Save the Date: Fall Fun Fest Scheduled for October 2nd

Tags

Fall Fun Fest

Technical Glitches Don’t Stop the Fun When Residents, Volunteers Bowl

Tags

Bowling, Volunteering

At Bowling Night With Friends on Aug. 16 we suffered a few technical difficulties, including broken lanes and frozen monitors. But we kept rolling right along! Lucky for us, Armed Forces Retirement Home staffer Carol Mitchell is a technical genius, and we know how to score the game by hand. Residents continued to wallop volunteers, easily scoring in the 100s. It’s a good thing residents and volunteers were on the same team! As always, the joy was in helping others (and in figuring out how to adjust that ramp just right to get a strike or spare)! Thank you to our volunteers — Rocelia, Lonell, Lindsey, John, Vivienne and Paul.

Story and photos by Lori Lincoln.

Hot Outside, but Cool and Fun Indoors at Jingo With Friends

Tags

Jingo, Volunteering

It was 95 and steamy outside on Thursday Aug. 11, but inside the Scott Building at the Armed Forces Retirement Home-DC, it was cool and comfortable for games of Jingo. And a spirited set of games they were! AFRH staffer Amanda Jensema tested everyone on their knowledge of U.S. geography as part of the games. More than a few questions were met with periods of silence as everyone thought hard for the answer. But, whether the answers were right or wrong, smiles, laughter and fun were the end result. Thank you to Friends of the Soldiers Home volunteers Danielle, Rebekah, William, Stella, Kathleen, Terra and Tee for coming out and keeping company with fabulous men and women who have served our country so ably.

Story by John Hughes, photos by Tee Shorter.

Alan Bjerga Sing-A-Long Is Tough Act to Follow at Saloon Night

Tags

Saloon NIght with Friends

When Friends of the Soldiers Home Board Member Zach Hartman heads to the Soldiers Home tomorrow to host a trivia contest for the monthly Saloon Night, he has a tough act to follow. Guitarist/singer Alan Bjerga, pictured, led veterans through a wide-ranging singalongfest at last month’s Saloon Night, including country, rock, pop and patriotic tunes. Alan performs each year at the July Saloon Night, and we are grateful he cares so much about the veteran residents of the Home to do this. In addition, 14 volunteers came out to enjoy cold beer, pizza and a heavy dose of friendship and companionship at the July event. It was truly a special moment when Alan ended the evening with a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, and veterans and volunteers stood up ramrod straight and at attention. Friends of the Soldiers Home Volunteer Coordinator called it the best Saloon Night of the year! Can you top that one Zach?

Remember, Friends of the Soldiers Home hosts Saloon Night the first Tuesday of each month. If you would like to participate, drop a line to Lori Lincoln, who provided these photos, at volunteerfriendsofsoldiers (at) gmail (dot) com.