USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)

For family and friends of Sailors aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). Freedom at Work.

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  • TLC72

    I work for a cheer/dance/spirit wear apparel company, so I do a lot of glitter heat press shirts. We all have navy blue sweatshirts with glitter on them (the guys shirts aren't glitter). There are 10 of us all together (2 will be in the handicapped area). We shouldn't be too hard to spot, but then again with that many people, we might be.

  • Anita n Ohio

    Sign I made back in July 2013 for a parade (note name is blanked out)

  • Anita n Ohio

    Can you see this?  (back of sign)

  • Anita n Ohio

    Yes, I'll be there!    Heading out tomorrow at 0500hrs for a 12 hour road-trip.

  • SailorMom94

    Nice Anita N Ohio. Tracy can we buy a shirt. I have nothing with bling yet
  • SailorMom94

    Great back Anita N Ohio I hope you make it on the Live Stream
  • Anita n Ohio

    Never thought of that, SailorMom94. I just can't wait to see her coming into port :-)
  • TLC72

    SailorMom, You definitely could have, but as of 2:30 this afternoon, I am officially on vacation and out of the office. If you're interested when I get home, I can hook you up with some bling. You can never have too much navy mom attire :)

  • SailorMom94

    Lots of bling is always good. Enjoy your time with your Sailor I wish I could do the same but Christmas is good enough for me. When ever you have time let me know.
  • sjpdaisy

    Question - regarding ID to get on the base...my 17 year old son has his school ID - should he also have his birth certificate? And my niece and nephew (aged 8 and 11) are meeting us there with their father...do they need anything for ID?? Thank you!

  • benangy

    Denise F. for the infomation!!!

  • Michelle

    Virginia Hotel reservations for $10/night Dec. 23rd - 26th for military families.                                         

    OPERATION JINGLE PROGRAM

     All Hampton Roads area active duty service members are invited to participate in the annual Operation Jingle, sponsored by the Hotel Association and Convention and Visitors Bureaus from Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

     

    The annual holiday program provides complimentary hotel accommodations to the visiting families of locally stationed service members who are unable to go home for the holidays. Operation Jingle provides a three-night stay in local hotels from 23 – 26 December. To qualify, service members must live aboard ships or reside in one of the local barracks or single sailor PPV housing. Commands must verify that the rooms will be used for families traveling to and from the Hampton Roads area to spend the holidays with their service member. Room availability is limited. Rooms will be reserved on a first come-first-served basis.

     

    To participate, commands must designate a representative as the command’s single point of contact to coordinate the delivery of applications and confirmation information with the Norfolk Navy Marine Corps Relief Society. The only charge for the room is a non-refundable reservation fee of $10.00 per room, per night. The entire reservation fee will be donated to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS). Reservation fees ensure that all rooms are used.  Hotels require 24 hour cancellation in the event rooms cannot be used.

     

    Deadline for submission is 18 December.  Commands may request registration forms from Loretta Russell, Norfolk Navy Marine Corps Relief Society by calling 757.322.1175 or e-mail at Loretta.russell@nmcrs.org.  

     

    All incidental expenses incurred during the hotel stay, to include phone calls, laundry services, movies, room service and other meals are the responsibility of the service member reserving the room. Command representatives of underway commands/units unable to meet the December 18 deadline should contact Ms. Russell for more details.

  • Mahler

    Benangy, you can order a wheel chair for the airport, if going by air-- 24 hr. notice requested sometimes. We may meet up in the handicap tent. :)
  • Mahler

    Anita in Ohio, GREAT signs! You did a fabulous job on the parade one! My oldest daughter will have a purple and rainbow sign. We'll have some Navy friends and some family-- 10 people, in all, 2 kids waiting.

    Those not going to this homecoming, when my sailor came home from her first deployment, I spoke with my pastor and, as they send military packages, he was excited to honor her, in her uniform (comfy cami's). 200-300 people gave her a standing ovation. Our first meeting, she met me at my fav coffee shop where she recieved a shop-wide round of applause. I brought flowers and ballooons.

    At church, they chose, "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" to honor her. Sweet. Multiple vets at the coffee shop stopped by our table to pay respect.
  • Mahler

    sjp daisy, I've read "please bring identification (adults)".

