Christmas With Our Willing Warriors At Walter Reed @ Bethesda

It is one of SOWW's favorite times of the year! 

 

Every December, Serve Our Willing Warriors hosts our Annual "Willing Warriors" Christmas Gift-Giving Event at Walter Reed, now located at Bethesda.  We love nothing better than to mix and mingle with our favorite people - our recovering Willing Warriors! There is no better place on earth to catch the true "spirit of giving" than to be surrounded by these selfless men and women who have given so much for our country.

This year, as always, SOWW partnered with Park Valley Church to raise funds for gift items and gift cards to be distributed to our Warriors. Our event coordinator, Sharon Chase, introduced SOWW to an additional partner this year - Intelligent Decisions. The ID Company provided bags and blankets to be supplemented by the additional gifts from Park Valley Church.

One of our favorite items to include is always the handmade cards from school children. This year, SOWW Treasurer Tom Roselius brought us 500 cards from the students of Fauquier County Public Schools. The students ranged from the second-grade through high school. They both amazed and delighted us with their beautiful artistry and heartfelt words. (We ladies quickly learned to be mindful of our mascara while reading - we were often moved to tears.) 

Each card came with a $25 gift card inside from 

Park Valley Church + SOWW.

 

We wanted to share some photos from the inspiring day with our readers.  As always, we were humbled and touched by the Warrior Spirit these warrior men and women + their families exude as they transition and heal.

Here are some scenes from the day . . .

Kelsy Dominick rolls in the gift bags to hand out to our Warriors!

The Serve Our Willing Warriors Gift Table - Ready to go!

Preparing to hand out the beautiful cards made by the students from Fauquier County Public Schools.

You'd better not pout -- at least, not around here!

As you give thanks for the gifts you receive this season, please remember with gratitude the service and sacrifice these Warriors + Families have made on our behalf.  They are truly one of our greatest gifts each and every day of the year!

"I understand the large hearts of heroes,  

The courage of present times and all times . . . "  

 ~ Walt Whitman ~ 

 

Our grateful thanks to Sharon Chase and Intelligent Decisions for their support and involvement; 

The students from the Fauquier County Public Schools for their inspiring cards for our Warriors; 

Russell Ramey at ColorNet Printing for the beautiful displays; 

Toast Masters, Whole Foods + Barbara and DJ Owens for their fundraising support; 

and, as always, to Park Valley Church for their generous donations and continued partnership in this annual event.  

We are privileged to know and work with these amazing individuals + organizations.