VIRGINIABEACH,Va.—VirginiaBeach will commemorate the 50thanniversary of the end of the Vietnam Warand honor the country’s veterans,prisoners of warand those missing in action(POW-MIA)with specialeventsplannedforNov.7-11.
Events free and open to the public include:
The Moving Wall,a half-size traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial inWashington,D.C.,ondisplay8a.m.-8p.m., Nov. 7-11, at the VirginiaBeach Convention Center,100019thSt
Militaryvehicles,displays and moreat theVirginiaBeachConventionCenter
Annual Tidewater Veterans Day Parade,9a.m.,Nov.11,startingat16thStreet andAtlanticAvenueinVirginiaBeach
Annual Tidewater Veterans Day Ceremony,11a.m.,Nov.11,attheTidewater VeteransMemorial,acrossfromtheVirginia BeachConventionCenter,100019thSt
Theeventsare co-sponsored by theCity of Virginia Beach Mayor’sCommittee for Veterans(MCV),theHamptonRoadsCouncilofVeteransOrganizations(HRCVO)and Mission: POW-MIA,a nonprofit organization based in Chesapeakethat works to achievethe fullestpossibleaccountingof missing andunaccounted-forAmericans frompastconflicts
Virginia Beach’sVeterans Week events havebeen designatedasa national commemorationeventbytheUnitedStates ofAmericaVietnamWarCommemoration, anationalprogramauthorizedbyCongress tomarkthe50thanniversaryofthewar.The commemoration beganonMemorialDay 2012 and concludes on Veterans Day2025. The program’sprimary goalistothank and honor Vietnam veterans andtheir families fortheirserviceandsacrifice.
Formoreinformation about theseevents andothersastheyareconfirmed,pleasevisit VirginiaBeach.gov/VeteransWeek.
TheMovingWall: Atribute toour Vietnam Veterans
The Moving Wall, ahalf-size traveling replicaoftheVietnamVeteransMemorialin Washington,D.C willbeondisplay8a.m.-8 p.m.eachday,Nov.7-11,attheVirginiaBeach ConventionCenter,100019thSt.
Thewall, whichwill be free andopento the publictovisit, features 58,000 names etched into 74 separate panels and is 252.8 feet long.Volunteers from HamptonRoads Veterans Organizationswill be at thewall to assistvisitors in locating names and to providesecurity An official openingceremony, 10 a.m., Friday,Nov.7,will feature music, Virginia Beach MayorBobbyDyerand thelaying of wreathsattheMovingWall. Organizations interested in laying a wreathmay contact Virgil Hart, chair of theVirginia Beach Mayor’sCommittee for Veterans,atvhart@vbgov.com.
Formoreinformationabout the Moving Wall and other events for POW-MIA families,contactDaveHuffman,executivedirectorofMissionPOW-MIA,atdave.huffman@ missionpowmia.org,orvisitmissionpowmia. org.
Tidewater VeteransDay
Parade and Ceremony
TheHamptonRoadsregionwillpaytributetothemenandwomenwhohaveserved in all branches of the U.S. armed forces during the 2025 Tidewater Veterans Day ParadeandCeremonyonNov.11.
Theparade begins at 9a.m. at 16thStreet andAtlanticAvenueandconcludeswiththe formalceremonyattheTidewaterVeterans Memorial, acrossfromthe Virginia Beach ConventionCenter,100019thSt.Sponsored bytheHamptonRoadsCouncilofVeterans Organizations (HRCVO),the event is free andopentothepublic.
