Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

Share with your Sailor...

WARNING! DON'T download an app called "MyPay DFAS LES." It presents itself as an official DFAS service and as many as 50,000 members are estimated to have installed it. This third-party app is NOT sponsored by the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government, and presents a serious risk of compromising your user name, password, and account information and even theft of funds. Steer clear of this and similar third-party MyPay/DFAS-related apps.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio in Norfolk will offer a FREE Holiday Ornament Glassblowing class for all veterans, active duty military, National Guard, and reservists and their families (children must be 5+). 

Classes will be first come, first serve and will be available for sign up only on Nov. 9. 

Classes will run hourly at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3pm and 4 pm. There will be 12 slots per hour. If those 12 get done early, we will allow others to go as time permits. Each participant can create a colorful blown-glass ball with the help of the Studio Team. 

Ornaments will be available for pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 13, after cooling in the kiln. For more information, call the studio at (757) 333-6299.  

For more info:  http://www.chrysler.org/events-calendar/details/20824

jonsmom,  My daughter bought a car back in July.  She went to Pomoco Dodge and they treated her right.  We didn't even know she was going.  She did everything on her on and told them what she could do and they did it.

She financed it through the Navy Federal Credit union and got Insurance through USAA.  She checked around a few places but it was the cheapest.

We were shocked she had everything done before she even told us.

She was pleased with how she was treated.

Good luck to your Sailor.

I don't think I put that it is in Newport News.

We bought used cars at Charles Barker Toyota in Virginia Beach and Lynnhaven Motor Company. Had good success with both. I recommend you have your sailor arrange financing through NFCU or USAA in advance, then see if he can negotiate a lower interest rate with the dealership at the time of the sale...never hurts to ask! For the most part, we recommend staying away from anything on Little Creek Road (aka Little Crook Road); those places don't have the greatest reputation. Make sure your sailor knows that Virginia has no usury laws, so there is no limit on the interest that can be charged. It is really important that he arrange financing separate from the sale of his car. If you want him to make an educated decision, suggest that he take the Car Buying Workshop at the Fleet and Family Support Center; they will explain how to negotiate financing and sales price. Their number is 757-444-2102. If he can't attend a workshop, have him speak to a financial counselor who can help him make a plan. Good luck!

Actually, the car buying class is a good idea.  My daughter said it helped her.  She also was pre-approved before she went.  Also, she said there is some kind of list of dealers to stay away from. 

Morning Happy Veteran's Day...thank you to all our military for serving our country and those who served and are no longer with us.

Navy lodge in Norfolk is not on base it's down the street not far...We h ave s stayed there twice it's nice and  convenient.  Yes the base is huge...We could not drive on base our sailor drove us on in his car because he has a parking pass so we could walk down and look at the ships...it's quite a site to see.

Here's the history of Veterans Day is an annual holiday celebrated on November 11^th.  This date was chosen because World War I officially ended at the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918 when Germany signed the Armistice.  President Wilson first proclaimed November 11^th 1919 Armistice Day.  Over the years Armistice Day became the present day Veterans Day holiday.

Thought this was interesting so I wanted to share it with you.....I forget about the 11 symbolism of this special day..:)

Just got off the phone with my sailors said it was snowing there...he loves the snow by mostly at a ski resort with his snowboard in hand.....:)

Is there skiing close by there? Maybe he needs his snowboard stuff. 

Steve might want his too, only Sam lost his Snowboard coat... GGGRRR.

to you Moms out there-if your sons or daughters are not going home for Thanksgiving, and have nowhere to go, please let us know. They are welcome to join us. :)

Yvonne and John

Hi Yvonne and John, thank you so much for the offer, that's very kind of you.

my son just go to Norfolk Oct 24. He can't come home to NY and we can't go to see him either. He's assigned to the USS WASP. Please let me know how to contact you, it'd be nice if he doesn't spend that day by himself.

thank you

hello my daughter she is at  A- school in great lakes and will ship to Norfolk just don't know when.

to Hingris- I sent you a friend request and will send you a message with our phone number so your son can call. Or we would be happy to get in touch with him too. Yvonne

to teresa- when your daughter gets here, let us know. We would love to invite her over to the house to join us for dinner and a board game-we have lots of fun together. :)

Yvonned

Teresa, if your daughter ships to Norfolk for the holidays, she is welcome at our home and we will pick her up. Just send me a message please or facebook me.

If there is anyone with children stationed on a Virginia base for the holidays, please know that my home is open to them and we will pick them up if necessary.

Navy Lodge Norfolk - 1.5 miles from Gate Five on the same street (Hampton Blvd).  http://navyformoms.com/group/norfolksailorsfamilyfriends/forum/topi...

Got to talk to Steve for an hour last night.  Till his ship took a sharp right turn and lost the signal. he told me that sometimes the sea and the sky are the same color and there is no horizon... he said it is almost disorientating. I would think that would be hard to fly in that.  

