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 Hero’s Bridge celebrates one of its longest-serving volunteers, Eve Harrell.
Eve’s journey with the organization began in 2018, shortly after moving to Northern Virginia when her husband, Mike, a Marine was assigned to Quantico. “I was a stay-at-home mom and wanted to spend some time volunteering,” she said.
Her deep connection to the elderly stems from her childhood volunteer work at nursing homes and her close bond with her 96-year-old grandmother. Eve found the Battle Buddy program appealing.
After attending an orientation, in March 2019, was paired with James Sisk, an 82-year-old Army veteran. Their bond began with phone calls, but after six months they met in person in October 2019.
“We met for lunch with his son and his son’s wife,” she said. Protective of his father, James’ son wanted to meet Eve. “ I met with them several times over the years,” said Eve.
Eve supported James by taking him to visit family and spending time with him, often accompanied by her young son, Heath. Their friendship lasted until James’s passing in April 2022.
Eve’s commitment didn’t stop there. Over the years, she has supported seven Hero’s Bridge veterans, including Doyne Shrader, another Army veteran.
She assists Doyne with appointments, groceries, and daily tasks. Her dedication and warmth have made her an indispensable part of these veterans’ lives, filling in when family and friends are absent. “Doyne regularly expresses his gratitude for my help,” she said. “He doesn’t have any other family or friends who live nearby, so I am the only person who reaches out to him consistently,” she continued.
Eve’s background in sociology and public health, along with her experience as a military spouse, has further shaped her compassionate approach. Mike, her husband, served in the Marine Corps for 15 years, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, before retiring as a Gunnery Sergeant in 2019.
Before her marriage, Eve earned a bachelor’s from the University of Georgia and set out for a career in Public Health. She spent a few years working at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta where she helped transfer select agents. “If a vial of Ebola was moved from one location to another, I helped with the formal request paperwork.”
Hero’s Bridge and the veterans Eve serves deeply appreciate her unwavering kindness and service.
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