Aluncheontohonorveteranswillfollow, and tickets arerequired for attendance
Visit www.HRCVO.org for information on purchasingtickets
Sections of 19thStreet, Atlantic Avenue, PacificAvenue, 17th Street and MediterraneanAvenuewillbeclosedfortheparade Formoreinformation on theparade and ceremony, contact Daniel Doyle, president of the Hampton Roads Council of Veterans Organizations,757-3480884, dandoyle615@gmail.com or visitwww.HRCVO.org
Ghosts of the Battlefield
VehicleDisplay
Onevehicle from each conflict —World WarII, Korean War, VietnamWar and Desert Storm —willbeondisplay and staffed, 8a.m.-5p.m., Nov. 10;and 8a.m.-4
p.m.,Nov.11, in front of the Virginia Beach ConventionCenter.OnevehiclewillparticipateintheTidewaterVeteransDayParade Freeandopentothepublic. Formoreinformation,contactDaveHuffmanatdave.huffman@missionpowmia.org Americans in Wartime Experience -Voices of Freedom Project
The mobile recordingstudio and vehicledisplaywillbeavailablenoon to 5p.m., Nov. 10,inthe parking lot on thewestside of the Virginia Beach Convention Center
It will also be in the Tidewater Veterans DayParade,beginning at 9a.m., Nov. 11,at 16thStreet andAtlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach Combatveteransofanypastconflictwho areinterested in sharing their storiesinan interview areasked to contact Dave Huffman of Mission:POW-MIA at dave.huffman@missionpowmia.org. About 10 one-hour interviews arepossible.Freeandopentothepublic.
North Carolina Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Vehicle Display
Threehelicopters —a Huey gunship, a Huey “slick,”and aOH-6CayuseObservationHelicopter —will be on static display and staffed by Vietnam veteran helicopter pilots,9 a.m.-5 p.m.,Nov.10, in theparking lot on thewestside of theVirginia Beach ConventionCenter The helicopters will be in theTidewater Veterans DayParade, beginning at 9a.m., Nov. 11,at16thStreet andAtlantic Avenue inVirginiaBeach.Theywillthenbeonstatic display,noon to 5p.m., Nov. 11, in theparking lot on the west side of the Convention Center Free and open to thepublic. Formore information,contactDaveHuffmanatdave huffman@missionpowmia.org.
Schooner Virginiatakes first inclassinthe 2025 Great ChesapeakeBay Schooner Race
The130-nautical-milecoursefromAnnapolis to Thimble Shoals Light wasanything butcalm—withgustingwindsexceeding20 knots,intense overnight maneuvering,and an incredible finish just one minute and fifty seconds behind Pride of BaltimoreIIacross theline.
Because each vessel’srigging and design spanmorethanacenturyofsailingevolution, the official standings are adjusted forfairness —and when thenumbersweretallied, Virginiaclaimedthetopspot.
“Itwasathrillingracefromstarttofinish,”
said Michael Fiorentino, Captain of SchoonerVirginia.“Our volunteer crew worked tirelessly through the night, demonstrating incredible skill,teamwork,and dedication We’rehonored to represent Norfolk and proudtobringhomethewin!”
An asset of theNauticusFoundation, SchoonerVirginiaisvitaleducationplatform to engage the HamptonRoads community with afocus on delivering transformative maritime and handsonlearning to students of all backgroundsand ages,museum visitorsand thegeneral public.The Schooner Virginia’sprogramming emphasizes STEM education, maritime history, tall shiptraining,workforcedevelopmentandtheconservation of our local waterways. Thisvictory notonlyhighlightstheskillanddedicationof her captain and crew but also reinforces the
Coffee &Tea relaunches in Virginia Beach
PressRelease
VIRGINIABEACH,Va.—VirginiaBeach is nowhometoanew veteran-owned business with amission. EDC Coffee &Tea, a premiumcoffee andtea brandoriginally founded in Michigan, relaunched Oct. 10, 2025,under new leadership from its headquartersinHamptonRoads EDC Coffee &Tea takesits name from the term Every DayCarry,which encompassestheessentialitemsyoukeeponhand to be prepared for anything.For the brand, that means making coffee and tea part of your daily gear,fueling purposeanytime anywhere.
Owner Dom Raso, aVirginia Beachresident and former U.S. Navy SEAL, is wellknowninthecommunityasanentrepreneur and founder of Dynamis Alliance |Crush
Editorial Staff ManagingEditor |PO1 Cody D. Beam
Everything.WithEDC Co ee &Tea, he’s expanding hismissionand redefining how tostayfueledonthego.