    Video and cameras- I read something like "feel free to take video and pictures of this memorable event".
  • Mahler

    I've read, "don't bring bags/backpacks... small purses, camera cases are okay... do allow time for lengthy parking and walking... and first in to park, last out, basically".
  • SailorMom94

    How do you add photos here
  • SailorMom94

    USS Bush reported on Facebook the link for the return tomorrow and Saturday with the time. For those of us watching Live Stream, pray you see your Sailor. Bravo Zulu USS George H W Bush
  • Mahler

    Sailor Mom 94, I'm guessing possibly only the admins on this page can post pics?? I did a search on USS Bush, Navyformoms, add a picture-- and arrived at your question, lol. I went to the page, not "to view comment, click here", tapped for other functions (upper right button-- (3 dots), tapped in the drop down box, tapped photos-- and I saw numerous photos. No luck in how to add.

    Anita in Ohio may be able to add, if you would like a pic of the big day????
  • Laura

    Hello all!  I won't be at the homecoming because my son was also part of the advance party.  I was at his last homecoming, the USS Enterprise (CVN65), also a carrier that arrived in Norfolk in November.

    Here are some helpful hints;

    It will be colder than you think, especially when the wind starts blowing.  You will be standing on concrete or sitting on metal football style bleachers.  (wear socks, bring a blanket to sit on, or your own chair)

    I brought a video camera, regular camera, extra batteries, binoculars, a roll of packing tape and a small blanket all stuffed into a really large purse.

    I taped yardsticks and rulers to the back of the banners when we got to the pier.  It make it stronger and I was able to hold it up over my head.  He saw it!

    Their cell phones will work again when they get closer to the coast.  The ship's crew seems to be in hyper-drive hours before the homecoming and no one has a spare second. 

    One of the best sights ever is seeing all of the sailors manning the rails as the ship is approaching.  They're standing there for quite a long time. 

    But that also means that they will not be able to use their cell phones until they ship's crew is released.  They also can't wave back until that happens. 

    It takes almost an hour from the time the ship pulls up next to the dock to the time the first sailors get off the ship.  New dads first, then officers, then enlisted by rank, high to low.  You will hear the announcements being made as to which group is leaving the ship.  It is a long process.

    Even when your sailor gets off the ship you're not going anywhere in a hurry.  Picture the parking lot for the most crowded concert you're ever been at, then double it. 

    All in all, a wonderful, emotional, time!  Enjoy!  I will be watching all of you on the live feed!

  • SailorMom94

    Mahler I saw Anita N Ohio posted a picture and others have posted links I am to old for this stuff I guess lol
  • Mahler

    Sailor Mom- Ya, I don't know how to post links, either. Maybe cut and paste.... Will your sailor be getting leave soon??

    Mine's done, after 5 yrs., leaving as an E5 (I posted E4 before-- I can't get that kind of thing straight, either, which aggravates my sailor, but I think it's a Corporal level in the Army, like Radar, on Mash), Petty Oficer, 2nd class.

    She starts back to college fr her last 3 years, in January. Yeah!! I've had 2 in college, for most of the past 10 long years, lol. My oldest just finished 3 years of grad school and is looking forward to being a Nurse Practitioner.

    We should figure out if we could remain on this page to chat, occasionally, as time goes on, to keep one another posted on the paths of our sailors-- to support one another as this empty nest stuff, for me anyway, drives me nuts!
  • Mahler

    Laura, I should try the chair and blanket idea. I do have challenges with standing or sitting, even (orthostatic intolerance). It's easy to see, it's time for me to step back, so to speak, and let my sailor shine. :) They do that so well!!
  • Angeleyesm

    I'm not sure that's available for phone users . It doesn't come up on mine
  • benangy

    Thank you Mahler see you very soon!!!
  • Angeleyesm

    Here is my daughter meeting her daddy at the airport. I had to use my laptop to post the pic it wold to work from my phone. Excited for all of you looking forward to seeing your pics !

  • NavyMom93

    Angeleyesm, great picture!  Thanks for sharing!

