Welcome Home - A Podcast for Veterans, About Veterans, By Veterans

Get ready to shift your gears! The Vets for Vets Corvette Show will take you on a ride like no other. With our fantastic Director of Operations and Event Coordinator, Diane Polk, and Diane Lunsford, we've lined up over 200 stunning Corvettes, with a few celebrity guests adding more horsepower to the show. We're also talking about some serious matters with Ryan from the Department of Vete...

Have you ever wondered about the power of companionship and how it can significantly change lives? Get ready to hear an awe-inspiring story of Maureen Normann, an Army veteran whose life transformed with the help of her service dog, Prince. Maureen takes us through her journey, from her time in the Women's Army Corps, her service in West Berlin, to her separation due to multiple traumatic bra...

Can you imagine the impact of providing warm meals to veterans and their families struggling with food insecurity? Join us as we talk to LJ Raspler, the founder and president of Cook for Vets, an inspiring organization that delivers meals and groceries to veterans in need within the Northern Virginia community. LJ shares the heart and soul behind Cook for Vets and the incredible difference they&ap...

Get ready for an exhilarating conversation with our special guest Chuck Berge, the ambassador at large for the Warrior Retreat and the team lead for the yearly Vets for Vets car show. Discover how this event has evolved over the years, now featuring around 225 cars, including 175 Corvettes and 45 other makes and models. Chuck shares the registration process, award competitions like the People&apos...

Have you ever wondered how a five-star culinary experience can positively impact the lives of Wounded Warriors and their families? Join us in an inspiring conversation with Executive Event Chef Ken Gardner as we uncover the amazing visiting chef program at the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run. Not only does this program offer exquisite meals to Wounded Warriors who may not be able to afford a restauran...

Are you tired of predatory claims companies exploiting soldiers? Join us as we sit down with Tom Levitt, a member of the National Legislative Committee for the VFW, to discuss the legislative priorities for 2023 and how to protect our veterans. Tom shares valuable insights on cracking down on these companies, the passage of the Pact Act, and issues surrounding Camp Lejeune water.  As advocates for...

Faith Lillemo is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Warrior Retreat. She contributes to the efficient day-to-day operations of the office, coordinating volunteers with weekly service and event opportunities, overseeing the cleaning and staging of the houses, receiving donations, and leading monthly Beautification Days. Today we take an in-depth look at volunteering at the Warrior Retreat at Bull Ru...

Our guests are Kelley Tubbs, with the VA, and Aimee Stoddard, with Serving Together, who are co-organizers of the Northern Virginia Veterans Suicide Coalition. In today's episode, we hear about how the coalition began and their amazing work. 

Today's guests are Beau Beasley, author of Fly Fishing Virginia and Fly Fishing Mid-Atlantic, and Al Alborn, the Warrior Retreat Staff Fishing Guide. They sit down for a conversation about their experiences taking Wounded Warriors fishing and the impact it has on everyone.

Our guest today is Caleb Johnson, Northern Regional Director for the Virginia Veteran and Family Support Services at the Virginia Department of Veteran Services. Caleb describes the agency and the benefits and services they provide Veterans.

Diane Lunsford joined Willing Warriors as the Events Coordinator in January 2022. Her connection with the Retreat began four years earlier when she volunteered for the Home Away From Home event in November 2019. Diane's daily role at Willing Warriors is to orchestrate, develop, and deliver memorable events ranging from a charitable car show (Vettes for Vets) and an annual cycling event (Warri...

Retired Air Force Colonel Bill Chester has been with the Warrior Retreat for over 5 years. He leads the Grounds Team, ensuring the Retreat grounds look amazing when guests arrive. Col. Chester served on the staff of the Vietnam Wall Memorial Foundation at the time of their 10th anniversary. He gives us valuable insight into the early days of The Wall, the ten-year anniversary celebration, its impa...

Gabe Delarosa is the East Coast Regional Facilitator for Mighty Oaks, a faith-based counseling organization helping Veterans manage severe PTS issues. Gabe, a Marine Corps Veteran, shares a powerful message about his personal struggle with PTS and how he has gone from a program participant to a Regional Facilitator helping others. Here at the Warrior Retreat, we are honored to host Mighty Oaks Vet...

Director of Operations Dianne Polk and Executive Director Sarah Ford tell us what it takes to run a Retreat for Wounded Warriors and the day-to-day operations. Who gets to come to the Retreat, how are they picked, and what happens during a stay? Sarah discusses what it takes to fundraise for operational costs and future expansion. Dianne walks us through a typical guest stay and talks about how mu...

John & Shirley Dominick are the founders and driving force behind Serve our Willing Warriors and the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run. Listen to them describe how the Retreat started and what it took to build it into a world-class retreat for Wounded Warriors and their families. They also let us know plans and where they would like to see the Retreat in ten years.