Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

on the funny side...there are only two kinds of vessels in the Navy: submarines and targets! :)

yvonne

Is anyone here part of the CVN77 family and plans to attend the next FRG meeting? I would love to fly out from IL to attend, but can't.

Hello and Happy Monday to all.

singingbird - Lucky!! how nice that you were able to spend a weekend with your Sailor!! I will have to tell my Sailor about these places that you visited to give her ideas of where to explore too.

Tracy - what is an FRG meeting?

COTwin - that's too bad that your twin won't be able to go see his brother for his graduation. Lord knows why things like this happen but I am sure the one graduating will feel the love from a distance.

Catmom509 - I went to Norfolk over the Memorial day weekend and the weather was beautiful! Sunny, blue skies, warm and a nice breeze.

The FRG is the Family Readiness Group. They handle things like planning the homecoming festivities following a deployment, having fundraisers to help with those expenses and stuff like that. The hold monthly meetings during a deployment and get important information from the command to the families. The only problem is, you have to attend the meetings in person to get that information. We're in Illinois, so it's nearly impossible to do that.

Tracy, my husband is not on the CVN-77 so I won't be attending the FRG meeting but when my husband was deployed I remained living in San Diego until the ship returned and was unable to go to any FRG meetings. Our FRG had a mailing list and would e-mail the meeting minutea out a day or two after the meeting - maybe your FRG does something similar for times you are unable to attend the meetings?

Yes, they do the same thing, but of course dates aren't disclosed in email, only in person. I did get ahold of the secretary of the FRG who said the command hasn't given them a date yet, so go by the tentative date we were given by our sailor. I guess that's what we'll do until we hear otherwise.

Hi there Navy Moms. My family traveled to Norfolk this past weekend to pick up my Son's car and other personal belongings. They are very busy getting ready for this move to Florida. It saddened me to take his car, computer, etc. I know how much he has enjoyed having these while in Norfolk. We are only 232 miles from Norfolk so he was able to make the trip home on occasion. These guys and girls are doing an awesome job as they represent our country in defending our freedom. We are truly blessed. Hang in there Sailor Moms...we have got this!

That is great to hear! I am in MN. so haven't seen my son since xmas. I know he has been very busy.

KrisT1-I hear that. Saw my Sailor last in Jan. and won't get to see her again until next March! Going crazy missing her!

Anyone have any experience with, or know anything about the Hampton Inn close to base? In the pictures, it looks like an older one, but says it's been completely updated.

We just stayed there in June for one night before we got into the Navy Lodge.  It was very nice!

Marcy & Leach73,

Thanks for the info on Norfolk's May weather!!  Wow, 88* and 90* for Mother's Day weekend??  At least being by the ocean it should be breezier--I hope!!  Trying for the weekend of May 9th since that is my birthday!!  Will be here for almost a week (Thursday to Tuesday) and the Norfolk Botanical Garden will be on my list.  Any good restaurants with a mix of salads, sandwiches, pasta??  How about a steak place?

Oh, see the Discussion about Things to Do in Norfolk!!  Gonna pop in there~~

Planning trips is so much fun! Catmom- Even though yours is still a few months away, I like that you are starting to think it through. When I was there we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Food and Service was good...although I think this was in Hampton. I don't know when I'll get to go back but I hope it will be sooner than later. I miss my girl so much but am so thankful that I get to at least text, talk, and facetime everyday.

She texted me yesterday to tell me that she is going to get a "little sister" that arrives on Tuesday and she is going to get in touch with her before then so that she can start to make her feel welcome. Awwww....I thought that was so nice of her to do that. My daughter's sponsor was also nice to her when she arrived in Norfolk back in May so now my Sailor wants to pay it forward.

Singingbird - I got your message and I will reply soon!

Thanks ladies! have a Fantastical day!! Blessings!

Good morning all!! (well, it's morning here in Hawaii). I'm finally planning to visit my sailor in October. Is the weather still decent during that time?

Leach73 & abuon18,

Thanks for the restaurant suggestions.  Got them all written down on my "Norfolk pad."  My Sailor daughter lived in Virginia Beach for a few months and really liked it, so we'll probably visit that area for sure~~

Thank you so much Deanna! Reservations are made for the fall and knowing the hotel is nice is one less thing to worry about. Getting very anxious for our trip and so excited to see our son get off that ship :)

I will be coming to norfolk for the Family day on the Roosevelt at the end of this month. This is the first time I have been to Norfolk and would like to do some fun things with my sailor. Hopefully we don't have to stay in Norfolk the whole time, if he gets a few days of leave. Any suggestions of things to do in and around the area?

Tracy- What ship is your son on?

DebbieB - look at the Discussion up above from Marcy. Good info!!

Anyone - how can we go about finding out when a Family Fun Day is for our Sailor's ship?

ChambosMom- He's on the Bush, on deployment right now.

Tracy- Mine is on the Bataan and in the same area as your son's ship. 

If you like coffee then Bad Ass Coffee is a must!

They are at 619 18th Street in Virginia Beach and serve the best Hawaiian coffee around!  I attached a link to their Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/badasscoffee.virginiabeach

Pat L. in IL commented on shell's group "Molly's Adopt A Sailor" on Navy For Moms

------------
ATTENTION MAMAS! Have a son or daughter deployed? I have an opening for our October adoption. Have them go to mollysadoptasailor.com and fill out the "Request Support" form.

REMEMBER, we support ALL branches of the military!

I know it's still a ways away, but now that we're past the halfway point of deployment, I'm getting excited about the homecoming of my son's ship. I'm wondering from anyone who has been through one recently how the day will go and how it all works. How do we get on base? Is there some sort of gate pass or list of names? Can we take bag chairs onto the pier? Is there a limit to the number of people each sailor can have? Etc, etc, etc...These are just questions running through my head when I think about it.

