What it’s like to live in Cherry Point, North Carolina

When people ask me where I live they often don’t recognize ‘Havelock.’ However, when I say Cherry Point they respond, “Oh ya, I know where that is!” If you have to ask why that probably means you do not have any family in the Marine Corps. Havelock is a small area with a lot of people which is thanks to having a military base make up the majority of the town.

Havelock does not have much to do so you have to go to either Morehead or New Bern for some fun, but if you drive through Havelock there are some key signs that you have arrived.

The constant sound of planes

I keep forgetting most people aren’t used to the sound of jets and planes, so while other people think it’s obnoxious, I tend to not notice anymore. I think one of the coolest things about the planes is how close they get to you (not anywhere near where you fear for your life but close enough you can see all the detail). The sound of planes is like the soundtrack of Havelock thanks to the base.

The military base

Military is a big thing within the community. There is a lot of respect towards the men and women who fight to protect us. Whenever you drive through you’ll see a lot of car stickers associated with the military such as their symbol, Semper Fidelis, or even “Proud Military __”

I can go on base because my father is the Marine Corp, however he’s not stationed at Cherry Point. The base is a lot of fun and the majority of what you can do in Havelock is located on the base. The only bad thing is that you have to have a military ID, civilian work ID, or go through the process to get a visitor ID to gain entree.

Salt Life

One thing I love about this area is that we are close to the beach. When you drive through our town you will see thousands of “Salt Life” stickers. Summer life is always great because of the beach. Even though Atlantic Beach is not directly in Havelock it is a big part of what this town is about.

Traffic lights are the bane of our existence

Well I hope you’re not in a rush because if you get stopped at one light, you get stopped at them all. A typical drive through Havelock is not that long but these stoplights can add up to 10 to 15 minutes on your trip. Plus, being a military town, having people from various places creates an environment where no one seems to know how to drive. After a while you get used to this but it definitely reminds you of where you are.

Walmart is the only shopping around

I know what you are thinking: Walmart is almost everywhere, so why is this one special? Before this Walmart came to our town you would have to drive 30 minutes to either New Bern or Morehead to shop – unless you had access to the commissary on base. Walmart is the only shopping area that we really have now that they closed one of our Food Lions down.

Plus, when Walmart came out, high school students – my friends and I included – would hang out there and act crazy. Why, you ask? There is not really much to do unless you are creative and find your own entertainment.

Carmike Theater

The Carmike theater is one of the few things you can do in Havelock that is not going out to eat. Who doesn’t like going to watch a movie with some friends? And of course there is the popcorn.

Football is king

Football is huge here in Havelock. As soon as you enter Havelock the sign says “Welcome to Havelock, Home of the Rams State Champions for…” and goes on to list the years. When I was in high school we won the state championship three years in a row, and it was a big deal. Havelock Ram symbols are everywhere in this town whether it be the “H,” the colors black, gold and white, or the ram itself. Football nights always surprise me when I see a majority of the town there supporting our team. You can really feel school pride when you come here.

The Marching Rams

Adding on to school pride the Marching Rams are a big deal here. Every football game they entertain the crowd during half time and of course start the game off with the National Anthem. In a military town this is the one song you do not mess up. Luckily, this band has it down.

No one really has a country accent

Welcome to the South: home of farms, southern belles, and accents! Or at least that’s how the stereotype goes. Here in Cherry Point we actually don’y fit this stereotype. I don’t know if it’s because we have various types of people from various places in one area, but we do not have the hard core country accent here like those in Morehead or New Bern have. Of course there are a few exemptions to the rule, but if you are expecting to enter this part of the south and see country land, southern belles, and hear an accent -then you are wrong. It ‘s fun to listen to the various accents and see where everyone in this town is originally from, and it’s a great conversation starter.

Havelock Chili Fest

During October the cold weather begins to creep in, but no worries because every year you can warm yourself up with a variety of chili at our annual Chili Fest. You can enjoy the food, play some games, and socialize with others in the town.

People are always coming and going

Every time you turn your head there’s a new family moving in, and another leaving town because of military orders. School life is always interesting because you can be heartbroken one day due to a friend moving away, but at the same time have a sense of excitement knowing you have a new student joining the class.  You are always meeting different people here and making long lasting friendships no matter where you both are.

Even though there is not much to do in Havelock, the people are what makes this town a great place.