Photos: Thousands of ball gowns offered to families for military and Mardi Gras balls
Operation Free Ball Gown returned to?the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, La., to help women service members and family members of the military prepare for upcoming?military and Mardi Gras balls. Over 3,000 dresses were donated by the?Krewe of Iris, the Krewe of Omega, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and members of the community. Women were able to pick out dresses, shoes and accessories.?
The dresses will be brought to other bases between New Orleans and Biloxi so other women in the military and spouses can have something new to wear for special occasions.?
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Women explore their ball gown options during Operation Free Ball Gown at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse Sept. 16.
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To complete the ensemble, shoes, purses and gloves were on offer at the event.
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Bella Swanson, 13, looks for a dress to wear to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball in November.
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Female service members and military spouses explore their ball gown options during Operation Free Ball Gown at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Krewes of Iris and Omega along with Daughters of the American Revolution, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and members of the community donated about 3,000 dresses. After the event in Belle Chasse, the dresses will be transported across the Gulf Coast to Biloxi to include more military families. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
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Shannon Burgoyne flips through dresses during Operation Free Ball Gown at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Female service members and military spouses were invited to look through over 3,000 donated dresses and take home 5 free of charge. The event also included shoes and jewelry. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
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Katalina Swanson tries on shoes during Operation Free Ball Gown at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Female service members and military spouses were invited to look through over 3,000 donated dresses and take home 5 free of charge. The event also included shoes and jewelry. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
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Katalina Swanson matches velvet shoes to a velvet dress during Operation Free Ball Gown at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Female service members and military spouses were invited to look through over 3,000 donated dresses and take home 5 free of charge. The event also included shoes and jewelry. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
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Erin Herlihy poses in a dress she was considering for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball in November.? ?
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A child tries out a pin in her hair during Operation Free Ball Gown at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Female service members and military spouses were invited to look through over 3,000 donated dresses and take home 5 free of charge. The event also included shoes and jewelry. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
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Dresses are offered during Operation Free Ball Gown at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Female service members and military spouses were invited to look through over 3,000 donated dresses and take home 5 free of charge. The event also included shoes and jewelry. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
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People look through accessories during Operation Free Ball Gown at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Female service members and military spouses were invited to look through over 3,000 donated dresses and take home 5 free of charge. The event also included shoes and jewelry. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
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Molly Spinney asks her mother for help with shoes at the ball gown giveway for military servicewomen and family members.?
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Women ÒcheckoutÓ with clothes, shoes and accessories during Operation Free Ball Gown at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Female service members and military spouses were invited to look through over 3,000 donated dresses and take home 5 free of charge. The event also included shoes and jewelry. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
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Mila Johnson poses in a gold dress during Operation Free Ball Gown at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Female service members and military spouses were invited to look through over 3,000 donated dresses and take home 5 free of charge. The event also included shoes and jewelry. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
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Accessories are offered during Operation Free Ball Gown at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Female service members and military spouses were invited to look through over 3,000 donated dresses and take home 5 free of charge. The event also included shoes and jewelry. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
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Virginia Golden talks to volunteers during Operation Free Ball Gown at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Female service members and military spouses were invited to look through over 3,000 donated dresses and take home 5 free of charge. The event also included shoes and jewelry. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
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Participants leave Operation Free Ball Gown with armloads of dresses and shoes.