News and Updates
News
Tradition of service: Culpeper woman reflects on Air Force experience
Step by painful step, Culpeper resident Ellen McCarthy served faithfully in the U.S. Air Force half-a-century ago. Fifty years to the month after joining the military, the disabled veteran reflected on her service for Women’s History Month in an interview with Hero’s...
Behind the Curtain: How Hero’s Bridge Cares for so Many Veterans with Such Varied Needs
As Hero's Bridge has grown over the years, we have made our model of care more sophisticated and scalable. With the addition of a new Battle Buddy Community Health Care Worker, we are now able to see an even greater number of aging veterans. And we have more finely...
Vietnam Veteran’s 5K: This is not your regular 5K
The Vietnam Veteran's 5K is not just a race, it's a movement. Vietnam Veterans Day is held annually on March 29. On March 25, Hero's Bridge observance of Vietnam Veterans Day, we hope to see runners in every city, every town, and every rural corner, lace up their...
World War II Veteran Reflects During Wiscasset Visit
Born to Elmer and Dagmar Burkholder, Burkholder grew up with three brothers and three sisters in Fort Madison, Iowa. He graduated from high school in June of 1943 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy the same year. After basic training, Burkholder was sent for pilot...
Vietnam Veterans In-Person 5K March 25
We are excited to announce the return of the IN-PERSON Vietnam Veteran's 5K at noon on March 25 at Molon Lave Winery in Warrenton. Yes, you read that correctly! After a three-year disruption of in-person events, for the 2023 5K our feet will all hit the ground...
Pour a Pint, Pop a Cork, Help a Hero
Hero's Bridge is grateful to The Smoot Grasman Group LLC affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty, for organizing a fundraiser on our behalf. Join us on March 18th from 6-9pm at Barrel Oak Winery and Taphouse to Give Back, "Sip" It Forward and Help A Hero. 100%...
Culpeper veteran of Korea recalls “the Forgotten War”
A member of the Greatest Generation still imparting wisdom, well-needed in today’s world, U.S. Army Sgt. Larry Corbin spent 19 months amid the ravaged aftermath of the three-year Korean War. When he returned a changed man to his hometown of Providence, Rhode Island,...
Marine Corps veteran wants all veteran graves to have a wreath
Marine Corps veteran Lewis Ray was the first person in his family line to join the military, but in his extended family, there were many military members, some predating the Civil War. They are all interred at Ray’s hometown church, Providence Baptist, in Kershaw...
Merry Christmas from Hero’s Bridge!
It is a privilege to serve our veterans in their hour of need. I hear this time and time again from our volunteers, supporters, and team members. While we don't perform these tasks for the benefits we reap, we undeniably benefit from helping our veterans. This holiday...
Local Issues, Real People Features Hero’s Bridge
In recognition of Veterans Day, WJMA's J.D. Slade invited Hero's Bridge CEO Molly Brooks back to his studio for an update on the organization. Slade learned about Hero's Bridge when Brooks helped his friend, a Vietnam Veteran, acquire war medals that had been lost,...
Hero’s Bridge 2022 Veterans Day Recognition
Veterans Day is our biggest day of the year and shone brightly this year. From Middle Schools to offices, we celebrated our veterans throughout the day. During the week prior, we visited with our veterans with care packages in hand to thank them for their service and...
Still Feeling a Call to Action
Robert Sommer would love to tell you about the places he "didn't" go, the projects that "don't" exist, or the facilities that "cannot be named". He cannot. What he can tell you about is the people. "There were heroes on the ground (soldiers in the theater) and then...
March Newsletter: A Note from Molly
We begin the first quarter of this year overwhelmed by the generosity of our community and the willingness of others to step forward and donate their time to our mission. From winery and BINGO fundraisers to our sold-out 5K to honor our Vietnam Veterans, it's been a...
February Newsletter: A Note from Molly
Since its onset, Hero's Bridge has served the needs of aging veterans, identified as those who have served in our armed forces and are over the age of 65. Until this year, we have seen veterans primarily from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. However,...
January Newsletter: A Note from Molly
While the New Year has everyone looking forward, I would be remiss in not looking backward for just a moment. Let me explain... 2023 marks Hero's Bridge's seventh year serving veterans ages 65 and older. During that time, we have had tremendous growth. From the...
December Newsletter: A Note from Molly
It's been a busy month celebrating the holidays with our Veterans. My family chose to do a 'no gift' Christmas this year. As a mother, I had an ulterior motive. I didn't want the children to spend their hard-earned money on me during this difficult inflationary...
November Newsletter: A Note From Molly
The holiday spirit is strong at Hero's Bridge! As we do each month, we spent our time focusing on aging veterans in our region. However, in addition to improving their quality of life through everyday needs, this month we also spent a fair amount of time celebrating...
October Newsletter: A Note from Molly
I am excited to share that I have completed the George W. Bush Institute Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program. When former President Bush was designing the Institute, he had to decide what he wanted to focus on in his post-presidency era. He wanted to make sure that he...
September Newsletter: A Note from Molly
A little levity is a welcome change for our office and team members. Our veterans' needs come in all shapes and sizes and for some, the changes we bring to their lives make a huge difference. Whether it's much-needed medicine we help them get with a drive to a...
August Newsletter: A Note From Molly
Summer is winding down in our region and our youth volunteers are returning to their classrooms. We are fortunate to have 16 youth among our volunteers. We hope their interactions with our veterans have made an impression on them. The name Hero's Bridge is indicative...
July Newsletter: A Note from Molly
Summer has proven itself to be a challenging time for our veterans, especially so this year. Finances are tenuous and making ends meet for older people has become harder than ever. Combine unprecedented storms, power outages, and sustained high temperatures with...
June Newsletter: A Note From Molly
This has been an exciting month for Hero's Bridge! While my team held down the fort, I attended the first week of the Bush Institute leadership program. This program is giving me an opportunity to learn from peers and national experts how to best grow the organization...
A Memorial Day Note from Molly
While we honor and help aging veterans everyday, there is always an echo of their younger selves that we can hear if we listen closely. It is the strong, vibrant young man or woman who left their school, their family, their friends to take up arms and travel to exotic...
April Newsletter: A Note from Molly
This was such an exciting month for us! We welcomed eighteen new veterans to our services which is a record number for us. One of our combat Vietnam veterans was also gifted a new roof by a local construction company. This is significant to us for several reasons....