“Thisrelaunch is about morethancoffee andtea,it’saboutfuelingpeoplewithproducts they cantrustand buildingsomething meaningful hereinVirginia Beach,”said Raso. “We’reproud to call this community home and to giveback to aplace that has givenussomuch.”
In addition to creatinganew local business,EDC Coffee &Tea will donatea portionofproceedsfromeverypurchaseto theTunneltoTowers Foundation,which supportsGoldStarfamiliesand provides mortgage-freehomes forcatastrophically injuredveteransandfirstresponders
OwnerDomRaso,aVirginia Beach resident and formerU.S.NavySEAL,iswell-known in the communityasanentrepreneurand founder ofDynamisAlliance|Crush Everything.With EDC Co ee &Tea,he’sexpanding his mission andredefining howtostayfueledonthe go (COURTESYPHOTO)
(PHOTOBYTIMMANGUS)
Part II interview with renowned local author Father John Manuel on his new book, ‘One Bag at a Time: My Battle to Healing’
InterviewByYiorgo
Editor’s note: Last week we talked to Father John Manuel about his incredible new book, “One Bag at a Time: My Battle to Healing.” Now we continue with part II.
Yiorgo: Tell us Father John, what did youlearnaboutthedoctors nurses andour medical care system through your recent medical setbacks dealing with a diagnosis of bypass surgery, and then a few months later,adiagnosisoflymphomacancerinyour bodythatthenspreadtoyourbrain?
FJM:Well,I,Ithinkthatthepeoplewho wereonthatsixthfloorintheNorfolkHospital River Pavilion are dedicated to bringing peopletowellness Theysincerelybelievein what they’re doing and they expose themselves to great risk with these chemicals. But they’re there every day, they’re doing unpleasant tasks, and they’re facing people in dire circumstances, many who are far worse than I am. They do it because they feel committed, and they express their love andtheirdevotionandtheirmeaninginlife, theircallinginlife Fromthedoctors tothe nurses tothesupportstaff Ihavearesoundinggratitudeinmyheartforthem.
As far as the medical system at large and the insurance issues and things like that, that’sabitproblematic.Mostofall,theypaid mostofmybills Ihavesomeconcernsabout theoverallsystem,butindividually,withthe people,Icanneverthankthemenough And in fact, you know, I’ve brought some Greek pastriestothemafewtimesandsomeflowers We formed this great relationship on the floor It was like a little church When I first arrived, I was Mr John, but by the end of each time, I was Father, and they would come,they’dsit,anditwaskindofcool.
Y: How has your experience with the disease,thedecline,anddeathoverthepast yearaffectedyourfaithinGod?
FJM: Well, as a believer, this is a very big question because if my faith in God is just a veneer if it’s just you know, something to make me feel good because fundamentally I fear death, then it’s not real faith. It’s not a real trust. So this circumstance with the heart,that’sscary.You’rebeingattackedinto thecoreofyourbeing,withyourheart.You start to think, “Well, I could die from this.” Andthenyouhavetoaskyourselfagain,“Am Iabeliever?”AndifI’mgoingtoclaimtobe a believer, it should mean something One night, I was really tortured about this, and this is in the book, and I was staring up into thedarknessofmyroombecauseIwaswrestling with this gnawing anxiety, like a black emptiness of space that I was staring into AndasIwaslettingmymindrelax,mybody relax, a verse from our liturgy popped into my mind. I got up immediately and I wrote it down ‘cause I thought, “I don’t wanna forget this.” And I ended up writing about it, and it was this that came to me in Greek Atthebeginningoftheorthros,themorning service,wesay,“GodistheLord,andHehas revealed Himself to us Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” And that’s Jesus And so, when I thought about it, I thought,“GodistheLord,”meaningHe’sthe one who’s the governor the prime ruler of everything HeistheLordofeverything and HehascaredenoughforustomakeHimself known to us He has revealed Himself to us throughout the ages And it popped into my mind, “That’s what all the Scripture is about.That’swhatourfaithisabout.That’s what the saints are about, they’re revealing the presence of God to remind us that God is real, our faith is real, the reality of divinity is real, the kingdom of heaven is real.” They attest to it And then that final attesting was perfected in the person of Jesus, who himself was God in the flesh, to say to us, “I am with you. You’re not alone.” And when that came into my mind, I said, “Oh, I’ve heard that thousands of times I’ve neverthoughtaboutit.”AndIsaid,“Hereis anangelicpresencecomfortingmetoknow that God is with me.” I would not have had that experience if I were not in this horriblesituation.Yesinfearofdeath,andinthe fear of being alone So after that, it was like somethinghadchangedinme Iwasassured ofGod’spresence Icouldsleepeverynight. It didn’t matter whether they poked me 10 timesor20timesorwhatevertheresultsof the tests were, I knew that God’s with me Whatever the result is I’ll be in His hands, and it’s okay He’s with us on both sides of death.Thattome asabeliever,mydefining experience, and I still can’t get enough of expressingit‘causeeverytimeItalkaboutit, I think about that night and how horrible I feltandwhatpeaceIfeltafterwardandhave continuedtofeel.
