Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

Anneerrn4,

Make sure you have a big sign with his name on it and also welcome home. I know you can actually purchase them, but not sure where. I would suggest to look on line. In the meantime I will get in touch with another mother who ordered her sign. 

Yvonne

My son is on the TR and will be back to Norfolk on the GW in January.  We are preparing for his homecoming to SD. The site for banners the Mom's site is using is http://www.buildasign.com/Troops

They did a great job and it came pretty quick.

Anneerrn4, there are probably more creative homemade signs than purchased ones at homecomings, so if you're good with markers, glitter and glue, a piece of posterboard works great!    BuildaSign.com (http://www.buildasign.com/Troops) offers a free one, but you pay postage and the cost gets pretty prohibitive if you wait to order till just before homecoming.  

You could get a suite with kitchen at Navy Lodge and offer to cook a meal for his buddies while you're there (turkey for the Thanksgiving home-cooked meal they missed?), bet they'd love it!  links to Norfolk Navy Lodge and area info  

We stayed at the Navy Lodge there. It was nice and priced well.

Oh ya, they also have a small kitchen in the room so you can reheat take out or cook there if you want,

I recommend the Navy Lodge as well. Safe, clean, and friendly staff. I booked my room online but when I got there to check in, they asked who my sponsor was and I had to give my Sailor's name and she was with me and had to show her military ID.

Hi all - Happy RED shirt Friday and Happy Halloween!

So glad the weekend is here!

Don't forget we change the clocks this weekend - Fall Back!  And remember to change the batteries in your smoke alarms too ;-)

Hello Kelly.

I just looked for you and I didn't find a group for the Ford, but there is a group 'Nuke Moms'. You might want to join that group as well. :)

Welcome to this group! 

I want to let you and other moms who have sons or daughters stationed here in Norfolk, that if any of them cannot get home for Thanksgiving, we would be happy to invite them over to our home to enjoy Thanksgiving with us and our family. 

If you go to our page on this sight you can see what we do for the sailors, soldiers and marines in this area. We have been here for 15 years inviting them over on the weekends and also for holidays.

Happy Fall and Thanksgiving!

Yvonne and John

Kelly,

There is also a Sub Moms group for you to become part of. :)

Yvonne

Kelly,

Is he on a ship or sub? Newport News is just a tunnel away from us. We have a sailor who is on the Lincoln which is in Newport News who comes over on the weekends.

I got the impression that the Ford was a sub. I could be wrong though. :)

Yvonne

Okay Kelly,

I finally got the information about the Ford. It's an aircraft carrier still in the building stage. So, anyway, when you talk to your son, let him know about us. He is welcome to come over on the weekends and the holidays. :)

Yvonne

You guys are making me glad my son does not drive!!

Just asked my son, who drives and doesn't drink, often is the designated driver and no bad experiences during four years there - he says police there don't have any agenda against Navy as far as he's seen, but it's true that there are plenty of sailors who drink create problems for everyone.  And not saying ANYTHING against your son, Michelle, but it's possible your son made some maneuver that caused the police to stop him.  I once got stopped because I went around a pothole.  My car was a two seat convertible that made going over a twig seem like a log, but the cop thought it was a suspicious move. Go figure.  Hopefully your son's experiences from now on are nothing but positive.

Michelle, I'm sorry for your son's experience. I have also heard that the police around here don't like military - for what reason I don't know. Yes, there are plenty of Sailors and other military personnel who make bad decisions and get themselves into trouble here but there are even more locals who do so, so I really don't know where the animosity comes from. As far as my husband and myself we have lived here for over a year and fortunately neither of us have had a run-in in with the police so I can't say for sure. But from what I witness, they pull people over for very random, minute offenses and will disregard blatant traffic offenses. Blows my mind.

Michelle,

I hope all of this pans out for your son A. and he can take it in stride. When he came over to the house the beginning of this year we enjoyed having him. We hope he enjoys his time here.

Yvonne and John

I'm sorry but I think there's some overreacting here.  Do you follow local news in Norfolk?  It's not exactly a tea party there.  The police have a lot on their plates.  Norfolk police have a FB page as does WAVY TV 10.  Please don't paint an entire department with such a broad brush; heaven knows, there are still people who unfortunately think all sailors are tattoo'd drunks.  Norfolk's got a lot of bad areas, sailors also have to know when and where it's ok to be - and NOT to be.  Just my two cents.  

