Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

thanks

Hi Navy Moms! Hope you're all able to atleast talk to your sailors and enjoy the holidays.

I just had to share this video. Warning!! You will want to be this mom and you will cry. :)

http://www.godvine.com/Mom-Gets-a-Huge-Surprise-When-Santa-Turns-Ou...

thanks debbie im still cryin

Thats just awesome!!  Wow what a Christmas Gift, couldn't get any better!

That was a great video. What a wonderful way to surprise her. Yes, the tears are still flowing !!

My son came home late last night!  Its a nine hr drive from Norfolk to Syracuse-Fulton NY!  He is here til the 27th!  Merry Christmas everyone! 

Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year and Thanking all Our Sailors/Troops for their Service and Sacrifice especially to those who are far from Home Protecting Our Freedom and To Our Navy Families that We Miss them All so very Much.Sending Love and Lots of Hugs to My Son who will not be with Us this Christmas Missing you soooo very much,Love Mom

Merry Christmas to all!

Amen Navy25!   Navy {{Hugs}} going to all families who Sailors can't be with them this Christmas. Thank you Sailors and Soldiers for all the sacrifices you make for us.

kk,

norfolk area is not only a military area but it is also a tourist area (the beach).  if you come down in june do it before school lets out.

Thank you, Norfolk family, for taking care of my sailor thru the holiday season. We miss her . . . our very first Christmas and New Years without her home. Trying to hold up here -- as she is there. 

another year over and what have we done.....

Loved the Poem.

I am fairly new to the group. My son arrived in Norfolk on 12-27-11.  Barbara thanks for sharing even though I cried.  Our God is Always Good.  May America alsoways be good to our men and weman serving their country proudly.

Welcome Christy!!   

HAPPY  NEW  YEAR!!!!!!!!

Hi - I just found this site. We drove 9 hours Christmas day to bring my son to Norfolk.  He checked in 12/26 to the USS New York LPD21.  We received an awesome welcome from his commanding officer and a tour of the ship.  I feel relieved knowing where he is staying and met a few of the crew.  As a mom I feel very blessed with his new journey and comfortable.  They will be deployed in March 2012 for several months :( 

He is getting hammered in taxi/cab fees to get around with liberty and I would appreciate any suggestions for him to buy a car just to get around in for several months - he won't be 21 until August and it is hard to get a weekend car rental if you are under 21 - is there anything available specially for the Navy in Norfolk or any site where he can look into?  suggestions appreciated.  I am also on N4M facebook page and continue to met awesome women - expanding my Navy family of love, concern and support.  Happy New Year to all!

My son is moving from Great Lakes to Norfolk in two weeks.  He has not yet heard from his sponsor.  What should he do?

his sponsor could also be on leave.  this time of year they do a 2 week leave, first half of the holidays or the last half.  my daughter's on leave now, 12/29 - 1/11.  what ship is your son going to?

Proud Navy Mom. I agree with duhhuh and Rhonda. I am sure his sponsor is on Christmas leave and will contact him shortly. That is kind of how Navy guys are. They don't want to deal with work until after the holidays.

Need ideas on where we should stay for homecoming.  Is best that we stay close to the base or is it ok stay where ever.  Meaning hows the traffic and is it hard to find the base.  I know the base is huge from what people have been saying.  I notice on the map it showed a amphbious ship location.  My son is on an amphibious ship is that where he will be going?  Sorry so many questions I just don't want to be lost, I want to know where I should be.

That's a wonderful poem Barbara. Thank you for posting it.

I'm catching up because I spent a week in Florida with my sweetheart's family. They're wonderful and the two little toddler boys were a lot of fun. It was a nice distraction from the fact that I couldn't see my sailor but couldn't remove that empty ache for my boy. I did get to talk to him on the phone on Christmas day. That was nice. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's Eve!!

Wishing you all a new year filled with good times with the people you love.

ckmom,

the navy lodge is good.  little efficiencies (micro, fridge, sink) about $75 a night.  right down the road from the base (maybe 3 miles).  you sailor will have to sign you in that day or the next. the base is easy and you'll probably be going in gate 1, there are 2 gates on the main road, and you'll see signs directing you where to go, the guards can tell you too.  make sure everyone has their id. 

are you a member of the ships FRG?  you should if not.  you will gets LOTS of information from them, even when in base. 

Question what is the ship's FRG?  I am new to this, so how would I go about doing this.  Also KK Navy Federal offered my son 15% and we thought that was too high - OMG, he thought he'd come home and buy a car in one week since that didn't work out - I told him to get a clunker just for around town and use his savings. Checking on Craigslist for about $5k OR Less.

Also, how can I get his new address?  I've been asking him for a week now to no avail.  thanks :)

Robsmom - I was just down there Christmas and we stayed at the Navy Lodge on the same road a mile or two down from Hampton Inn on Hampton Blvd.  They are pet friendly and the cost was only $75/night with kitchen and buffet breakfast. No pool. There is a NEX inside the Inn to buy food, snacks, micro.  It was definetly a great place for pets and family.  Highly recommended. You do need your sailor to check in.  also you don't pay tax :)

We stayed at the Navy Lodge in Great Lakes.  Very nice, very family friendly, very inexpensive and no tax.  We even had a full kitchen with pots and pans-for $75!  Great to hear about the Hampton being w/in walking distance, though.  I would also like to know what is the FRG please.  Also, Rhonda said he can call or email them.  How can we get the phone # and/or email address?  I am getting nervous about finding his sponsor-especially if they are on leave for 2 more weeks.  That would only give him a few days before he leaves for Norfolk.  He wants to mail the stuff home that he can't take and doesn't know what he can take.  Thanks.

