Welcome Home - A Podcast for Veterans, About Veterans, By Veterans

Today's guests are Beau Beasley, author of Fly Fishing Virginia and Fly Fishing Mid-Atlantic, and Al Alborn, the Warrior Retreat Staff Fishing Guide. They sit down for a conversation about their experiences taking Wounded Warriors fishing and the impact it has on everyone.

Our guest today is Caleb Johnson, Northern Regional Director for the Virginia Veteran and Family Support Services at the Virginia Department of Veteran Services. Caleb describes the agency and the benefits and services they provide Veterans.

Diane Lunsford joined Willing Warriors as the Events Coordinator in January 2022. Her connection with the Retreat began four years earlier when she volunteered for the Home Away From Home event in November 2019. Diane's daily role at Willing Warriors is to orchestrate, develop, and deliver memorable events ranging from a charitable car show (Vettes for Vets) and an annual cycling event (Warrior Ride) to round out the year with the Willing Warriors Gala, a time to reflect and pay tribute to our Warriors and give thanks to all those who support our mission and vision. Like her fellow Willing Warriors staff members, Diane never misses an opportunity to meet and greet people, raising awareness of Willing Warriors and why we do what we do.

Retired Air Force Colonel Bill Chester has been with the Warrior Retreat for over 5 years. He leads the Grounds Team, ensuring the Retreat grounds look amazing when guests arrive. Col. Chester served on the staff of the Vietnam Wall Memorial Foundation at the time of their 10th anniversary. He gives us valuable insight into the early days of The Wall, the ten-year anniversary celebration, its impact on the community and Veterans, and what it took to get it built. 

Gabe Delarosa is the East Coast Regional Facilitator for Mighty Oaks, a faith-based counseling organization helping Veterans manage severe PTS issues. Gabe, a Marine Corps Veteran, shares a powerful message about his personal struggle with PTS and how he has gone from a program participant to a Regional Facilitator helping others. Here at the Warrior Retreat, we are honored to host Mighty Oaks Veteran boot camps three times a year. For more information about their program, go to https://www.mightyoaksprograms.org/. 

Director of Operations Dianne Polk and Executive Director Sarah Ford tell us what it takes to run a Retreat for Wounded Warriors and the day-to-day operations. Who gets to come to the Retreat, how are they picked, and what happens during a stay? Sarah discusses what it takes to fundraise for operational costs and future expansion. Dianne walks us through a typical guest stay and talks about how much it means to the Warriors and their families.

John & Shirley Dominick are the founders and driving force behind Serve our Willing Warriors and the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run. Listen to them describe how the Retreat started and what it took to build it into a world-class retreat for Wounded Warriors and their families. They also let us know plans and where they would like to see the Retreat in ten years.