I have to agree with Marcy. I tend to believe that things are a bit inflated here. I came from Chicago so this is like a cake walk. 

The police here, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake have a large influx of sailors, marines, tourists, from all over the country, all who have different styles of driving.  They tend to be extra careful at keeping an eye on things.

There has been a lot of focus lately, and extra policing, in Norfolk due to late night/early morning college parties, drinking, fighting, shootings. Usually happening at 1:30 - 3:00am on weekends.

So far my family hasn't had any negative encounters with the police. I actually found most of the officers, at events, walking the streets etc, to be very nice.

Hopefully your son's experiences will get better. There are so many fun things to do around here please encourage him to keep exploring the areas.

Norfolk is a military town. There is a ton of support and events for the military here. There are at least 10 military installations, all branches of the military, within a 20 mile radius. 

Any business not liking the military here would be out of business. The police are much more frustrated with the drunken tourists and college kids than the military.

Please don't worry.

Thanks everyone for your input!  And, thank you to John & Yvonne for the nice comments about my son. He makes me extremely proud! 

Like I said in my son was not ticketed and I wasn't upset that he got pulled over, just upset with the officer's behavior once he pulled my son over. The irony is my son's passenger pointed out the officer and my son told his passenger that he wasn't worried because they weren't doing anything wrong! LOL (the same words I'd have told him... I see myself in him and hear my words come out of his mouth all the time! I love it!) Anyway, the worst that happened was he missed the movie and had a bad experience with a bonehead police officer.  I did try to explain to my son to take it as a life lesson. I believe that everything in life happens for a reason. We may never know what the reason was here but I'm grateful it was just a minor inconvenience.  My son and I can live with that!

And, to miss deb, I couldn't agree with you more... sometimes!  Some of the stories that I hear on the news and in person, I sometimes think he'd be safer if he was out to sea on a deployment!  That's sad that we don't feel safe in our homeland... it's sad that I sometimes think it would be safer to send my son to war!

Ok, enough negativity!  Thanks everyone for letting me rant!  Please try to have a beautiful day!  God Bless! 

if there is a way that we can 'watch' the ships leave...via internet...can you send me a message or post here.

I'd love to see them leave or come back, but i live on the other side of the country.

thanks.

I'm not completely sure, but I don't think it would be available to watch. I think that would breach security.

I would suggest that if all possible, Sea*Mom, that you try your best to come here when he gets back. That would probably be a lot happier time for you and your son/daughter. :) I hope it will be possible for you.

yvonne

Hi Michelle.  Just another bit of reassurance.  

It's definitely hard on us moms.  From the moment our kids set foot on this earth we have been trying to keep them safe. Now they are out of our sight and out of our control and fear of the unknown can get the best of us.  I have spend many a sleepless night worrying about my sailor.

My son had two deployments, almost back to back, in a not so much fun part of the world. Trust me, I sleep much better when he is back on American soil.  

Thank you, Laura! It sure is tough being a parent! We'll worry for the rest of our lives.

Thankfully, we've not had to experience deployment just yet... I think we've got a few more months before we gain that experience. But, I'm sure you're right that I'll worry a little less whenever he's in the States. At least when they're here we can get to them in the matter of a day if we need to.  

That's why we invite them into our home on the weekends. To give them a place to go and eat and fellowship and play games, watch movies and of course football for those who want to watch.  And invite them to join us on the holidays if they can't go home. :)

Yvonne

Welcome My Baby Boy!

We wanted to let you know that my husband and I open our home on the weekends and invite the sailors over for food, board games, movies, football and just hanging out together. We also invite them over for Thanksgiving and Christmas if they can't go home. We can pm you our cell number so he can call or text us or we can get in touch with him-whichever he would prefer, if he's open to coming over.  :)

Yvonne and John

What happens if my sailor arrives in Norfolk and his ship is on deployment... where will he stay?

Hi - I joined this group because I couldn't find anything for those stationed at Newport News. Does anyone have any ideas of activities to do in Newport? My sailor has a friend in Norfolk and says there is bowling, movies, etc. but he is in a shipyard with not much to do in evenings/weekends...he's going a little stir crazy!  Thanks for any info.

TJC's mom - thanks - I should have clarified -  he knows about the malls, etc. but he has to "pay" for those and he's a tightwad! evidently Norfolk has them on base for free...and you can only shop so much...think he's looking for more activities to chill out on weekends - or find someplace with wifi or to watch tv - neither of which is available on the ship...