  • Mahler

    I just tried going on a computer to "view comments" and I DID have the bar up top that had a choice to "add photo" to my profile.  At the bottom of my profile, I found "Mobile Upload", to add a photo from my cell or Facebook photo gallery.  It said I could email a photo to the email address they had for me there.  I added a photo of my poster, to practice, yet I don't see it here.  :(  Oh, well, Sailor Mom 94, maybe we are too old for this!!  :D  Thanks for the help, though, Denise F.  Oops, Denise F.!  You said at the top of the COMMENT BOX, right here where I'm typing.  I will try that.  Duh!  The problem, now, is my fiance's computer doesn't have my photos stored on it.  It went to his documents.  Gotta go, for now!  See you all later.  I may have an extra blanket or red quilted vest on top of my black jacket.  Tall, dark blonde... used to be skinny!

  • Mahler

    Precious pic, Angeleyes!!!

  • SailorMom94

    Mahler my son is only 20 months in so we have some time to go still, he will be home for Christmas. Congratulations on your daughters accomplishments and new journey in January. Angeleyesm beautiful picture
  • Eddies Mom

    Thanks Laura for the tips. This gives me a really good idea of what to expect at Homecoming. My husband and I will have my 7 year old son and my 12 year old daughter with us and we are coming in by plane the day of and were planning on going straight there. We will probably be an hour later than the others arriving, so I hope that we can find parking and don't have too far to walk. I won't have a wheelchair for my daughter who cannot walk long distances due to a disability.

  • NavySoccerMom

    We had planned on going to the meeting tonight but or plane had been delayed over the hrs so I guess we'll be guessing when and where to be :(
  • NavySoccerMom

    Gotta love autocorrect. Our plane has been delayed over three hours. We will be getting in too late now.
  • KWats Momma

    Loving va!!! All that are still traveling, got you in my thots!!

    Yahoo time by cooler waters in our heels.
  • frandnavymom

    This was my sons 1st deployment and this group has been wonderful, I thank you all for the support, knowledge and wisdom that we shared with each other, I wish all of you and your sailors the best of luck.

    God Bless and Bravo Zulu

  • stuntsmom

    I pray for traveling grace for all you homecoming goers..I'll see my sailor for a few weeks at Christmas but will feel so good to have access to him! I thank all of you for making this deployment easier...it has meant so much to me :-)
  • stuntsmom

    And thanks dad for all your help..my sailor got the duty station he wanted so we are so happy and blessed :-)
  • NavyMomDPL

    Went to tonights reception, bought the T-shirt and talked to my sailor. Had a wonderful day in Williamsburge walking around looking at our countries history .... Now I am ready to see my sailor and tell him face to face how proud I am of him and how much I love him.  

  • Dad of Sailor

    So excited for you all who get to see or talk to your Sailors tomorrow. Mine has been back for a couple weeks already and he will be on the pier to relieve your Sailors so they can have a few much needed days off.

    So thankful that it was an overall safe and successful deployment for all our Sailors.

    You ladies have a lot to be proud of.

  • Dad of Sailor

  • Dad of Sailor

    The link to watch the homecoming for those that can't be there. It starts in an hour.

    USS George H.W. Bush Homecoming

  • SailorMom94

    Watching Live Stream will watch you tube over and over till I find him
  • Dad of Sailor

    It has been a pleasure to be in this group over this deployment. A great group of supportive and friendly ladies with NO drama that can call themselves veteran mom's/wives/girlfriends now that they have survived a deployment.

    I hope you all still show up and chat and please yell if I can do anything for any of you.

  • SailorMom94

    Dad of a Sailor will our group continue or will they close us down?
  • Dad of Sailor

    It will continue, the group is always here. I hope you all still visit. I imagine it will slow down a bit now that the deployment is over but hoping not too much.

  • stuntsmom

    Do you think their cell phones are working yet?
  • Dad of Sailor

    They have been in port for several hours  now so yeah their cell phones work if they are off the ship. Cell phones don't get a signal deep in the ship if they are on duty or still on the ship.

  • ed'smom

    What a wonderful day!
    Hoe do I post pictures here?
  • Dad of Sailor

    ed'smom...use the little icon that looks like a photo at the top of the comment box you typed your question in. Choose the photo from your computer and post it.

    So glad you had a great day!

  • SailorMom94

    I had to watch the homecoming via live stream so to cheer up I'm at Disneyland