Some quick thoughts - 

Janelle, yes you need a car!  Navy Lodge is great if your sailor can check you in.  Good rates, nice rooms, safe too.  It gets booked up and PCSing sailors get priority, so reserve early if that's your choice.  Info about it and nearby hotels:  Navy Lodge info  

Tracy - Homecomings are the best!  Be sure you're on your Ombudsman and Family Readiness Group lists, they will get you prepared in time, including what you'll need to get on base (you'll need their info plus photo ID).  You can contact them now with your questions, they won't mind!  No limit on number of people.  You don't actually get to go onto the pier itself, but wait outside the gate that leads to the pier.  There may be a VIP tent, music, and of course a crowd!  You can order "free" military welcome home banners from buildasign.com (I say "free" b/c you pay for postage, and it goes way up the closer you get to the date you want it, so don't procrastinate!).  Or make your own poster, lots do and the DIY ones are so cool, plus you can tell your sailor to look out for hot pink or yellow or whatever.

This Cox 11 story of USS Iwo Jima's homecoming in Dec 2012 gives a great feel for a homecoming, and of course comes with a Navy-mom tissue alert  :)

Also in re bag chairs, yes you could do that.  The pier gate where you wait is right by the parking lot; and It can be quite a while before your sailor finally comes off the ship and through the gate.

Hi Tracy. 

I believe our sailors are on the same carrier.  My son was on a carrier for his last deployment as well.  We were allowed onto the pier to wait.  probably because there were so many people.

It is a very long day.  Folks started lining up at 6:00am outside the pier gate and waited for hours before we were allowed to go to the pier.  Outside the pier gate there is the food tent with tables and chairs.  The port a potties are outside the pier gate as well.

Inside the gate, on the pier, there were bleachers set up, tents for moms with newborns, a band, and lots and lots of people.  Bring a chair just in case you don't get a bleacher seat.

It's fabulous when the carrier turns the corner and heads in to dock.  Everyone is so excited!  Then you realize that it takes quite a while to secure the carrier and put the gangways in place before anyone departs the ship.  It was almost an hour before the first sailor got off the ship. 

But it's still fun because the sailors are on the flight deck and every outside access they can get to, waving at the crowd.  One sailor even unfurled a banner with a marriage proposal on it!

They get off the ship a group at a time.  New dads, officers, then by rank high to low.  It made it a lot easier to spot our sailor.  fabulous time!  Bring a camera and a video recorder!

Amanda, are you looking for an apartment or a house? Renting or buying? we'll keep our eyes open. 

yvonne and john

Amanda I agree with Abuon, and a referral to a good Realtor is priceless, hope you follow up!  Virginia Beach and Chesapeake cover a large area, so it's helpful to have someone knowledgeable to narrow down to the good places.  There's also a Facebook group to join called "Navy Home Search" where there is some good networking; don't know if this link will work if you're not a member but here it is - https://www.facebook.com/groups/137720826328215/

Hi Amanda.  I will be relocating to Virginia as well, due to the hubby's job.

A friend who lives there told us to stay South of Interstate 264 and East of State route 13.

She also told us that if we want to avoid jet noise, look at the direction of the runways to determine the flight paths.

Like the other folks said, we heard a lot of good things about Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.  I'm looking forward to no more hellish Winters!  Last year's was brutal.

It's up to him (or you) to arrange and pay for any personal travel while on leave.  Regarding the car you'd have to check the Virginia DMV for their grace period between purchase and registration.  I would think whoever stores it would require registration and insurance?  The phone number for the Norfolk NEX long-term/deployment car storage is 757-445-1492.

If anyone's planning a visit in October, "Fleet Fest" at Naval Station Norfolk will be held from 9 am - 4pm on Saturday Oct. 18.  It's open to the public and includes ship tours, displays, live entertainment, a car show and a chili cook-off.  Ships open to the public from 10 am - 3 pm are aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) and guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66).   A Navy 239th Birthday Concert by the U.S. Fleet Forces Band aboard the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt will start after the tours.  

My parents, that live in North Carolina, have found my sailor a used car to purchase.  Would it be best to title & register the car in his home state of Texas?  For insurance purposes, wouldn't it be best if it's in my name?  He is 22 & if he has his own policy, his premiums will be outrageous.  I believe if it's on my policy, I will have to have it registered in my name, but not sure I want to do that either.  This is all very confusing.  Any advice is appreciated. 

Seasport, you may be surprised that having the car in your sailor's name isn't as expensive as you think!  Most sailors bank with either USAA or Navy Federal because they are so military-friendly.  Why don't you or your son contact them, give them the specifics of the car to be purchased and get an insurance quote from them?  My son opted to register his car in Virginia and has had his insurance with USAA for the past few years; it has been surprisingly reasonable and other moms here have said the same about Navy Federal.  

These are links to the Virginia DMV Motor Vehicle Military Guide http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/dmv206.pdf 

and to the Virginia DMV Military FAQs:  http://www.dmv.state.va.us/drivers/#military_faq.asp  

In Virginia, "Any person who is active in the military is exempt from taxation if his/her home of record is outside of Virginia pursuant to the federal Service Member's Civil Relief Act."  You have to provide the Virginia DMV with a current LES each year when it's time to renew registration.

Hello all! My husband and I have been in the area for a while now, but I just got around to joining this group. 

You're welcome Seasport :)  Keep us posted.  Bet your sailor will be happy to have a car!  

Welcome Hoshizora!

BTW, for any sailors interested, there's a kayak clinic at the base Sailing Center & Marina coming up this Saturday...

God Bless your son, B-Ready! I'm glad that you found peace and I hope he does too!