Visiting Our Navy Grandson in Virginia, With a Trip Back in Time

The history of our country is so rich in so many ways. Although we have only been a country of our own since declaring independence from Great Britain in 1776, the colonization began around 1607 in what became Jamestown Settlement in Virginia. Later the colonial capital would be moved to Williamsburg in 1699.

Eventually the American Revolution would be fought for years in many of the original colonies, but the historical end of the war for independence was at Yorktown, when British General Cornwallis surrendered his army to General Washington in 1781.

All of these three sites are within miles of each other in beautiful Virginia. Each is worth seeing, for all the history that we learned as children will really come alive. The story of Pocahontas, John Smith, and Captain Newport are all portrayed in Jamestown within the boundaries of the old fort. Yorktown has preserved the battlefield where our new army found a way to make Cornwallis give up.

Williamsburg is, perhaps, the gem of the area with many of the original buildings preserved and some reconstructed as they were in colonial times. It is a vivid piece of history for any proud American to walk in the same paths and roads as Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and many more patriots.

Our trip there was mainly accidental, meaning that our real reason for visiting the area was to visit our grandson, Josh, who will be soon ending his service in the U.S. Navy. We made the trip to see Josh and for him to show us around the Norfolk and Little Creek area which is his home port.

In his nearly four years of serving our country, he and his shipmates aboard the U.S.S. Fort McHenry have sailed to Spain, Portugal, Africa, and of course, the Middle East. They did some pirate patrol off Somalia, and won some hearts and minds when they were sent to assist in Haiti after the tragic earthquake. “Join the Navy and see the world,” was the saying years ago, but for many sailors it is still true. Josh will have great memories, some a little harsher than others, but he will remember that his mission was to help others and protect our nation. We could not be prouder.

With his ship in dry dock for refitting, Josh took us on a cruise on the Elizabeth River to see his ship out of the water, but also to see the ships of the fleet in port at Norfolk. Better yet, he got us in the Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world, where we saw an entire city within its boundaries. Most impressive were the ships of all sizes and shapes. We saw the U.S.S. Bataan, as well as the U.S.S. Cole. The highlights, of course, were the two aircraft carriers in port. The first nuclear carrier, the U.S.S. Enterprise (the “Big E”) was impressive for its size. Next to it sat the newest carrier in the fleet, the U.S.S. George H.W. Bush. Seeing such awesome power close up is an experience.

Josh was brave enough to let us see the apartment in Virginia Beach he shares with three other sailors, Shawn, T.J., and soon to be back from a tour, Dale. A little Spartan, but neat enough for a grandparent visit, for sure.

This area of Virginia holds many treasures but the best, for us, was our grandson. But then we are a mite prejudiced.