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News & Events

News, Events & More


2025 VA Benefits Guide Now Available
Posted: 1/20/2025

As part of VA’s commitment to provide world-class care and benefits to those who have served our nation, VA has released the “2025 VA Federal Benefits Guide for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers.”

This handbook will help Veterans, service members and their families understand the full scope of VA resources available to them to help them make the most of life after service. It provides details on eligibility requirements for each benefit, and because VA serves different generations of Veterans, it also outlines the qualification guidelines for distinct periods of service to clarify eligibility for Veterans with service spanning both peace and wartime periods.

The handbook contains a comprehensive listing of VA programs, including phone numbers and websites for easy reference. The annual Federal Benefits Guide hosts a wealth of information on most VA benefits and services, including:

  • Compensation.
  • Life insurance.
  • Pension and fiduciary services.
  • Education benefits.
  • Economic development and employment.
  • Home loan guaranty programs and housing assistance.
  • Mental health resources.

Click HERE to download a pdf of the 2025 Federal Benefits Guidebook.


Navy Names New Ship After USNA Grad
Posted: 1/15/2025

The Navy named three future ships in January, as well as the official name for its new class of ocean surveillance ships. The vessels honor two Navy veterans and underwater explorers, as well as a Marine killed in action during the Iraq War. 

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced the names on 10 January. The amphibious transport dock ship LPD 33 will be named for Travis Manion, Del Toro announced at the U.S. Naval Academy. Manion, an academy graduate, served in the Marine Corps with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion and fought in Iraq. In April 2007 his unit was in the Anbar Province when it came under attack. Manion exposed himself to sniper fire to distract the enemies from his wounded comrades. He was killed while attacking the ambushers. Manion was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star with Valor posthumously. 

“The San Antonio-class amphibious ship represents the combined power of the Navy and Marine Corps team and relies on the seamless integration of Sailors and Marines working together,” Del Toro said. “Here, at his alma mater, I am proud to announce that the next San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, LPD 33, will be named USS Travis Manion, serving as a symbol of courage, bravery, and selfless service for all who follow in her wake.”

The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship serves as a kind of mothership for expeditionary forces, capable of carrying troops and landing craft and amphibious vehicles. They can both augment forces as a floating platform for aerial units or ferry assault forces to coastal areas. 

To read the whole article, Click HERE.


USNA Grads High in Mid-Career Earnings
Posted: 1/10/2025

Wondering where the price of tuition truly pays off? Stacker compiled a list of the colleges whose graduates earn the most, using 2021 data—released in 2023—from PayScale. Colleges are ranked by the highest mid-career earnings, with ties broken by early career earnings. Mid-career earnings are median salaries for alumni with 10+ years of experience, and early career earnings are for alumni with 0-5 years of experience. Slides also include the percentage of students earning degrees in STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—as well as the percentage of those who report that their work is not only important to them personally but also, they believe, has a positive effect on the world at large, defined here as “high meaning.”

Click Here for details of USNA’s rankings.


USNA Glee Club Performed for President Carter’s Funeral

The U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club performed Jan. 7 at a U.S. Capitol ceremony honoring former President Jimmy Carter singing My Country Tis of Thee and Eternal Father. President James Earl “Jimmy” Carter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 with distinction.


2024 USS GONZALEZ Leadership Awards
Posted: 12/30/2024

The annual events for presentation of the Class ’66 Leadership Awards to a USS GONZALEZ junior officer and an enlisted sailor occurred Monday and Tuesday, 18 and 19 November 2024.

For the complete write-up and photos of the presentation as well as photos of the Monday evening ’66 soiree at Villa Votava, Click HERE.



Army Navy Game 2024
Posted: 12/12/2024

The 2024 Army-Navy Game will be held on 14 December at Commanders Field in Washington, DC. 

The Class of 1966 is encouraged to support the USNA-66 cheering section for the game. Classmates, spouses, and family members are encouraged to email input and photos to usna66webmaster@gmail.com for posting on the USNA66 website

GO NAVY.

BEAT ARMY.


