Author Archives: Kent

FOSH Request for Support in Year-End Fundraising Drive

30 Tuesday Nov 2021

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Dear Friends,

Ten ago this coming month, we did our first volunteer event at the Armed Forces Retirement Home-Washington. Although the Covid-19 pandemic and closed access of the Home campus limited us in 2020 and 2021, we were able to hold the traditional July 4 and Fall Fun festivals and send holiday gifts. 

We are hopeful in 2022 to return our past in-person volunteering, community festivals such as July 4 and Fall Fun Fest, and pilot access walking and biking. 

Your financial support makes this possible.

Click “donate” on friendsofsoldiers.org or send a check to Friends of the Soldiers Home, P.O. Box 3170, Washington, D.C., 20010.

If you are a federal worker, retiree or member of the military, please select #56535 to donate through the Combined Federal Campaign.

Thank you so much for your support and have a wonderful holiday season.

See What’s Planned for the 4th at the Soldiers’ Home

27 Sunday Jun 2021

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Location: Enter the Armed Forces Retirement Home at Randolph Road and Rock Creek Church Road in Washington, D.C. For navigation, use 340 Rock Creek Church Road N.W., Washington, D.C.

Performance Times:
4pm: DJ Billy White aka The Music Man
9:09pm: National Mall Fireworks


Attractions:
4pm-8:30pm: 40-foot obstacle course, dual hoops basketball game, fun house panel6:30pm: patriotic bike, scooter decoration contest judging (top three winners get prizes)


Food/Drink: Timber Pizza, Ooo Dat Chicken, Rocklands BBQ, Captain Cookie, Anheuser Busch
Weather: 79 degrees, partly cloudy
Cost: Free if you walk or bike in. Friends of the Soldiers Home requests a $10 donation per carload for drivers
Volunteer: We need you! Give time for part of the event: https://signup.com/go/jrvRqQZ
Pets/Fishing: Sorry, you must leave pets at home, and no pond fishing this year.

A Very Special Thanks to the staff and residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home for making this event possible, and to the Capital Chapter of the Nam Knights of America for volunteer support.

FOSH Year-End Campaign

20 Sunday Dec 2020

Posted by in Fundraising, Holidays

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Dear Friends,

Nine years ago this month we did our first volunteer event at the Armed Forces Retirement Home-Washington. Although the Covid-19 pandemic and closed access of the Home campus limited us in 2020, we were able to send supplies, virtual well wishes and holiday gifts.

As we enter our 10th anniversary year, we are hopeful to return in 2021 to our past in-person volunteering, community festivals such as July 4 and Fall Fun Fest, and pilot access walking and biking.

Your financial support makes this possible.

Click “donate” on friendsofsoldiers.org or send a check to Friends of the Soldiers Home, P.O. Box 3170, Washington, D.C., 20010.

If you are a federal worker, retiree or member of the military, please select #56535 to donate through the Combined Federal Campaign.

Thank you so much for your support and have a wonderful New Year.

John Hughes

FOSH Chairman

(Friends of the Soldiers Home closed out 2020 by delivering holiday gifts of wine and decorations to the Armed Forces Retirement Home-Washington. Pictured are John and Ellen Hughes of FOSH with Home staffer Carol Mitchell, center.)

SELECT CFC #56535 AND GIVE TO FOSH TODAY!

09 Wednesday Sep 2020

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The Combined Federal Campaign kicks off Wednesday Sept. 9 and Friends of the Soldiers Home is proudly participating this year for the first time. If you are a federal worker, retiree or member of the military, please select #56535 in the Combined Federal Campaign to support our work.

Our standard set of activities has been to provide our monthly event connecting veterans and volunteers over food, drink and music, hold our three annual campus celebrations that unite residents with their neighbors, and provide gifts such as a flat-screen TV and holiday decorations that add to the quality of life for our friends that served so proudly. We also have a community garden and pilot walking/biking project. With limited access to the campus and residents during coronavirus we continue to provide residents as much as we can – but only with your contribution!

July 4th Celebration Cancelled This Year

23 Tuesday Jun 2020

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Eight years ago this month was a historic time for our community. People inside and outside the Armed Forces Retirement Home had reached out to one another in 2011 in the spirt of friendship. By June of 2012, the Home and its neighbors were preparing to open the gates for a July 4 festival. That first big day was a huge success, and a tradition was born. Now, after a great eight-year run, we are sad to say there will be no July 4 gathering this year. The health risks of such a large event during the coronavirus pandemic are too great. We look forward to when the community and Home will gather again to celebrate as one community. This is the spirit that led to the creation of Friends of the Soldiers Home. Even a pandemic can’t dampen that.

John Hughes

Chariman and Co-Founder

Friends of the Soldiers Home

FOSH Gathers Video Support Messages for Veterans Armed Forces Day

06 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by in Remembrance and Tributes, Volunteering

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There’s no Spring Fling 2020 after seven consecutive years of having the event, but let’s enjoy this photo from Fling ’19 last May.

Friends of the Soldiers Home has been unable to see our veteran friends at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in person since February. We miss them terribly. But there is good news! As of April 30, there have been zero reported cases of Covid-19 at the Soldiers Home!

There’s more good news — we have an opportunity to send our veteran friends video messages of support for National Armed Forces Day on May 16th. Record a greeting no longer than 1 minute in length and email it to Marine.robbin(at)afrh.gov by Monday May 11. Tell our veteran friends you miss them and wish them good health, or any other positive message you want to send during these difficult times. Our wonderful children can add their smiling faces and beautiful voices as well. Friends of the Soldiers Home has been unable to bring the community and veterans together in our usual, physical way, but we are excited to send our love virtually!

FOSH Requests Support in Year-End Fundraising Drive

02 Monday Dec 2019

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With Giving Tuesday this week, please remember Friends of the Soldiers Home in your year-end donations. FOSH counts on year-end fundraising to support our three annual festivals and volunteer organizing. Donate here or send a check to Friends of the Soldiers Home, P.O. Box 3170, Washington, DC 20010. Your support has enabled our eight years of serving the Armed Forces Retirement Home-DC and the community. Thank you!

Fall Fun Fest Brings Record Attendance to the AFRH Campus

08 Tuesday Oct 2019

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Fall Fun Fest on Sunday, Sept. 29, was fabulous! A record Fall Fest crowd of more than 1,500 people came to the Armed Forces Retirement Home-Washington campus for a warm, sun-filled day. On the upper campus in the morning, the AFRH organized a fun morning that included a classic car show, petting zoo, DJ Billy White and a Model T assembly.

On the lower campus in the afternoon, Friends of the Soldiers Home hosted the PG and the Hot Tips band, food trucks, face painting, Critter Connections and an inflatable obstacle course. Creative Minds International added a bounce house and pumpkin patch, and the Nam Knights directed parking at the front gate.

We at Friends of the Soldiers Home want to give a sincere thanks to everyone who came to this event, and to our sponsors, DCCX, ANC1A, ANC4C, Anheuser Busch and JES Foundation Repair. Above all, we thank the AFRH residents and staff for welcoming the community to their beautiful campus!