The mighty James River is seen in the background looking out from the American Legion pavilion where the Huguenot Republican Women's Club members honored Chesterfield veterans with a special appreciation picnic.
Special guest speaker Paul Galanti, former Vietnam War POW.
Sen. Steve Martin enjoys Brock's BBQ lunch with members of my family.
Catching the senator's ear....
SWAC Daughter looking out over the James River.... These are my growing-up stomping grounds ... Chesterfield is where I was born and raised. The James River was center to boating, swimming, rock-hopping, and a general magnet for teens of the 1970s.
American Legion's grounds along the James River include volleyball court.
David Thomas with his dad, RPV's State Central Committee Vice Chair Mike Thomas. David was home schooled, graduated from high school in 2007, and just completed his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, on July 31, 2008, with his speciality being Military Police.
Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, Republican candidate for Attorney General in 2009. A home school dad and conservative leader in the Virginia State Senate, he was at Saturday's picnic.
Group photo of all the veterans.
Chesterfield State Senator Steve Martin, another conservative voice in the Virginia State Senate.On a warm late-summer afternoon on a knoll overlooking the placid James River, over 200 people gathered for a Veterans Appreciation Picnic hosted by the Huguenot Republican Women's Club and Chesterfield County Republican Committee at the American Legion Post in Chesterfield County.
The setting was gorgeous, the day was sunny, and the fellowship was warm and entertaining as the program unrolled and the day progressed ... silent auction, food, speakers, tributes, music. The occasion was an opportunity for the ladies in the women's club to invite and honor veterans in their families and, for me, it was almost like a family reunion. My mother, a member of those groups, had invited my husband, brother-in-law, three cousins, and a cousin's husband as well as my step-dad ... all veterans from various branches of the military.
The ceremony began with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance as we gathered around the flag pole, and then a bugler began playing the National Anthem. When the wind blew his sheet music and he stumbled and stopped, there was a momentary pause ... and then the crowd began singing, picking up at the place where the bugler paused ... first a few voices, then more, then the entire crowd was loudly singing the National Anthem, hands over hearts, and the bugler fell in with them and did not miss another note. It was one of those patriotic moments....
Special guest speaker Paul Galanti was soft-spoken and witty as he cracked one-liners and kept the crowd laughing. His blue shirt accented his twinkly blue eyes as he connected with fellow veterans spanning decades of wars from World War II to Korea to Vietnam to Desert Storm to Operation Iraqi Freedom ... and even one young recruit who just returned from basic training. As small children played outside the picnic shelter and the lazy James River flowed by, Commander Galanti tended to keep the mood light. After the ceremony, while everyone was visiting and eating lunch, he talked and posed for photos with those in the crowd the entire time, barely finding time to eat.
Others who spoke ... and all were inspirational ... were the son of Rev. Benni Singleton (WW II), the mother of Sgt. Alison Foster (Afghanistan) who had unexpected received orders last week and flew out Saturday morning to Korea, and CSM Doris Wollett (Iraq). Mrs. Wollett, who was there with her veteran husband, was interesting as she related experiences of her year in Iraq.
The roll call of the names of all veterans attending was called, and then all stood and were applauded and recognzied with certificates as thanks for their service.
A group photo had all veterans, from 18-year-old David Thomas to World War II vets in their 80s, lined up for a memory of the day. And then it was time for Brock's BBQ and time to visit with others in attendance.
It was evident by the faces of the vets that they were moved ... I watched my cousin, who served during the Vietnam War years, almost moved to tears -- a man who is the comic of the family but it was obvious he had received an honor that had not been forthcoming during those turbulent years of the 1960s. We can never thank those who protect our freedoms enough for what they lay on the line to protect those freedoms.
To them all ... thank you for your service.
Thanks to all who made this possible with their hard work, and to those who donated funds for the event. More photos in follow-up post....
Photos by SWAC Girl
The setting was gorgeous, the day was sunny, and the fellowship was warm and entertaining as the program unrolled and the day progressed ... silent auction, food, speakers, tributes, music. The occasion was an opportunity for the ladies in the women's club to invite and honor veterans in their families and, for me, it was almost like a family reunion. My mother, a member of those groups, had invited my husband, brother-in-law, three cousins, and a cousin's husband as well as my step-dad ... all veterans from various branches of the military.
The ceremony began with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance as we gathered around the flag pole, and then a bugler began playing the National Anthem. When the wind blew his sheet music and he stumbled and stopped, there was a momentary pause ... and then the crowd began singing, picking up at the place where the bugler paused ... first a few voices, then more, then the entire crowd was loudly singing the National Anthem, hands over hearts, and the bugler fell in with them and did not miss another note. It was one of those patriotic moments....
Special guest speaker Paul Galanti was soft-spoken and witty as he cracked one-liners and kept the crowd laughing. His blue shirt accented his twinkly blue eyes as he connected with fellow veterans spanning decades of wars from World War II to Korea to Vietnam to Desert Storm to Operation Iraqi Freedom ... and even one young recruit who just returned from basic training. As small children played outside the picnic shelter and the lazy James River flowed by, Commander Galanti tended to keep the mood light. After the ceremony, while everyone was visiting and eating lunch, he talked and posed for photos with those in the crowd the entire time, barely finding time to eat.
Others who spoke ... and all were inspirational ... were the son of Rev. Benni Singleton (WW II), the mother of Sgt. Alison Foster (Afghanistan) who had unexpected received orders last week and flew out Saturday morning to Korea, and CSM Doris Wollett (Iraq). Mrs. Wollett, who was there with her veteran husband, was interesting as she related experiences of her year in Iraq.
The roll call of the names of all veterans attending was called, and then all stood and were applauded and recognzied with certificates as thanks for their service.
A group photo had all veterans, from 18-year-old David Thomas to World War II vets in their 80s, lined up for a memory of the day. And then it was time for Brock's BBQ and time to visit with others in attendance.
It was evident by the faces of the vets that they were moved ... I watched my cousin, who served during the Vietnam War years, almost moved to tears -- a man who is the comic of the family but it was obvious he had received an honor that had not been forthcoming during those turbulent years of the 1960s. We can never thank those who protect our freedoms enough for what they lay on the line to protect those freedoms.
To them all ... thank you for your service.
Thanks to all who made this possible with their hard work, and to those who donated funds for the event. More photos in follow-up post....
Photos by SWAC Girl
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