It was a Banner Day!
It Was A Day to Celebrate Our American Freedoms,
And a Day to Honor our Willing Warriors + Their Families
Whose Daily Sacrifices Make Those Freedoms Possible.
We Honored Our Willing Warriors by Opening the Doors to
The Bull Run Warrior Retreat!
We captured the day in photos and we are thrilled to share the scenes from our awesome Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony!
The fields of The Bull Run Warrior Retreat
began filling up with cars and crowds early in the day.
A gathering of our younger SOWW volunteers.
Some of our special guests arrive and are greeted by
Pastor Barry White (Park Valley Church)
and Shirley Dominick (SOWW President)
Author and Editor of
served as our Master of Ceremonies.
First he introduced Janet Lunsford,
Director of Music at Gainesville United Methodist Church,
to lead the National Anthem.
Next, Pastor Barry White, of Park Valley Church,
offered the opening prayer.
Pastor White is credited with issuing the challenge to his congregation to "go out into the community and serve others" that led John and Shirley Dominick to form a small group of volunteers that became Serve Our Willing Warriors.
The crowd enjoying a performance by by the
Other special guests included WWII Veterans.
and our own Girl-Wonder, Nancy Spencer (below)
watch from the wings.
Nancy headed up The SOWW Ribbon-Cutting Committee
that made the day possible.
SOWW President Shirley Dominick
shared the vision and the journey of
Serve Our Willing Warriors.
A misty-eyed moment for everyone:
John and Shirley Dominick,
the two forces of nature that brought a community together to make the
Bull Run Warrior Retreat a reality,
as they shared an emotional embrace.
Pamela Winn-Lovelace, the Warrior Transition Brigade Outreach Coordinator at Fort Belvoir, during a speech addressing the
sobering statistics regarding our
wounded, ill and injured warriors.
wounded, ill and injured warriors.
Pamela works with these incredible men and women everyday.
She has been a longtime friend and advocate for
Serve Our Willing Warriors.
Shirley and John take a moment to thank Dave Baird,
who acted as the general contractor during the renovation of
The Bull Run Warrior Retreat.
Kudos to Dave for an incredible job!
The Long-Awaited Moment Finally Arrived!
Pictured left to right:
A Long-Awaited Triumph
Built on the Commitment and Gratitude of a Community as a Gift to our
Willing Warriors + Their Families!
Willing Warriors + Their Families!
After the ribbon was cut, the doors were opened to the completed
Supporters from the community line up to tour the
"Home Away From Home" for our Willing Warrior Families.
"Home Away From Home" for our Willing Warrior Families.
John gives a tour of the gourmet kitchen.
The downstairs includes a super-comfortable recreation room, a beautiful exercise space and private rooms for physical therapy.
Later in the afternoon, it began to rain as people continued to file into the retreat house.
But the rain didn't dampen the spirit of our volunteers or guests!
As far as special days and memories go,
this day will be treasured by many for years to come.
Our deepest appreciation goes to:
Nancy Spencer and The SOWW Ribbon-Cutting Committee
for pulling this event together.
To our Guest Speakers for their inspiring words.
To ALL of the SOWW Volunteers,
whose long-term commitment and elbow-grease has made this vision a reality!
And most of all;
To Our Willing Warriors + Their Families
You have inspired us to come together as a community and build a dream together.
We hope it will be a haven and a blessing to many of you for many years to come.
It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
©Copyright 1970, 2005 by Charles M. Province
