Tired of gazing at hospital walls, soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. took a weekend break to visit the Delaware beaches and enjoy dinner and entertainment at American Legion Post 28 in Long Neck.
Warrior Weekend, founded by Steve Udovich in January 2007, provides transportation, accommodations and spending money for soldiers at Walter Reed and their families to take a weekend trip to places like Philadelphia, Times Square in New York City, Inner Harbor in Baltimore, and Bethany Beach.
“I’m very lucky,” said Udovich, a retired Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel who served in Iraq. “I feel obligated to help these guys out.”
Udovich said he started the program after visiting Walter Reed and talking to the soldiers there. He starting raising money through donations and continues to rely on donations from individuals and organizations to keep the program going.
Two soldiers were able to visit Bethany Beach last weekend, June 6-8. On Saturday night, they visited Post 28 in Long Neck, along with Mrs. Delaware Lili Kohr, for dinner and entertainment by the Jones Boys. The men received a warm welcome by the packed house of vets.
“It’s really exciting,” said Staff Sgt. Charles Ramey, of South Carolina. “[Steve] really came up with good ideas.”
The soldiers visited the outlets in Rehoboth, went jet skiing in Dewey Beach and raced go-karts in Rehoboth.
“My son went go kart racing – it was fun for him and for me,” said Staff Sgt. Mike Selleh, whose 13-year-old son Michael joined him for the weekend. Selleh, who has brain damage, travels with his service dog, Miracle.
“It’s good to get away from the hospital,” Selleh said. “These people are so nice out here.”
To donate to the program, make checks out to Warrior Weekend Fund and send them to Warrior Weekend, 31768 Legion Road, Millsboro, DE 19966. For more information on the program and other ways you can help, visit www.warriorweekend.com.
LONG NECK, DEL. —
