News and Updates
News
Volunteer Spotlight: Chrys Morris
At the time of our call, Chrys Morris was packing up brownies and peanut cookies for the veterans and residents at the Villa at Suffield Meadows. Exposure to COVID-19 had her miss the monthly social hour hosted by Hero’s Bridge and VFW Post 9835 later that day,...
About VALOR Home’s Al “Doc” Kincaid
Al Kincaid was drafted into the military in the 1960s. Born and raised in Alaska, he attended college in southern California. “The Army and Marine Corps were drafting people to Vietnam. I didn’t want to do either, so I joined the Navy to see the world. I spent four...
VALOR Home Selects Hero’s Bridge Veteran for a New Roof
Hearlie Hendricks was overwhelmed with emotion when he learned that he was the recipient of a new roof to replace his old, weathered one. Veterans like Hendricks is precisely who Al Kincaid was looking to help when he, his son, Adam, and family friend, Brian Bauer,...
Episode 2200 – War stories from an Air Force Vietnam Vet
Host of Vietnam Veteran News, Mack Payne, shares stories from the brave men who served in Vietnam re-tells the Hero's Bridge piece about Air Force Veteran Col. Khoenke and adds in his own experiences.
Behind the Brick: Warrenton VFW Post 9835
On May 19, 1948, 90 local World War I and II veterans banded together as Charter members of the Fauquier County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9835 in Warrenton, Virginia. In April 1974, the Post was re-named in honor of WWII veteran (and past Post Commander)...
Volunteer Spotlight: Judy Shupp Takes the Long Way Home
In our September 2021 newsletter, we featured Paw Patrol volunteer Nick Travis. During the telling of his story, he shared information about his girlfriend whose rescued greyhound offered comfort to Nick when he needed it most. It was the catalyst for Nick looking...
Vietnam Veterans Day 5K registration now open!
Registration is now open for our Vietnam Veterans 5K run/walk. Registration will remain open throughout March,...
Naval Weather Aerographer, Peggy Hembree, Kept her Eyes Fixed on the Water
While all eyes were on the Vietnam theatre in 1971, the Russians hoped to take advantage of the situation and trained their scopes on the eastern United States’ coastline. Aware of Russian interests, Naval Weather Aerographer, Peggy Hembree, stationed in the Icelandic...
Capt. Robert “Bobby” Bager Thrived Doing What He Loved
This year Hero’s Bridge received a generous donation of gift bags to distribute to our veterans for Valentine’s Day. In appreciation of this kind offering, we would like to introduce Bobby’s Valentines to Hero’s Bridge supporters. Bobby Bager wasn’t an athletic child,...
Hero’s Bridge Connects Elderly Veterans With Care
Molly Brooks wasn’t at her father’s side when he died in 2016. It’s a memory that continues to haunt her. A 23-year career military retiree and Vietnam veteran, Raymond Gustin USMC, MSgt, suffered from the effects of Agent Orange exposure. He was 71 when he went to...
“I’m Sorry, But We’ve Lost Charlie”
A small bottle of Evan Williams bourbon and a pumpkin pie sit on the table; a gift waiting to be given to an aging veteran. Our volunteers don't usually bring alcohol to veterans but in Charlie's case it kept him from paying an unscrupulous "friend" $50 to bring him a...
LETTER: Hero’s Bridge trying to build a village for elderly veterans
Prior military service, especially in combat, has been shown to greatly affect the aging process. While some veterans do well, many others experience a recurrence of PTSD, depression and chronic illnesses from Agent Orange and other wartime exposures. The loss of a...
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....
March Newsletter: A Note From Molly
As an organization that serves aging veterans, many of the people we help are men who served in WWII, the Korean War, and/or the Vietnam War. Many, but not all. Over the years, we have featured female veterans who have had groundbreaking careers during their service....
December Newsletter: A Note From Molly
The holiday season is challenging. While in our personal lives, we are fortunate to have family and friends who love us and surround us to celebrate the holidays, our work with Hero's Bridge reveals a much lonelier side of the season. Our aging veterans returned home...
November Newsletter: A Note From Molly
Every day the Hero’s Bridge team demonstrates our thanks and gratitude for our veterans. We do this with many simple acts of kindness: a birthday card, a coloring page, assistance with groceries, and more. These simple acts are to help make days easier, less lonely,...
October Newsletter: A Note from Molly
Every day is Veterans Day at Hero's Bridge, however we are always grateful at this time of year when the nation takes time to recognize and honor all Veterans who have so honorably served. We will be spending special one-on-one time with many of our veterans that week...
September Newsletter: A Note From Molly
We have lost 7 of the veterans we serve since June. It is always difficult to learn that a veteran, who we cannot reach during our welfare checks, has passed away. But it also serves to remind us that right up until the very end of their lives, we offer help. This is...
August Newsletter: A Note From Molly
At Hero's Bridge, the majority of our requests for assistance are to help Vietnam Veterans. That war had special circumstances that left more damage in its wake than previous conflicts. A lengthy war spanning several presidents and cabinets. Politicians making...
July Newsletter: A Note From Molly
Summer is still in full swing and so are our Village plans. We are excited to continue promoting our brick fundraiser for all of our supporters to leave their mark on the Village. I would like to extend a special thanks to our Running for Hero's partners, Bobby Brooks...
June Newsletter: A Note From Molly
In April, a three-war veteran died at age 96 in the comfort of his historic farm home with his wife by his side. Not every older veteran has sunset years as comfortable as he did. Too many of our aging veterans end their lives living in substandard housing conditions...
May Newsletter: A Note From Molly
As the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran, military recognition days are on my radar. Each year remembrance days from each of our nation's battles has me thinking of the soldiers who lost their lives in wars and skirmishes throughout the years and throughout the world. I...
April Newsletter: A Note from Molly
There is finality in everything we do at Hero's Bridge. We know that we are serving these veterans in their final moments. In some cases, even their twilight years have passed and they are simply waiting to pass away. It isn't easy to accept. In the five years since...
March Newsletter: A Note from Molly
Our team members and volunteers have done their fair share of running around lately...and I mean that both figuratively and literally! Our veterans could always use an extra hand and maybe some help around their house. Many of them live in old homes that show their...