Veterans Day 2024
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This year's National Veterans Day Celebration at the Armed Forces Retirement Home was a heartfelt tribute to the spirit and legacy of our nation's heroes. Highlighted by the D.C. National Guard’s Black Hawk helicopter landing in the morning and dual F-16 flyover in the afternoon, the picture-perfect day evoked pride and nostalgia for the residents, staff, and supporters who came together to celebrate service and camaraderie.
This fourth annual celebration has become the signature event for the Old Soldiers Home Foundation, joined once again by presenting sponsor Recorded Future who provided funding and volunteer help to ensure a successful day. Returning sponsors also included AM General and Colossal, along with new sponsors TICO Manufacturing and partners, Thundercat Technology, Corgan, and August Schell.
TICO Manufacturing wrapped a special edition truck with the foundation’s information and coordinated with suppliers and partners to provide our largest gift to-date, $100,000. Thank you to TICO and all your partners!
Pictured: TICO Manufacturing President Jim Grooms, Old Soldiers Home Foundation Board Chair Pat MacArevey, and TICO partners with the special edition truck and ceremonial check in Savannah, Georgia.
Festivities began with welcome remarks from AFRH CEO Steve Rippe with coffee and pastries once again from Dog Tag Bakery, which helps veterans transitioning to civilian life gain personal, social, and professional skills through their Dog Tag Fellowship Program.
Everyone gathered in the Hall of Honors for a commemoration led by the Home’s Ombudsman Dion Dupree, benediction by AFRH Chaplain Emeritus Rev. John Goodloe, and keynote remarks from U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Robert J. Skinner.
The celebration continued with the Blackhawk landing and up-close viewing of the helicopter and interaction with the crew.
Veteran-owned Mission BBQ and Pizza di Joey provided lunch in the community center, along with Nick Virk of Nick’s Pizza who brought his mobile pizza oven to make fresh wood-fired pies just outside. The weather cooperated this year, with many choosing to be outside particularly to see the 12:30 formation flyby by the two D.C. National Guard F-16s! Refreshments at the Home’s bar, the Defenders’ Inn, were served by members of the Basilone Chapter/Warfighters Motorcycle Club volunteering bartending support to AFRH barkeep and resident Sheldon Shorthouse. Resident DJ Billy White played music throughout the afternoon, while games, a resident craft fair, and silent auction featuring local sports team tickets, memorabilia, and artistic creations added to the fun. Thank you to the Washington Nationals, Monumental Sports, Anheuser-Busch, International Spy Museum, KFast Solutions, AFRH residents and supporters for their contributions!
Although the event is primarily about bringing veterans and supporters together for a day of fun, we are enormously thankful to the sponsors and donors who gave to make this our best fundraising season yet, with $135,000 raised! These gifts will help the Old Soldiers Home Foundation’s work improving the quality of life for veterans living at AFRH. We are finishing a couple major projects in the coming weeks and are excited to share the results, which wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our supporters.
We extend our deepest appreciation to everyone who provided sweat equity to make the National Veterans Day Celebration 2024 happen, in particular: Lauren Mitchell, Travis Smith, Hilary Rosado, Paul Armbruster, Milton Stark, Sheldon Shorthouse, Dion Dupree, Ron Anderson, Carol Mitchell, Ritha Gaskin, Marine Robbins and Ian Hutchinson.
Mark your calendars to attend National Veterans Day Celebration 2025! We can’t wait.