Thanks singingbird!  I will tell him about Fair Grounds. Sounds like a neat place.

Hi cindycl :)  See if your son knows the Wind and Sea Recreation Center on the Norfolk base.  Everything is free!!  That should appeal to him LOL  

This is what they offer, and there's much more at this link - check out "Things to do!" at the top of the page:  MWR Norfolk and nearby bases 

Wind and Sea Recreation Center location:

9475 Bacon Ave., Bldg. C-9 

Phone: (757) 444-4033

Hours of Operation:  Sunday - Thursday, 12 to 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 12 to 11 p.m.

Info & Amenities:

* Wi-Fi internet

* Snack Bar

* Quarterly holiday/theme parties

* Liberty trip sign up

* Pool tables

* Ping Pong table

* Individual TV viewing area

* PS3, Xbox, & Xbox360, Wii with a large game library

* UFC & WWE, NFL, March Madness pay per view events

* Large theater room with 800+ titles from Navy Motion Picture Service

* Regular tournaments including Texas Hold 'em, Pool and on Gaming systems

Also located inside C-9 is Bellisimo's Cafe where we proudly serve Starbucks coffee, Combat Zone Gaming Center and the Wind & Surf Internet Café.  There's also a food court on the other side of the building with a Five Guys Burgers, Subway and a few others.  There's also a post office just off the food court.

Cindicl,

Theres' lots to do here in Hampton Rds. You might want to let your son know that he can go to Williamsburg(the re-enactment one) for free today and tomorrow. Every year they give military (active duty, retired, vets and reserves) two free days. It's an awesome place to see, especially if you're into history at all.

I would like you to know too that if he ever wants to have a home cooked meal and play lots of board games we would love to invite him into our home. My husband (retired navy) and I have been here for the last 15 years opening our home on the weekends for any sailors(or soldiers & marines) who would like a family and home to hang out in. Also if he doesn't get a chance to go home for the holidays(Thanksgiving and Christmas) we invite them to join us on those days too. If you want to know more about us just go to our page on this site. We would be happy to pm you our cell number or if he is ok with it, we could contact him and invite him over.

Yvonne and John

Oh and by the way, everything we do is free. :)

Yvonne and John

Marcy - thank you so much for that information!  I'm sure he doesn't know about this. It sounds like a super neat place.  

Yvonne - thank you for your generosity!  I'm sure he would like to come over and discuss Iowa!  lol.   I will pm you his cell number.  Thanks so much!  Makes this mama feel a lot better knowing he has somewhere to go!

For anyone with a single mom serving -  Electronics TEchnician Chief Ann Holman has just published a small ebook in which she "tells you how she balances being a single mom while serving Active Duty in the United States Navy.  Ann has been serving (so far) for over 16 years and has been a single mom for almost six years... This is just one person's insight into how to not only find balance, but success both as a Mom and a Sailor!"  Amazon, $4.95 Success in the Navy as a Single Mom

Good Morning, My Son is stationed on ship there in Norfolk. I was wondering if anyone could give any suggestions on how he can get a car real cheap that will pass to go on base? I have read several things that they should NOT go to the local car dealers. Or is there a bus system? he needs a way to get around. I don't feel comfortable having him walk alone off base.

Thank you singingbird! We have USAA as our insurance too ! I will have to call and see what I can do to help him! Someone also has mentioned in posts something about Uber I forgot about that or I guess I wasn't sure they had that there. How do I find the number for that? I know he has trouble getting a cab and I know it can get very expensive!

You use Uber via an app that you download on your phone (they save your credit/debit info for so no cash is used).  Sailors really need their own cars though  :)  There is a lot of info about car buying and ownership in this Discussion:  Car FAQs for Norfolk sailors.   You will see there a link to the Car Buying Strategies workshop offered on base.  There is also a link to the "Off Limits" businesses list; currently there is one local independent car dealer on it.  My son has had no problems with Checkered Flag Hyundai, a major dealer.

singingbird i right, USAA is great, my son banks with them and has his car insurance through them as well.  If your son is under 25 and ever needs to rent a car, he can do it by booking through USAA's site under Travel Deals and the under-age fee, which is considerable, is waived.

ps - your son would have to investigate whether Uber drivers are allowed on base.

Thank you for all the great suggestions Marcy~ Corpsman! I really appreciate it!

You're welcome!  Let us know how it all works out  :)

How about at Newport News?  Do they need a car there?