have two airports within a 30 minute drive: ILM (Wilmington, NC) and OAJ (Jacksonville, NC). However, a more budget friendly option with more direct flights would be RDU (Raleigh, NC - 2 hour drive).

There are many lodging options in our area including hotels and vacation rentals. A list of convenient locations is provided below.

Updates

Some of the event details are fluid, and we will have additional activities and gatherings on the days surrounding the ceremony for out of town guests. In order to stay up to date, you can check back to this site. Additionally, guests who are RSVP’d will be added to a messaging update service where we will keep you posted on any critical information.

Locations + Sights:

Click the icon below to expand map key with location titles.

Lodging:

There are many lodging options in our area including hotels and vacation rentals. The day of the retirement ceremony, most activities will be taking place on/near the base. However, we live near Surf City, halfway between base and downtown Wilmington. Surf City is very much a slow-pace, beach vacation destination in October, while Wilmington is a historic area with a lot of dining and sight seeing options. There are also hotels in between! A map of the area is embedded in the above section to give you an idea of where we are and what's around.

HOTELS

NEAR BASE

Hampton Inn Sneads Ferry North Topsail Beach

1248 NC-210
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
(910) 327-5555
View on map

Topsail Shores Inn

1325 NC-210
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
(910) 685-0969
View on map

Blue Water Inn & Suites

1565 NC-210
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
(910) 327-8282
View on map

NEAR WILMINGTON

NOTE: These are our favorite for "staycation", but there are TONS of options in Wilmington.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront

9 Estell Lee Pl
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 765-1131
View on map

Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

301 N Water St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 763-5900
View on map

RENTALS

GENERAL VACATION RENTALS

VRBO + Airbnb

In the fall vacation rental prices dip and availibility becomes more open. Rentals can be a great option.

VRBO.com
Airbnb.com

SURF CITY
(mid-island, near us)

Saltwater Resort & Suites

412 N New River Dr - Resort Property 605 N Topsail Dr - Suites Property
Surf City, NC 28445
(910) 886-4818
View on map

Loggerhead Inn & Suites - Topsail Island

622 N New River Dr
Surf City, NC 28445
(910) 541-4020
View on map

NORTH TOPSAIL
(north island, nearer to base)

Villa Capriani*

790 New River Inlet Rd
North Topsail Beach, NC 28460

*this is a resort with privately owned condos, you will need to use VRBO, Airbnb, Booking.com etc to find units

CAMPING + COTTAGES

Ocean's RV Resort

730 E Ocean Rd
Holly Ridge, NC 28445
(910) 778-2839
View on map

KOA Wilmington

7415 Market St
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 686-7705
View on map

Onslow Beach Camping + Cottages*

Bldg. BA-276 West Rd.
MCB Camp Lejeune, NC
(910) 440-6216
View on map

*This is an on base option for military/DoD or sponsored civilians

Weather:

Weather during October in our area has an average high temperature of 76°F and a low of 56°F.
The average temperature is around 66°F. 

Weather graph