Events and Tours

Special Events

  • Benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation

    In 2024, we hosted a benefit BBQ dinner in support of the Wounded Warrior Project. For the 2025 convention, we have decided to do it again in support of a new charitable organization, The Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T.org). T2T was founded by Frank Siller in honor of his brother Stephen Siller, who was a young firefighter killed responding to the Twin Towers on 9/11.

    The event will be held at the Virginia Air and Space Center in downtown Hampton VA on Thursday August 7th. Seating will be limited to 180.

    The Tunnel to Towers Foundation provides incredible support to our Service members and First-Responder communities. They pay off the outstanding mortgages of Service members and First-Responders, killed in the line of duty. They also retrofit the homes of Service members catastrophically injured in the line of duty so that they can remain independent in their own homes. Finally they are purchasing vacant old hotel properties and converting them to housing for homeless veterans, and providing on-site job placement, and other medical and mental health services to those residents.

    Over 95 cents of every dollar donated to T2T goes to these efforts!

    Tickets will be available during pre-registration at myipmsusa.org when pre-registration opens in early Spring 2025.

    We hope you'll plan to attend this special event.   But please visit the T2T.org website to learn more about this amazing organization and consider giving just $11.00 per month on your own.

  • Quilt Raffle

    During Pre-registration and while at the convention, we will be selling chances to win a very special, hand-made quilt, (see picture below) made by Tricia Lent, wife of one of our IPMS Tidewater Members.  All proceeds from the tickets sold will be donated to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. (T2T.org)

    Image
    Quilt
    Quilt by Tricia Lent

Tours

Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Two Tours Planned

We have engaged Fort Eustis and Langley Air Force Base (AFB) to provide opportunities for IPMS members to visit unique venues as part of the Convention. Both installations have responded enthusiastically to support our requests.

Mariners Museum (USS Monitor)

Mariners Museum USS Monitor Center, Behind the Scene Tour

This tour is open to all and is handicapped accessible. Departs 8:30 am and returns 3:00 pm. The focus of this tour will be the USS Monitor and her artifacts. It will offer a glimpse behind the scene at the conservation of the recovered artifacts including the turret, engine, and 11-inch Dahlgren cannons. What can be observed more closely will depend on the conservation schedule. Attendees will also see some of the personal items also recovered. Because of space limitations, the tour will be divided into two smaller groups for a better accessibility. You will also have time to roam the museum. An on-site restaurant is planned to be reopened in 2025.

U.S. Navy Shipboard Tour

Location TBD, either Naval Station Norfolk or Joint Based Little Creek-Fort Story. Departs 8:30 am and returns 1:00 pm. This tour will be of an Arleigh Burke class variant DDG or amphibious warship (LPD or LSD). Likely tour route will include the main deck, hangar (if present), and bridge. Other spaces TBD depending on ship class. Where these ships are moored offers an opportunity to view various other ship types.

U.S. Citizenship will be required for this tour.

USN Helicopter Sqd or Fighter Attack Sqd Tour

Helicopter Sqd. Naval Station and Naval Air Station (NAS) Norfolk.  Departs 8:30am, returns 4:00pm. This tour will start on a US Navy nuclear aircraft carrier (CVN) and will include visits to the hangar bay and flight decks and other spaces TBD.  Following the CVN tour the bus will move to air station for a visit with a helicopter (MH-60) squadron tour. It will likely involve the maintenance hangar and flight line. Visible nearby will be E-2D Hawkeyes and CMV-22B Ospreys.  If time permits, the tour may stop at an on-base McDonalds, but plan to brings snacks just in case.

Fighter/Attack Sqd.  NAS Oceana. Departs 8:30 am and returns 2:00 pm. This tour will be of a F/A-18 Super Hornet Squadron, type TBD. It will likely involve the maintenance hangar and flight line. Visible nearby will be other F/A-18Es and F/A-18Fs.

U.S. Citizenship is required for this tour.