Y: Do you plan to write more books like this one, and if so, what would be the possiblethemes?
FJM: The book One Bag at a Time ends with my third hospital stay I had a fourth oneafterthat,andthenanotherchemoafter that. So probably around the fifth or sixth chemo, I said, “Okay, I’m gonna stop here, whileI’matapoint,dependentonfaith.”I’m writing a sequel to this, ostensibly going to call it, “One Cell at a Time.” That’s going to cover the stem cell transplant and the final conclusionofthisexperience theotherside ofitwhichwillberenewedhealthandservingGod.Soyes,Iplantowritemorebooks.I wannaseeifIcanputoutabookayear,until I’m75ifGodgrantsmethat.And,youknow,
it would be all kinds of different themes I don’tknowwhat’sgonnacomeout.
I did write a little novel that is set in the islandofKos,andit’scalled,“TheHealersof the Cambina.” That was where my mother grew up in Kos, in under German occupation,Italianoccupation,allthat,andithasto dowithhealing andwiththeideathatSaint PaulvisitedKos,andthatasecretletterthat washiddenaway,wasfinallyuncovered.And nowwecanreadthisletterthatPaulwrote Well, it’s all fictional, of course If Paul had visited the Greek island of Kos and, and the othersurroundingareas,whatwouldhesay about the healing and the medical practice and the traditional medicine and learning that we have from our heritage? So I wrote that, but on a different style and track than these books None of the books are overtly church-related I’ve done that deliberately so that people could see how my faith isn’t defined by my church. It’s defined by my experience with God. Because in the end we’re not gonna be judged by whether we areinchurchornot We’regonnabejudged by whether we believe or not, whether we followed His commandments and did His will.
Y: Anyone you want to thank that have beenpartofthisjourney?
FJM: The most important person for me to thank is my bride, Karen, who has been patient in this whole process and faithful. Not just with the writing She recognizes that the writing is helping to keep me alive. She’s the one that gave me the little laptop that’s helping me to write, but also through this process of uncertainty But one thing that has been one of the great benefits of this experience has been that even though my body’s been under assault, we’ve grown closertogether,morethanweeverhadbeen before.Soafter40yearsofmarriage,which wejustcelebratedthispastSeptember22nd, werealizedthatourlovehasbeenagreatgift from God, and she’s been tremendous, the greatestsupportthatIcouldhave AlsoIam verygratefulandthankfulformyfamily,my sister, my cousins, my brother-in-laws, and thechurchcommunitythatarepraying The rockhasbeenmywife
Y: Now let’s learn a little bit about you. How and when did you know that you wantedtobeapriest?
