Twenty-two people addressed the Town of Warrenton Planning Commission in favor of the Hero’s Bridge Village during the September 17, 2024 Public Hearing. Below are some of the comments they made. (Comments have been edited for brevity.)
To watch the full Public Hearing, visit https://www.regionalwebtv.com/warrentonpc. Hero’s Bridge Founder and CEO, Molly Brooks, begins at the 1:38:33 time stamp.
Carol Scott: The town of Warrenton has an amazing opportunity to provide respite and shelter to people who have served their country. [Every single veteran] signed a blank check to the government of this country for their lives. That check was always cashed in part. This community should embrace this project.
Graham Sheffield: The Hero’s Bridge Village is the kind of innovative solution we need to support our most vulnerable community members. [The Village] will offer critical services like transportation, nutrition assistance, and companionship, all of which are essential to the well-being of the seniors who will live there.
Carolyn Kirkland, Navy veteran: The least we can do as these veterans age is to [take care] of them in the later stages of life when they most need help, we would step up to the plate and make it possible for their remaining years to be in peace.
William Benner, veteran: I am a Hero’s Bridge volunteer and have spent well over 800 hours serving local veterans and I can tell you that without exception, they are some of the most humble, kind, selfless, and grateful individuals I have ever come in contact with. The three most common issues I’ve seen are social isolation, inability to drive, and concern with aging in place. I can’t think of a more diverse and inclusive community in this town than one that allows our elderly veterans to interact with their younger generations.
Lewis Ray, Vietnam Marine Corps veteran: There is no other place for this facility.
Chase Hodges, Marine Corps veteran: I am the veteran services coordinator for Encompass Community Supports. Half of the veterans I work with are struggling with housing and most are in unstable housing. Having a community of [veterans] will help with mental health.
Vanessa Engelhart: My dad lived out the last weeks, days, and even months of his life in hell. Fiercely independent, he stay in his apartment after his terminal cancer diagnosis. When I found him, he was without proper nutrition. His medications and money were disappearing from random people who entered his house. His last days of unconsciousness were spent in extreme stress. If my dad had had the opportunity to live independently in a supportive community, like the Hero’s Bridge Village, he could have lived the last years and months of his life in peace.
Laura Martin-Spetter, veteran: By 2040 you want more housing for people. Here it is. I help six other veterans get to their doctor’s appointments. I take an entire day to do it and it is the joy of my life.
Bruce Campbell, Navy veteran: Grateful for my personal good fortune, I’m deeply concerned that so many vets need support due to physical limitations, loneliness, and financial strain. The Hero’s Bridge Village recognizes the unique needs of elderly vets and offers a tailored solution for their comfort, safety, camaraderie, and care.
Brian Shires, veteran, and Chairman of the Creekside Veterans Club: Our members decided to buy beds, easy chairs, and TVs [for Village veterans]. For two years we have been fundraising to help furnish the Hero’s Bridge Village.
Phil Kasky, Navy veteran: My wife, Mary, and I were the Battle Buddy of a veteran named Peter. He was the epitome of why Molly began this program. He had health issues from Agent Orange, he had low income, no tv and no internet. He suffered nightmares from his time as an Army Chaplain. His income was $1200, his rent was $1100. He had $100 for food every month and relied on the support of his friends for the final years of his life.
Joe Ficarelli: This location is the perfect place and it’s easy to argue that this town needs this as it is beneficial to the community at large. I hope the veterans who oppose this project, but say they support other veterans, will volunteer there and make their community better.
Gina Smith: Four local studies indicate the need for housing. The Planning Commission’s code of ethics states that it supports the health and well-being of citizens, as well as services and infrastructure that will allow people of all means to live.
Lee Sherbeyn, Veteran: I can guarantee that the rental unit housing in this area is lacking and what you’re being told is absolutely untrue about bringing housing values down. It actually increased the values of where these developments were put. Hero’s Bridge offers dignity, stability, and support for our veterans while making our town a stronger and more inclusive place.
Mark Williamson, Air Force veteran: As of this afternoon there are only 9 rental units in Warrenton and 15 in the county. We need more affordable rentals for our community, for our workforce, seniors, and our veterans.
Mick Martin, Vietnam veteran: Representatives from Hero’s Bridge showed up at my house in 2018 while I was recovering from an illness due to Agent Orange. They helped me with paperwork and to get caught up with my mortgage payments so I wouldn’t lose my house. Now, I work with Hero’s Bridge. This is an incredible opportunity for Fauquier County and the city of Warrenton to make a difference in people’s lives.
Terri Church, Pastor: I am here to say, yes in my backyard. As a pastor, I’ve looked into senior housing for people calling my church looking for help. There is a two-year waiting list. The location in town is vital to a program like this so people can get to their services and may not even need a car.
Tom Watson, Air Force veteran: You change ordinances when there is an opportunity to help people who need help.
Louis McDonald, Leadership Chair, Warrenton United Methodist Church: The Bible emphasizes the respect and care due to the elderly, and providing them with housing and support aligns with these values. The presence of older veterans in the neighborhood offers opportunities for younger generations to learn from their experiences and honor their service. This helps cultivate a culture of respect and intergenerational solidarity.
Felicia Champion, program director of Community Touch: We all know there is a housing crisis and we need to support Hero’s Bridge and take care of our veterans who are experiencing homelessness in our community.
Larry Davies, Pastor, Warrenton United Methodist Church: This is not just a land deal. This is a partnership between veterans who need help and churches who love supporting veterans.
Ed Benson, Vietnam veteran: Take the opportunity to do the things that you can do to help this community and be the community that I chose to live in in 2007.
Read more about the Hero’s Bridge Village.
Donate to the Village project.