Lily, try asking this this group - http://navyformoms.com/group/pcsingmoving - and also check the Discussions there for info about your move.  

Willoughby would be a fun area, I've been to the beach there :)  Ae you talking about this military housing or something else?

Good luck with your move and have a good time with your husband - these are great memories!

Does any one know if there are programs to adopt single sailors for Thanksgiving?

amandamomof4

There is a couple named Yvonne and John.  He is a retired Navy chaplain.  They take in sailors on Saturday nights for game night and Sunday dinner and will pick them up at their ships if they don't have a ride.  Good people.  My son is beats John at chess.  Ask them if they are doing anything on Thanksgiving.  If not there is another mom that from one of these sites (this or Christian Chat) taking in strays. 

Find them under Members and see what they are doing and check recent archives for the mom.  Someone will probably be able to direct you to the mom.

Gotta find out what my boy is doing on Thanksgiving, too.  Maybe they could go someplace together!?!  He has no car.

my son does have his car there :)  he and my husband drove cross country so he could have it there. He got there 11/1.  I think his roommates are out to sea but one of his friends from boot camp is there as well as a guy that was at BESS-A school. He hasn't gotten there yet but he is assigned to the USS Albany

how long has your son been there?  

amandamomof4

since mid-August

Just found out my son is headed to Norfolk - to report by Dec 9th. He will be on the Truman. Anyone with a loved one who was PIR 7-12 in Norfolk?

My son left to VA this past Sunday his ship is the Eisenhower but since its in the shipyard he's living at the barge anybody here has a son there? And do they like it?

I am going to be flying down to be with my son on Thanksgiving!  I am so excited!! He has not been with a family member for any holiday in 5 years! Now does anyone know of any place we can go for a Thanksgiving dinner? Or someplace that we can pick up a dinner and heat it up at the hotel?

I could hear colors when we went to PIR in GL and I loved that. Will be there in January hope to hear it then but I don't imaging I will want the windows open?

@Cindy D - Harris Teeter is a great upscale grocery with multiple locations in the area and they offer complete prepared holiday dinners - http://www.harristeeter.com/meal_planning/holiday_dinners.aspx.  There is a Store Locator tab at the top.  The nearest to the base and Navy Lodge Norfolk is the one on Colonial Avenue in the Ghent neighborhood of Norfolk, about five miles away.   

The Norfolk restaurant Freemason Abbey is doing Thanksgiving dinner and is well-known, but you'd need to get your reservations in soon - http://www.freemasonabbey.com

Navy Lodge Norfolk has three options - single queen bed with mini fridge and microwave; double queen beds with dinette table, full-size fridge and cooktop but no oven; and a two-room family suite with full kitchen:  fridge, microwave, and range/oven.

Co-TwinsMom, you'll be too far from base to hear Colors from your room, even it you wanted to freeze!  When you're on base though, you can hear it and watch the sailors raise and lower the flags on the ships at the piers at morning and dusk, very special  :)

is there a facebook page for Norfolk  sailors -family and friends my daughter will be  in Norfolk. thanks

Well there you go :)  I've stayed there half a dozen times, guess I wasn't focused on hearing it - or more likely was out and about lol  

Just got back from Norfolk and stayed at the Navy Lodge near base.  Never heard colors and I'm a light sleeper.  It's the second time to stay there and we love the place.  I even had the priviledge of doing my son's laundry while he had duty....lol

I just found this site.  I am so excited.  My sailor has been at Norfolk for about 3+ months.  He had a deployment for about a month of that time and can't wait to go again.  We are currently waiting to hear about the E4 advancements.  Looking forward to being a part of this group and feeling like I know more about where he is stationed.

Welcome tatmom4rc!  It's a great site and this is a good group, very active.  You can also find group for your hometown or state, for ships, ratings, you name it :)  

If you like sending care packages, these are fun - http://navyformoms.com/group/carepackageideas, and http://navyformoms.com/group/mollysadoptasailorproject.

tatmom4rc(Ship12, Div. 204)

I think our sailors graduated the same time!  Welcome to our group.  You will learn a lot and we find solace in leaning on our sisters in times of stress.  Stay active!

do you remember what ship/division you sailor was in?  It is weird how they all got split up to go to A school and then when they get assigned a ship they run into friends from BC.

CO - twin sailors mom (ship 3 Div 233) does the CO stand for Colorado?  We live in Littleton Co..

just sitting here making my shopping list thinking how last thanksgiving we were passing my touchpad around the table like it was mashed potatoes while we Skype with our son, so in a way he was there. This year will probably be the same. I encourage him to try to get out but he's shy and would rather stay in his room there in dam neck. :-(

Question on the Norfolk weather in the winter.  What is the average temp and is it mostly cloudly, rainy, windy or any snow at all?

Would it make sense at all for my Sailor daughter to get and use a car cover for her car?  I am thinking it is more trouble than its worth and she will have to tinker with getting it on and off after she parks and before she leaves for work~~