PHWFF soldiers attend Vice President BBQ and get a surprise – Naval Observatory, Washington DC

September 18, 2008

On Thursday September 18, nine PHWFF soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Ft. Belvoir Warrior Transition Unit were invited by members of Vice President Cheney’s staff to attend a soldier thank you BBQ at the Naval Observatory in Washington DC.  There were also many other wounded soldiers and family members from Walter Reed that attended the event. Country music start Rodney Atkins provided entertainment for the event along with country music songwriter Sam Tate who sang the “The River Just Knows”, a song inspired by a wounded warrior who was fly fishing in Montana.

Unfortunately Vice President Cheney was unable to attend this event, but to everyone’s luck President Bush filled in for him and every soldier was provided the opportunity to shake his hand and take pictures. A couple of PHWFF soldiers brought their fly rods and had them signed by President Bush, which was quite the treat!

During the BBQ Rodney Atkins took a lot of time to individually thank each and every soldier and family member that attended the event before and after he performed on stage.

How often do you get to meet a famous country western singer and the President of the United States all on the same day?  It is sure to be an experience for these soldiers and family members to remember for a life time!

By David Folkerts, PHWFF Program Manager