Creeds, Va.: Here we come!

Creeds is probably an Algonquin Native American word, and perhaps that was the name of a chieftain who lived in southeastern Viriginia in the community now known as Creeds.

Fewer than 1,500 people live in Creeds, which still has the feel of a rural area…even though it is now officially part of the independent City of Virginia Beach. (In Virginia, independent cities are not part of a county.) 

What was formerly Princess Anne County (who eventually became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland) is now regarded as “extinct.”

 

Central to the community is Creeds Elementary School. The original Creeds building was built in 1848 when the area may have been known as Blossom Hill.

 

The Creed Ruritan Club is a driving force in the quality of life. Its Ruritan barn complex hosts an array of events, ranging from 4-H club competitions to weddings and receptions.

 

Nearby is the Military Aviation Museum, a privately owned collection of World War I and World War II era military aircraft. Experience scores of vintage warbirds that you can “almost reach out and touch.” Most of the planes on display are airworthy and have flown at the museum during flight demonstrations and at air shows throughout the year.

 

“Summer of Flight” programming occurs each Saturday from May 1 through October 30, showcasing historical events and aircraft through lectures and flight demonstrations. 

Admission fees apply. Tickets are priced at $17 for adults. Seniors, active duty military and teachers are $15. Youth ages 5-13 are $10. Children 4 & under and World War II veterans are free. (All admission fees are subject to a 10% admissions tax.) 

The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.) 

To learn more, access militaryaviationmuseum.org or call (757) 721-7767. 

In Virginia Beach, Naval Air Station Oceana is the Navy’s East Coast Master Jet Base, home to F/A-18 Super Hornets.

 

The base, including Dam Neck Annex and Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress, has approximately 10,500 active Navy personnel, about 10,000 family members and 4,500 civilian personnel, making NAS Oceana the second largest employer in Virginia Beach, after Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. 

NAS Oceana’s flight line, Apollo Soucek Field, is home to 17 aviation squadrons. Sixteen squadrons consist of F/A-18 Super Hornets, which deploy on aircraft carriers into combat. Two squadrons are permanently based at Oceana, including the largest fleet replacement squadron, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, and the adversary training squadron, Fighter Squadron Composite (VFC) 12.

Routinely, two-thirds of this complement is “working up” on aircraft carriers off the coast or deployed at NAS Fallon, Nevada, for live air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons training. Typically, a carrier air wing’s overseas deployment lasts six to seven months. 

Each year, the installation hosts the NAS Oceana Air Show, a free event designed to highlight military and civilian aviation to the public. Annually, more than 250,000 people attend the NAS Oceana Air Show, making it the Navy’s largest public outreach event.

 

NAS Oceana also holds the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Lab Learning Day during the “practice day” of the NAS Oceana Air Show. Thousands of 5th grade students from Virginia Beach and Chesapeake public schools take a field trip to the flight line to learn STEM concepts and see them immediately applied by witnessing the aerial performances.