17 Friday Feb 2017
Posted in Holidays, Volunteering
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Friends of the Soldiers Home was proud to send 10 volunteers to help with the very special Chocolate Lovers’ Social at the Armed Forces Retirement Home-DC on Valentine’s Day evening. The enormous warmth and great fun in the room that evening can’t be overstated. The Home staff put together a wonderful party for residents, and we were honored to be part of such a special evening on Valentine’s Day!
Photos by Lauri Hafvenstein.
07 Wednesday Dec 2016
Posted in Holidays
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The holidays are upon us, as evidenced by the lighting of the 16-foot Christmas tree at a gala celebration at Soldiers Home-DC the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 6. Santa was there, as were cadets from Magruder High School in Rockville, Md. Friends of the Soldiers Home, in honor of its 5th anniversary, presented the Home with a special holiday gift — a neon sign that will become a permanent fixture in the Defender’s Inn saloon on campus. The sign says in part, “AFRH-W, FOSH slautes you,” as a sign of permanent gratitude from Friends of the Soldiers Home to residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home-Washington.
The event also featured entertainment from the 42nd Street Singers, Creative Minds Band and the Jazzy Blu Band. FOSH invited several residents from the community to join the fun, and many came, including several excited children. Of course there was the tree lighting itself, at which Chaplain John Goodloe led all in the singing of `O Christmas Tree.’
Photos by John Hughes, Jonah Goodman and Matthew Roberts.
05 Tuesday Jul 2016
Posted in Holidays, Sports & Recreation
It rained and rained for the wettest July 4 of our five annual festivals held on this day. But the weather didn’t stop 1,500 hearty souls from coming out and enjoying DJ extraoridinaire Billy White and the awesome Music Messiahs band. Small children ran fast and free on the expansive driving range while many tried their luck at the fishing hole — and they found they had good luck indeed in such grey weather. We are grateful that Roaming Chicken and Captain Cookie food trucks came out despite the poor conditions. Lots of people enjoyed the treats and cold beer from the beer truck. We are so happy also that many Armed Forces Retirement Home-DC residents and staff braved the conditions to enjoy the day! We are particularly grateful to all of you on July 4! The day would not have been possible without the support of the Nam Knights and all of our other volunteers, and our sponsors, Anheuser-Busch and DCCX. Thank you all! And just as we were all about to enjoy the fireworks down on the Mall, mist and fog rolled in over the tree tops, showing that on July 4, 2016, Mother Nature indeed had the last word. But wetness didn’t dampen any spirits and we are so happy that so many from the community came out to celebrate Independence Day!
04 Monday Jul 2016
Posted in Holidays, Music and entertainment, Sports & Recreation
In case you are wondering … yes, the July 4 celebration is on! The rain possibility reminds us why the Soldiers Home campus is so beautiful and green for Independence Day, but don’t let it prevent you from having fun. Weather forecasters are saying we might catch some breaks as we get closer to fireworks time. Come on out! See you there.
14 Tuesday Jun 2016
18 Friday Dec 2015
Posted in Holidays
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Our Friends at DC Homeschool Cooperative visited the Residents on Monday to bring homemade Holiday cards and to sing a carol or two – they brought much cheer to the Home this year!
15 Tuesday Dec 2015
Posted in Holidays
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Jingo, Saloon Night Trivia, Tree Lighting with Kirov Ballerinas and Santa, and the annual Holiday Dance – we did it all! Friends joined the Home to celebrate the holidays with the veteran Residents and everybody spread good cheer and friendship. We wish all Friends a Happy Holiday Season and we’ll see you again in 2016!
12 Thursday Nov 2015
Posted in Holidays
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It was a beautiful Veterans Day at the Soldiers Home in D.C. Residents and guests gathered at the flagpole to honor the service of those who live at the retirement home as well as all other veterans, deceased and alive. The service was moving, as new soldiers greeted veterans and veterans proudly wore on their chest the recognition they had received during their service. Retired soldiers, sailors and airmen — both men and women — stood from their wheelchairs for the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. The Nam Nights and others joined residents for a final photograph after the ceremony ended. Yes, indeed, it was a beautiful day.
Story and photos by Liz Cocke.
05 Thursday Nov 2015
Posted in Happy Hour, Holidays
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As you can see from these photos, we had a WILD and scary time at Happy Hour at the Soldiers Home last week. Who knows who was underneath that crazy witch costume! We played a fun game of poker, got a prize for guessing a weight of the pumpkins, told bad jokes, laughed at the volunteers’ outfits and enjoyed conversation with the Soldiers Home residents. Remember, Happy Hour happens the last Tuesday of each month. Come and join us Nov. 24 as we celebrate this beautiful autumn! Contact volunteerfriendsofsoldiers (at) gmail (dot) com.
Photos and story by Liz Cocke.
06 Monday Jul 2015
Posted in Community Events, Holidays
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Wet weather didn’t stop about 1,750 people from enjoying the fourth annual Friends of the Soldiers Home July 4 celebration! More Soldiers Home residents joined the fun than in any previous year. It was wonderful to see so many veterans and citizens mingling and having a great time! The Music Messiahs, One Man Band Resident Waymon Lucas and Resident DJ Billy White provided great musical entertainment. The NAM Knights parked their motorcycles in orderly fashion and then did a wonderful job directing parkers and pedestrians at the event. Thank you Knights!
Captain Cookie and Lemongrass continued their tradition of joining us at every single event we have held, and other new, and some returning, food trucks also served delicious treats! Thanks to our sponsor Budweiser there was also some beer to enjoy. For the first time there were also some carnival games to enjoy. People really enjoyed the vast green expanse of the driving range where kids roamed far and wide. Thanks to Friends President Mary Bucci for doing a great job in leading the organization of this event. We are also grateful to the many volunteers who gave several hours to make this event so successful. Yes it was fun, but we’re not done yet! We will see you at Fall Fun Fest on Sunday Oct. 4, which is the next big community event. Mark your calendars!
Story and photos by John Hughes.
More photos after the jump.