The base is not in a bad area of Norfolk where the base is located is very safe. Jane(Steph's mom) was referring to the DMV.

We also learned that VA sends out a property tax bill on the car! It arrived in November and was due in December. We don't have property tax on automobiles in Montana so was unaware of this. When they get it, the sailor just has to print out a current LES statement and mail it in with the bill and they don't have to pay it. The LES proves that they are active military. Of course, it doesn't state that anywhere on the bill. I learned it from another mom on N4M's!

Sandra- I just messaged you on the Pcola site  :)

Does anyone have any more detailed info regarding the Lincoln Military Housing in VA - specifically Norwich Manor. We're having a hell of time getting answers from people who are supposed to be helping us.

How do you get mail to a sailor stationed at Naval Air Station in Norfolk?  My son told me to use his "work" mail address, but stuff is coming back undeliverable.  Do they not have mail boxes in their barracks?

Ok new at this on the taxes with a car what is LES that is being referred to?  Son got to Norfolk on 12-27-11.  This is such a long process or just slow it seems.

Justinmom...my son told me that he is going to have to get a PO Box and pay for it.  He also said that they are told to share a PO Box with a couple of navy mates.  They have to pay for the box. Son is in the process of trying to get a PO Box.

I sent out a box for my son who is on a ship in Norfolk with his address being an "FPO" Fleet Post Office I needed to fill out a customs slip (which is a pain in the A**) he is stationed in Norfolk but they said because it is Fleet the slip always need to be filled out.  I like the idea of having him get a PO Box.  My question is.... Is the Post Office on Base?  he does not have a car - how easy would it be for him to check his mailbox?  any ideas?  When the go to sea I know I'll have no choice - how long does it take normally for them to get mail?

thanks Address for "shop"  not sure what that is.  Son is IT.

Thanks guess will wait and see...AI do a lot of that lately.

Hi Sandra I guess Im not the only one thats up in the wee hours of the night when most people are sleeping. I was just catching up on some of the reading on here been kind of busy and not on that often. I hope all works out for you and your Sailor with the car situation it sounds a bit complicated it. I'll have to keep this on mind if my son decides ever to have his car at VA.Good Luck to you and Happy New Year

Nancy/Sandra, I have Power of Attorney for my son which enables me to do banking and even sign the title of his car when he sold it.  It is a real Must for anyone with a military person in the family. All the things you take for granted we saved alot of time with the power no more sending paperwork back and forth.  good luck.

nancy,

as long as the notary's commission is valid at the time of the notarization then the document is valid, i don't care if it's 10 years later (unless of course the POA has an expiration date on it)

Any lawyer can do a Power of Attorney - I did it before my son left, I believe there is a small fee charged but I was lucky that a close family friend is an attorney and did not charge us.  My son came with me to her office and the forms were all filled out and we just signed away - made extra copies and she has an original in her office - I did for both including - God forbid any medical decisions if need be.  I'm surprised your sons recruiter did not recommend prior to his leaving for boot camp.  Make a few calls this is something you want to do when he is home with you for signature.  This was for the state of MA and your state may be a little different - but I would think the laws are similar.  Good Luck.

sandra,

he can go to legal on the base and have them do one

shouldn't cost anything thru legal

Hello navy mom how are you all doing fine I hope well my son is about to go back out again on the  water so I will have to take care of penny my son dog I hope you all had a happy NEW YEAR

Hello my sailor just moved to Norlfolk in Sept 2011, he graduated from Boot camp  in 08/2011. Is a YN . Loved the boot camp for Moms group. I don't know how I would have made it without this website. I didn't see this group before It will be nice to see other news of where he lives. He is 19 and finding out things can be hard. He is not assigned to a ship but to a Admiral. He was told last week that he will be going on deployment on a ship next week. for about a month. That is the only information he has given me. I m not sure if it is him not giving me more info or he is not able to do. Any thoughts???

theraysmom - my son is also in Norfolk and told me to day that they are going underway in two weeks for a month.  My son is a Fireman/DC - preparing for a longer deployment in Spring ;(  pvt msg me when you find out what ship he is assigned to - also be sure to sign up for Navy Mom on Facebook.  I will friend you with more info. on regular email.

Sandra, I agree that driving's best to DC - though it takes me to 3+ hrs  from Portsmouth, and don't forget that commuter traffic in and out of DC is to be reckoned with at peak times.  The Amtrak station is in Newport News, not Norfolk, so not all that convenient, and the trip is long.  Be prepared for parking surcharges at many DC hotels, can add $30 or so per night so check first and avoid a surprise.  If you're going up for sightseeing, you could stay/leave your car in Springfield, VA and take the commuter train (Metrorail Blue line) in, get off at the Smithsonian stop - just a thought.  The station is near the Springfield Mall.

Not sure what you mean about "leaving before dark" - ?

Regarding POA's:  I downloaded a copy of a Power of Attorney from a free legal website in our state and retyped it with our info, then we got it notarized at a bank.  

Speaking of banks:  once it's done, go ahead and get it on file with your son's bank now.  USAA's legal department takes up to two weeks to review and approve it, so have it on file before you need it.   We also gave a copy to the management office of his apartment complex in case anything came up while he was underway.