FJM:Well,IgrewupinLancaster Pennsylvania. The son of Steve and Demetri Emmanuel, both of whom have roots in the island of Kos, Greece. My dad was born here. My mother is from Greece We grew up, I grew up in a very typical Greek Americanhome,youknow,withitsstrongfamily values and also a strong sense of the presenceofGod.Andofcoursetherewereicons everywhere in a typical Greek house. My momanddad,theywouldinvitepeopleover theirfriends,theircontemporaries,andthey would have a Bible study with them. And I remember as a child hearing those Bible
studies
Mydadwasabarberbytrade,buthewas an iconographer by his passion He did the churchinLancaster,hedidotherchurches. Buthestartedreturningtohislifeinchurch. And when his life when he started to get turned on by the orthodox faith, not just by ourcommonheritageupbringing butbythe teachingsoftheLordandthescripture,that woke me up as a young So from the age of ten then, I felt that hunger in me because of my father And then I noticed, of course, mymotherwasalwaysfaithfulandholy,you know, because that’s the Greek stereotype, is the mother is that faithful, it woke me up a little bit more, and I started to read and to examine what is it what do we believe? So by the age of ten, I felt in my heart, with the exampleofourpriest,Fr AlexanderVeronis in Lancaster, he was a major teacher, that I wantedtobeapriest,andthereasonforthat is I wanted to have a fuller voice to express my faith. And that was the beginning of my journey Y: From Pennsylvania you came to Virginia Tellusaboutthatpartofyourjourney FJM: My journey was interesting After I graduated with my master’s degree, I ended up teaching English for like five or six years, at a couple of colleges, and then I started painting houses and there was a telephonecall.Theysaidtheyhadanopening in Richmond, Virginia. I had already done two stints in Ohio and in Wilmington, Delaware in youth work. But then the call thattookmetoRichmondwastoteachover there. I was going to do a couple of years of youth work and then get a PhD But when I gotthere,theHolySpiritmovedmetoward the priesthood. They called, they ordained me, and I spent 12 years in Richmond as an AssistantPriest Andthenwhenanopening happened down here at Saint Nicholas in Virginia Beach, 13 more years down here andherewearetothepresent.
Both of my sons are priests I have four children My eldest daughter is a nurse, so she helps people My other daughter is a presbyter,soherhusband’sapriest,andthen mysonsarepriests Andthenpeoplewhoare associated with them have been blessed by our family to become priests as well. So it’s been something that has sort of multiplied becauseofthegraceoftheHolySpirit.
Y: You have shared a lot about your present journey. Is there anything else that you wantthereaderstoknow?
FJM:Rightnow,Ijustwanttheirprayers with my health issues I know that God has everythinginHishands,asHealwaysdoes And as I said before, it will be okay We’re always challenged at different stages of our lives SoI’mthinkingateachstage itsounds bigger than it is at any other stage but it’s all the same It starts at the beginning, the middle,andtheend The other thing I say that I would like
people to know is that just because you havecancerdoesn’tmeanit’sterminal.It’sa disease Andweallhavetoprepareforthings thatweface EventuallyGodwilltakeusand we’ll go back. We’ll go into His kingdom by His will, if that’s His will. So we can trust thatoneithersideoflifeorontheotherside thatGodiswithus Istillwanttobewiththe peoplethatareonthissideoflife ButIhave to be faithful and take one day at a time and notoverthinkit.Andthat’sokay
Yiorgo is an arts, entertainment and sports writer A stage, TV and movie actor, he is also a sports entertainer educator motivational speaker writer storyteller and columnist.
Note: Part 1 of this interview can be found online at https://www.militarynews.com/ norfolk-navy-flagship/community/part-iinterview-with-acclaimed-local-author-father-john-manuel-on-his-new-book-one/ article_ddd743bb-c85b-4e3f-b4c9ce3c38294868.html
FatherJohn Manuel (on right) and his son FatherThomas Manuel.(COURTESYPHOTO)
Above: Father John Manuel and hiswife Presvitera (meaning thewife ofa priest) Karen.
Left: Father John’s latest book,One Bag at aTime - MyBattle to Healing
COURTESY PHOTOS)
PressRelease
NORFOLK Va Fall is here, and the holiday season is right around the corner It’stheperfecttimeforcleaninganddecluttering Residents can freshen up closets, garages,shedsandshelvesandclearoutall thehouseholdhazardouswaste,dustyelectronics, plastics and more at Keep Norfolk Beautiful’s“NorfolkRecyclesDay”Special Waste Collection Event on Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to noon, at Azalea Baptist Church (3314 E. Little Creek Rd.)
