What We Do Honor and Remember Campaign: Norfolk Branch 5, since Memorial Day weekend 2008, has been heavily involved with the Honor and Remember Flag campaign. The Honor and Remember Flag is a new national symbol recognizing the memory of all those military that died in the line of duty since our great country’s inception. Approximately 1.6 million men and women have given their lives so we may enjoy the freedoms of living in the United States. In October 2008, shipmates in Branch 5 donated nearly $4,000 to purchase 17 personalized Honor and Remember flags which were then presented to families of the 17 members of the USS COLE killed in the terrorist attack. Since then, shipmates of Branch 5 have donated additional monies to purchase more flags to honor the memory and remember the sacrifice of other Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard fallen heroes. Branch 5 now has a developing fund to assist Honor and Remember when they have an immediate need. Branch 5 shipmates also volunteer at Honor and Remember information booths at various events in the local area.  For additional information go to www.honorandremember.org.

Americanism Essay Contest: Each year, the FRA sponsors an Americanism Essay Contest open to students in grades 7-12. The theme changes each year, but of course, is always of a patriotic nature. Norfolk Branch 5 has a very close working relationship with the Norfolk Public School System and annually collects thousands of essays. No other FRA branch, nationwide, comes close to gathering the number of essays that Branch 5 does. It is obvious why Branch 5 is called the "Americanism Essay Branch of the FRA". Awards are given to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each grade, along with awards to the high school and middle school that has the highest level of participation. All certificate awards are presented in the schools at honor assemblies or in the classroom and sometimes on closed-circuit TV. The 1st place winners also receive a savings bond and a medallion which are presented at the Norfolk School Board meeting. Partner-in-Education: Branch 5 is a partner with Norview Middle School as part of our Youth Activities Program. We work with the school, helping with their Athletic Department. We have provided scorekeepers at basketball and volley ball games, sold tickets for these events and have acted as assistants at city-wide track events as starters, timers and, again, ticket sellers. In addition, Branch 5 helps sponsor the Student of the Month Program by providing plaques to the winners.

NJROTC: Branch 5 provides the trophies for the five Norfolk high schools at their annual close order drill meet and the medals honoring students who have displayed significant achievement during the past school year. The close order drill is held in February in one of the schools while the individual awards ceremony is held at the Parade Ground onboard Naval Station, Norfolk. Hospitals and Welfare: Branch 5 has several shipmates that donate hours each week to the Naval Medical Center, primarily assisting in the pharmacy. Members of Branch 5 donate books and magazines to the Naval Medical Center's Bookmobile. We also provide assistance to widows at the time they need help the most, completing the paperwork that help settle finances from the federal government.

There is not a man or woman, on active duty or retired from the Armed Forces of the United States, who at this very moment is not deriving some benefit through the efforts of the Fleet Reserve Association.