Pre-GONZALEZ Soiree at Votavas (18 Nov)
Posted: 11/17/2024

DETAILS of USNA Class of 1966 annual evening gathering before the USS GONZALEZ (DDG 66) ceremony:

  • WHEN: Monday evening, 18 November 2024
    1600 to 1900 (allows travelers a jump on rush hour and tunnel traffic)
  • WHERE: Villa Votava (for address call 757-499-0259)
  • WHO IS ATTENDING:
    Tony & Linda Franzitta
    Trudy Hoff
    Tom & Faye Martin
    Mary Mobley
    Charlie & Peggy Pfeifer
    Rob & Joyce Ploeger
    Lori Scarbrough
    John Sigler
    Hank Strickland
    Bob Titcomb and Carole Steinberg
    Charlie & Sharon Votava* (host and hostess with the most and mostess!)
    Caroline Betz (neighbor guest photographer)
  • PARKING:
    If parking in driveway, pull all the way up to the garage door and subsequent cars close it up (should be able to park 3 cars in driveway).
    Recommend parking perpendicular to curb on the left and right of driveway. After that, park parallel to curb in the cul-de-sac

CHANGES to GONZALEZ 19 Nov Ceremony
Posted: 11/16/2024

The previous driving recommendations to base gate Nr and GONZALEZ berth are no longer valid. See new directions and Wx forecast below.

However, if you are driving into the area through the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel construction zone, previous comments are still germane, plus you need get on the road back thru the HRBT ASAP after the ceremony – expect to be in stop and go immediately upon entering I-64 North.

Classmates if there are any more cancellations, please let Charlie Votava know ASAP.

S O E

1030 (about) 66ers arrive and assemble in CO’s Stateroom
1100 Ceremony on flight deck
1130 Lunch in the Wardroom
1300 Class ’66 depart
1310 Class ‘66 assemble at bow with ship’s photographer for photo with hull number in background.

REVISED DRIVING/GATE ENTRY DIRECTIONS

  • I-64 to I-564 Naval Base
  • Take I-564 all the way to Hampton Blvd stoplight
  • Left on to Hampton Blvd, get in right lane
  • Right turn at stoplight into Gate 5 security gate
  • Thru Gate 5 stay on “B” Avenue to stoplight at 2nd St.
  • Right on 2nd St to stoplight at Taussig Blvd (dead ends at Taussig)
  • Left onto Taussig follow around curve to right past Pier 6 to Pier 7

WEATHER FORECAST

Partly sunny, Temp mid 60’s, winds abt 5mph. Expect temps a little cooler and slightly more windy (flight deck is to seaward).


USNA Updates from Class Prez

USNA Class of 1966 President, Jim Long, shared highlights of the recent Council of Presidents’ Meeting. Click HERE for some interesting updates.


Navy Football ON A ROLL!
Posted: 10/21/2024

For those of us who were not able to travel to Annapolis on 19 Oct for the fabulous WIN against Charlotte, here are some special perspectives from the Great Class of 1966!

For those who missed the tailgate today, we had more than 50 people signed up. We won the game and the tailgate! Here is a link to a quick tailgate video, which includes the cheerleaders and a couple of 2016 grads (Guy Williams and Nathaniel Webb).

Wild game on Saturday in Annapolis. This team appears to be for real. I don’t think they have had anything like it since Roger was there, and we had a front row seat for it. It seems like yesterday, that we were down to William and Mary at half-time in late Sept. 1962, and Ron Clement was foundering, and after halftime, No. 12 from our Company, ran out of the field with a change of QB’s by Coach Elias.  Roger the Dodger, and the rest was history.

I found a 51 yr. old Shipmate, October, 1973, and thought you’d enjoy a little trip down memory lane. They were quite short in those days, but our Shipmates might enjoy this one.  Hope everyone is excited about this Season, as we are, quite amazing to say the least. Go Navy, Beat Notre Dame.  All the best, Robert G. Johnson (6th Company)

Classmates, spouses and widows are encouraged to chime in to inform and support the USNA-66 “cheering section” for a continued winning season in 2024! Email your input/photos to usna66webmaster@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name and company.

GO NAVY. BEAT ARMY!


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