A salute to our military with Fleet Week

UPDATE: The LeAnn Rimes concert scheduled for Oct. 10 has been cancelled due to illness.

The U.S. Navy, local business and civic organizations are celebrating Fleet Week Hampton Roads 2008, Oct. 8-18, with a variety of events that serve to honor the outstanding contributions and selfless sacrifice of Sea Service members and their families.

Fleet Week Hampton Roads, held each October in conjunction with the Navy birthday, now 233 years old, celebrates and recognizes the sacrifices and contributions, past and present, made by our Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen, who are neighbors, volunteers and citizens actively working to enhance the quality of life for Hampton Roads.

Fleet week activities consist of ship visits, sports competitions, social events and military demonstrations throughout the area that will showcase our personnel, equipment, technology and capabilities, while emphasizing the long-standing close relationship between the community and the military.

Many Fleet Week events are free and open to the public.

This year’s Fleet Week calendar of events includes:

October 8
• Military Citizen of the Year (MCOY) Luncheon – Doors open for registration at 11:30 a.m. Program begins at noon at the Norfolk Marriott Waterside. Sponsored by Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce-Norfolk Division Armed Forces Committee. Recognizes outstanding military who have demonstrated active participation in off-duty community service. The guest speaker will be Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.  For more information contact Desiree Ellison at 664-2524.

October 9
• Suffolk Peanut Festival – Helicopter static display. Open to Public.

October 10
• NMCP Blood Drive & Dungeon Tours – Help save lives, and visit the historic dungeon at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.  Blood drive will be held from 8 a.m. to noon, starting in Bldg. 1, rm. C110 for administrative sign-up. 

Donors will then walk to the Blood Donor van parked in front of Building 1. After donating the gift of life, the day can be topped off with a self-guided tour of the circa 1830 dungeon, located under the granite staircase of the Navy's first and oldest hospital from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tri-fold guides will be handed out by docents who will be available to answer questions. Both events are open to anyone who has valid access to military installations. Guests of valid ID card holders are also welcomed to donate blood. For more info, call 953-1942.

• Fleet Week Concert featuring LeAnn Rimes - CANCELLED – Gates open at 5 p.m., concert begins at 7 p.m., at NAB Little Creek. Free and open to the public with photo identification. U.S. Fleet Forces Band is the opening act. The LeAnn Rimes concert has been cancelled due to the singer's throat problems.
 
October 11
• The 8th Annual Bayside Harley-Davidson Rumble through the Tunnels – Registration and staging of the bikes begins at 8 a.m.  Ride starts at 10:30 a.m. This event is the largest motorcycle event in honor of the Armed Forces.  Cost is $10 per rider; active duty and retirees ride for free. All proceeds donated to Hampton Roads Navy Support Organizations.

• Annual Chili Cook-off and Car Show - “It’s a Family Affair” – NAS Oceana Main Gate Park from noon to 4 p.m. Local military teams compete for “Best Chili in the Fleet.”  Proceeds from chili sales benefit Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society. Free and open the public.

• NWS Yorktown / Cheatham Annex Events – Open to Public, however, pre-registration is required by calling MWR outdoor recreation office at 887-4681: 
-10K Trail Run at Cheatham Lake begins at 9 a.m.
-Cheatham Annex Golf Tournament at Deer Cove begins at 11 a.m.
-Cheatham Annex Bass Fishing Tournament 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

October 12
• Fleet Week Half Marathon – 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Naval Station Norfolk parade grounds. Kids One-Mile Fun Run begins at 8:15 a.m. Prizes awarded. Open to the public, however, pre-registration is required at http://www.discovermwr.com/fleetweekhalf/fwhm.html

October 12 & 13
• Harbor rides, diving demonstrations, weapon displays and ship visitations will all be available for viewing by the general public at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  In addition, visitors will be able to visit an actual ‘in field’ set-up by Beach Master Unit Two and experience life of forward deployed forces.  Visitors to the base will have a rare opportunity to interact with highly trained and skilled ‘boots on ground’ Sailors, today’s modern heroes who are protecting our precious freedoms.

• Ship Visitation at Naval Station Norfolk – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for DoD ID card holders only.

October 14
• Fleet Week 5K Run – Race begins at 11:30 a.m., at Dam Neck Annex.  Open to anyone who has valid access to military installations.

• Fleet Week Golf Tournament at Sewells Point Golf Course – Shotgun start at 11:30 a.m.  Invitation only.

• Fleet Week Golf Clinics – Held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., at NSA Norfolk, NAS Oceana and Eagle Haven Golf Course, NAB Little Creek.  Clinics are free and open to active duty personnel, E-6 and below.

October 15 & 16
• Fleet Week Bowling Tournament – All seven bowling centers in the Mid-Atlantic Region will host qualifying rounds on Wednesday with top two teams from each center advancing to the regional finals that will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m., at NAB Little Creek.  Active duty military only.
 
October 15
• Fleet Week Golf Clinics – Held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Sewells Point Golf Course.  Clinics are free and open to active duty personnel, E-6 and below.
 
October 17
• Fleet Week Fishing Tournament – Held at Rudee Inlet Fishing Center beginning at 7 a.m.  Event is open to active duty military only.  Weigh-in and awards will be held at 1:30 p.m.

October 18
• Navy & Marine Corps Birthday Ball – Rockwell Hall, NAB Little Creek. Social begins at 6 p.m., ceremony starts at 7 p.m. Event is for military and invited guests only.  Plastic Eddy will perform for the musical entertainment.

View the entire Fleet Week 2008 schedule of events here.

Proceeds from several of the events benefit the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society providing year-round aid to Navy and Marine Corps families.