It was one very busy year for Serve Our Willing Warriors! From early spring until late autumn SOWW had hosted multiple fundraising events, worked with many fantastic people, and prepared the retreat house for coming renovations. But as both Thanksgiving and winter approached, we really began to contemplate what the holidays at the retreat would eventually look like when the home was finally open to our Willing Warriors + Families. The more we talked about the holidays, the more we felt the need to decorate the house in its current semi-deconstructed state. We wanted to celebrate all the progress we had made in 2013 towards establishing a 'home away from home' for our recovering Warriors + Families by having a Holiday Open House to close out the year.
We called on our faithful volunteers to make a little space for SOWW in their busy holiday schedules and, as always, they were eager to help. Together, we decked, festooned and adorned Bull Run Warrior Retreat and then opened her doors to visitors for a house tour that featured a warm hearth, holiday tunes, hot cider and homemade Christmas cookies!
Since it was December 21 - the first day of Winter, we were a little concerned that the weather might work against us. We had been pummeled with snow and ice a few days earlier, but that very morning the sun came out, the roads were clear and we had a lovely time with our guests all afternoon. It was a delightful break from the usual holiday hustle and bustle.
Gathered mistletoe greeted guests in the front hallway entrance.
Our local Girl Scout volunteers brought a beautiful + fragrant fresh fir wreath for our fireplace that was donated by Camp Snyder.
After a quick pose by the tree, the Troop got to work at the fundraising table that featured our
Mistletoe Forest Ornaments.
A hanging angel drew attention to the architectural drafts for the retreat house renovation and displayed some of our mistletoe harvested from the trees in the front yard.
Green clusters of mistletoe, a symbol of American resilience, could be viewed in the treetops from the front windows of the house.
(CLICK HERE to learn more about our mistletoe . . . )
SOWW VP John Dominick shared kitchen renovation plans with a local reporter.
The stockings, all hung by the chimney with care, brightened the family room where SOWW President Shirley Dominick chatted with a couple of guests.
Our Social Media Guru, Emily Hendrix, was on hand to share information about our GoFundMe Campaign and hand out our Chick-Fil-A Fundraising coupons.
Bull Run Warrior Retreat was truly festive, sunny and bright - even in her unfinished state!
Some of our lovely volunteers (Kiersten, Stacey + Keaghan Plaugher) took a short break from handing out hot cider and cookies to snap a family portrait.
It always warms our hearts to see families volunteering together.
As the afternoon came to a close and the sun began to set, we basked in the warm aftermath of meeting so many new, wonderful people who were excited to share in the vision of 'giving back' to our Willing Warriors. As we swapped stories from the day, we realized that this was actually a very special period of time for Bull Run Warrior Retreat. This was (and is) the season that we get to share it - and all it stands for - with the community at large. This planning-stage period offers a unique window of time when people can freely walk through its halls + rooms and envision a home-like Warrior retreat with us.
Some day soon, these rooms will be filled with our recovering Warriors + Their Families. But until that day arrives, this home is a touchstone for the community. It is a like a bridge linking community with our recovering Warriors. A place where people can volunteer to show their gratitude and appreciation to those who have served our country in a time of war.
A place to serve; a place to heal; and a place to dream big dreams . . .
To schedule a visit to tour Bull Run Warrior Retreat,
Many, many thanks to the Battlefield High School Dance Team, Eileen Walters and the Girl Scouts, Camp William B. Snyder, + all our additional SOWW volunteers who made the day possible.
Because of your holiday efforts, our retreat house truly began to feel like a home!
No comments:
Post a Comment