Friends, Veterans Join Together in First Happy Hour of 2014

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Happy Hour

(Photo credit: Lori Lincoln)

On a fiercely cold night, nearly 50 veterans and a dozen volunteers came together for drinks, food, music and camaraderie at the Soldiers Home campus. The event Jan. 28 marked the fifteenth time Friends of the Soldiers Home and veterans met up for this community mixer called Happy Hour. Friendships were formed and stories were shared. At the end of the night, volunteers headed back into the cold, but with a warmer feeling than they had before they arrived. Photo: Veteran Harry Miller enjoys visiting with volunteer Krista Hurlburt at Happy Hour Jan. 28.

(Resident Philip Cardinalis and new FOSH Volunteer Rocelia Johnson. Photo)

Monthly Jingo Game Again Leaves Volunteers As Happy As Veterans

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Jingo

Ten people helped residents play Jingo during the January 9th event at the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Who had more fun, the veterans or the volunteers? Let’s call it a draw. We know Ida Simpson had fun. She is pictured wearing the cap in one of the photos below with volunteer John Salatti. It was Ida’s birthday, and she won a game. Can’t top that! Next month, Feb. 13, will be our 25th Jingo! Write volunteerfriendsofsoldiers (at) gmail (dot) com to be part of the fun.

John Salatti and Ida Simpson.

Photos by Mary Bucci

2014 Saloon Nights Launch in Style With ‘Nobody’s Business’

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Entertainment

Photo credit: Zach Hartman

About a dozen Friends of the Soldiers Home volunteers invaded the Defenders’ Inn on the Soldiers’ Home campus for the first time in 2014 on Jan. 7. The Friends brought some friends — the outstanding blues/rock band Nobody’s Business. About 50 residents came down to the Inn for Saloon Night With Friends, and a wonderful, raucous time was had by all. There was dancing! Not too long ago there was still barb wire on the fence between the Soldiers’ Home and the surrounding neighborhood. Now community members and veterans were swinging and swaying with one another. Oh my. Aren’t we off to a wonderful start in 2014?

Photo credit: Zach Hartman

Friends Volunteer Year Begins With ‘Nobody’s Business’

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Entertainment, Saloon NIght with Friends

Friends of the Soldiers Home will host its first volunteer event of 2014 on Tuesday, Jan. 7, from 6pm to 8pm when the band Nobody’s Business entertains our veterans. The seven-piece band that plays funky blues, rock, soul, r&b and ‘a little country’ will kick start the monthly Saloon Night With Friends event that occurs exclusively for Home residents at the Defenders’ Inn on the Soldiers Home Washington, D.C. campus. Friends will follow up this activity with Jingo Night on Thursday, Jan. 9, from 6pm to 8pm. If you would like to volunteer at either of these events, drop a note to Mary Bucci at volunteerfriendsofsoldiers (at) gmail (dot) com. Friends did 40 volunteer events in 2013, and these are the first two for 2014, so come on board, it’s fun!

Nobody’s Business (Photo from their Website)