Thanksgiving!
The quintessential American holiday!
The very name evokes instantaneous & universal images of
food, football, friends & family.
It is a day that we all do everything we can to be "Home" to savor those blessings.
This Thanksgiving, the Bull Run Warrior Retreat hosted it's first Thanksgiving Dinner for a large number of our Willing Warriors + Their Families.
The retreat house became "Home" for the day for these amazing American families who have served our nation so well.
Folks filled up every area of the 11,000 square foot house.
Children played games together -- inside and out!
Of course, the kids were not the only ones playing outside.
The backyard was filled with flying footballs + Willing Warriors!
The kitchen was also a flurry of activity as the intoxicating smells associated with Thanksgiving Day wafted into the rest of the house.
Our Thanksgiving Event coordinator, Sheila Tomlinson,
was very "hands on" throughout the day.
(Wow! She coordinates and cooks! What a gal!)
Numerous SOWW volunteers spent the day cooking and prepping to bring the feast together in the Bull Run Warrior Retreat's state-of-the-art kitchen.
Finally Chef Larry proclaimed that "dinner was ready"!
Our collection of cooks prepared the buffet as SOWW President, Shirley Dominick, snapped a few photos of our guests of honor before welcoming them to their
"Home Away From Home" for Thanksgiving.
But before the feasting began,
there was some genuine 'thanksgiving'.
Veterans from different generations shared the things they were thankful for, reminding us all of the many blessings we have to be grateful for in this country and our way of life.
After the guests had finished sharing their heartfelt thanks,
SOWW Vice President, John Dominick, said grace before the meal.
Then everyone made their way to the kitchen buffet to partake of the feast!
Joining us at the tables were Veterans from both WWII and Viet Nam.
How blessed we were to have the fellowship of
inter-generational Willing Warriors + Families!
This is what a real Thanksgiving looks like!
Once the eating abated (for a time) there was, of course,
more football.
On this special "Thanksgiving 2015", we are incredibly thankful for our SOWW partners and volunteers who have made The Bull Run Warrior Retreat a reality and a tangible means of
"Saying Thanks"
To Our Willing Warriors + Their Families!
For their ceaseless service to our country,
we give thanks!
To all our wonderful SOWWers out there . . .
May your Thanksgiving weekend be filled with
Family & Friends . . .
. . . Feasting & Fun . . .
. . . And the Warmth & Love of "Home".
Happy Thanksgiving From All of Us at Serve Our Willing Warriors!