This drive-up and drop-off event offers Norfolkresidentstheopportunitytoproperly and safely dispose of items such as paint, batteries, pesticides, cooking and automotive oils, propane tanks and more, free of charge Proof of residency may be required.Residentscanalsobringpersonal documents for secure on-site shredding andFriendsofNorfolk’sEnvironmentwill be giving away native trees while supplies last. With the holidays on the horizon, residentscanalsodropoffcannedandnonperishable foods to donate to the PrimePlus Food Pantry And don’t forget about pets! Residents can also donate pet food to help stock the shelves at the Community Pet Pantry at Norfolk Animal Care Center.
Any brand, flavor or type of food for pets is accepted as long as it’s new and unopened. Special thanks to Azalea Baptist Church for hosting this event. Partners from SPSA Norfolk, Goodwill Hampton Roads, Shred-It and City of Norfolk Waste Managementareprovidingservices VolunteersfromKeepNorfolkBeautiful,Norfolk CERT, Camellia Shores Civic League and localcommunitygroupswillbehelpingon site Visit www.norfolk.gov/knb for more information on accepted items Follow Keep Norfolk Beautiful on Facebook and Instagram(@keepnorfolkbeautiful)tostay up to date on cleanups, recycling events and resources to support clean, litter-free communities
Safety Tip: Cook your meatloaves to 160 °F Use a meat thermometer to test the temperature. You will know that your loaves will be completely and safely cooked without beingdriedoutfromoverheating
Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Peppers
RecipefromNutrition.gov
Kids will love these stuffed peppers Serve this recipe beforeheadingoutfortrickortreating
Spray a small skillet with nonstick cooking spray Cook chopped onions until soft, about 5 minutes, in skillet over mediumheat.
Mix together garbanzo beans, ½ cup cheese, tomatoes, cooked onion, green chilies, garlic, chili powder, cilantro, salt,andpepperinamediummixingbowl.Addcookedrice andmixgentlytocombine Spoonmixtureevenlyintopeppers
Add peppers to a baking dish. Bake for 40 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes
Note: Create festive peppers by carefully cutting a jacko-laternface
Chocolate Covered Pumpkin Pretzels ByCulinary.net
Asweetandsavorytreat,theseChocolateCoveredPumpkinPretzelswilldisappearscaryfastatyournextHalloween party Withjustthreeingredients,they’reeasytomakeand sharewithguestsofallages
VisitCulinary.nettofindmorequick,simpletreats.
Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 5 minutes
Yield: about 36 pretzels
¾cuporangecandymelts
1bag(16ounces)minipretzeltwists
¼cupminigreencoatedchocolatecandies
Linebakingsheetwithparchmentpaperandsetaside
In medium microwave-safe bowl, melt candy melts 30 secondsthenstir Workingin15-secondintervals,continue microwaving until melted and smooth, stirring between intervals With fork or dipping utensil, dip 36 mini pretzel twists,oneatatime,intomeltedorangechocolateandgently tapsideofbowltoremoveexcess. Lay each covered pretzel on parchment paper Using remainingpretzeltwists,breakapartenoughtoequal¼cup Place one mini green chocolate candy (to form leaf) and one broken pretzel piece (to form stem) on top of each dipped pretzel. Repeat with remaining pretzels and chocolatecandies
Let set until solid. Pretzels can harden on counter about 30minutes orplacedinrefrigeratororfreezer5-10minutes
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Savetheseedsfromyourbakingpumpkintocreateatasty snack. These pumpkin seeds add a nice crunch as a salad, soup oroatmealtopper
In a large bowl, mix all ingredients until all the pumpkin seedsareevenlycoated. Spread the seeds onto a baking tray and bake for 15-20 minutesoruntilgoldenbrown,stirringhalfwaythrough. Removefromtheovenandcoolbeforeenjoying!
Notes: Love seasonal fall flavors? Leave out the garlic powder andaddthefollowing: 1tspofpumpkinpiespice
