The Romanian Nato Community

Besides the Romanian-Americans living in Hampton Roads permanently, there are some 40 Romanians residing here temporarily, as a result of their ties to NATO. Norfolk is home to the only NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT) located on US soil. The Romanian military working at the NATO, and their families, are well integrated in the local Romanian community.

These military families live also integrated in the American culture, positively responding to the American customs, and yet never forgetting the Romanian traditions they perseveringly intent to preserve.

The military families’ stay in the Hampton Roads area takes only a few years after which they return to Romania; however, the short period of time is not an impediment for them to make durable friendships.

Every year, the Romanian NATO community organizes certain activities which aim at promoting the Romanian culture among the representatives of the other NATO countries working in Norfolk, as well as among the members of the local American community. Activities such as the National Day of Romania or Norfolk’s International Azalea Festival attract a lot of attention on Romania.

At the Azalea Festival, the Romanian NATO community gets involved by organizing a Romanian float, beautifully decorated with the most representative symbols of Romania, and carrying a Romanian girl appointed as “Princess”.  The float takes part in an impressive parade along the streets of downtown Norfolk, parade which attracts a lot of spectators.  While this is a wonderful opportunity for Romania, it gives our community a chance to get to know people of different nationalities and discover small pieces of their customs and cultures. 

When celebrating the National Day of Romania, the Romanian NATO community gathers together for the Romanian flag raising in the morning of December 1 and for the party following in the afternoon that hosts guests from all the other NATO countries and other special guests willing to discover some of the Romanian traditions, build up friendships or even socialize in constructive ways. This event is a wonderful opportunity not only for the Romanian NATO community, but also for the Romanian-Americans residing in the surroundings of Norfolk who are welcomed to the event as well, to immerse themselves in the traditional Romanian atmosphere created by the party.