Behind the Scenes: Upcoming Events at Warrior Retreat

The transformative power of community support takes center stage in this revealing conversation with your host and Diane Lunsford, the Warrior Retreat Events Coordinator. As the organization celebrates its 10th anniversary of opening its doors to wounded warriors, it shares the profound impact its work has had on over 2,700 service members and their families.

"I used to think my family would be better off without me. This is the best thing that's ever happened to me," Diane quotes from warriors who've experienced their five-day stays. The evolution is visible—warriors arrive with shoulders "up around their ears" from stress and tension but leave relaxed, grateful, and transformed by their experience on the 37-acre property with its two five-bedroom homes.

The conversation takes us through four major events that will sustain their mission throughout 2025: the Memorial Day 10th anniversary celebration featuring ceremonial tributes to fallen service members; the Vets for Willing Warriors Corvette show in July showcasing America's iconic sports cars; the meticulously organized Warrior Ride cycling fundraiser in September with routes for all skill levels; and the elegant annual gala in November that brings supporters together for a night of celebration and testimonials from warrior alumni.

What emerges is a story, not just about fundraising, but about the power of community gathering. The retreat's success relies on 150-200 dedicated volunteers who embody the mission of honoring those who've served. "We are not dialing for dollars," Diane emphasizes. "We're seeking organizations and individuals who understand why we do what we do and want to have that same sense of commitment and desire to be part of this long term."

Register for upcoming events or learn how you can support their mission at willingwarriors.org. Experience firsthand why this retreat has become a beacon of hope and healing for America's wounded warriors.

Chapters

• 0:29 Introduction to Warrior Retreat Events
• 5:39 Memorial Day 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
• 13:09 Vets for Willing Warriors Corvette Show
• 22:11 The Warrior Ride Cycling Fundraiser
• 30:28 Volunteer Support and Event Safety
• 36:17 Annual Gala Celebration Details

Transcript

Larry Zilliox: 0:15

Good morning. I'm Larry Zilliox, Director of Culinary Services here at the Warrior Retreat, and this week we have Diane Lunsford, our Event Coordinator here at the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run, and I asked her to join us so we could talk about some of the upcoming events that will be taking place here at the retreat and off-site as well. We've got some great activities and we've got some fundraisers coming up. So, diane, welcome to the podcast.

Diane Lunsford: 0:45

Well, thanks, larry, and thanks for having me, and it's always a pleasure to come and sit and talk with you about events, because events are, I think, the lifeblood, or some of the main lifeblood, to the Warrior Retreat. So thank you for having me.

Larry Zilliox: 1:00

Yeah, well, this is the season we sort of get the first part of the year off, in the sense that we don't really have any events, but we're working nonstop on the events that are going to be coming up, and we've got some really great ones.

Larry Zilliox: 1:15

We've got some that we've had for years. We've got some that this will be the first time we've ever done it, which is the next one coming up, which is Memorial Day, and that's going to be our celebration of 10-year anniversary here at the Warrior Retreat, and that is 10 years from when we first did the ribbon cutting on the retreat itself. So the organization was incorporated and founded in 2012, but it was 2015 when we opened the doors to Lang House and had our first Wounded Warrior guests. So we're celebrating that this year on Memorial Day, but we're also then celebrating the lives, the service of a number of people that are close to us here at the retreat and all service members who gave their life in support of their country. This is going to be a fun day. Can you tell us really what it's going to be about?

Diane Lunsford: 2:14

Well, that's fantastic, Larry. You know what, Larry? You could have done this by yourself.

Larry Zilliox: 2:19

It's no fun if I do it by myself.

Diane Lunsford: 2:23

Just to kind of put some color on what you just said. It is exciting Every day, every month, every year is exciting at the Warrior Retreat because of what we get to do and it is to serve our wounded warriors who have served us so graciously through the years, and admirably our wounded warriors who have served us so graciously through the years and admirably so. To be a part of the 10-year anniversary celebration and invite the community in, invite warriors in, to take a focus back on why the reason we're here is because of you all. You are the heartbeat of why we continue to have our doors open and have the ability to serve our warriors. We're proud to say we've served over 2,700 wounded warriors and their family members collectively and that's monumental in and of itself.

Diane Lunsford: 3:17

So the actual day of the event because it was intentional to do it on Memorial Day. And the reason it was intentional to do it on Memorial Day is because it's a much broader brushstroke to say we honor our men and women in service and those who have fallen, as well as those who are still with us and those who continue to pass this torch forward. So that's the mainstay of the day, but we're going to have food trucks. Food trucks will be on site. We've got some real fun goodies. We've got the tater tots guy, which every kind of tater tot known to man. But one thing I wanted to make sure that our community understands is each of these food trucks is coming to support us. It's their business. We're asking the community to support them because in turn, when they purchase from the food trucks, the food truck is in turn going to give a portion of their proceeds back to the sustainability of the warrior retreat.

Diane Lunsford: 4:15

So I don't want to confuse people saying, well, I thought it was free food. No, it's not free food, so that's part of it. But then there's also. There's something for young and old and everyone in between in terms of home tours cutting, which expanded our abilities and capabilities to do more than just say let's have a guest, a warrior guest, stay here. Now we're set up to be able to have programs to do, resourcing type information that we can delve out to perhaps transitioning soldiers who are going from military life into civilian life and having an opportunity to pave that way for them by educating them on these are some of the things that are available to you. So that's a great opportunity for us on the anniversary celebration, to enlighten the community further on why we do what we do, but to raise the awareness because we're here to stay and grow.

Larry Zilliox: 5:22

Yeah, for sure, and so that event starts at noon on Memorial Day.

Diane Lunsford: 5:28

No, it starts at the gates open up at 11 o'clock. So there'll be food service if somebody wants to nibble on something on one of the food trucks before the actual program begins. The program or the ceremony, if you will starts at noon and it's going to be for the lack of a better vernacular it's going to be a very hallowed experience. There'll be recognition of all branches of the service with a ceremonial bricklaying. We'll have taps.

Diane Lunsford: 5:57

We'll have a presentment of colors, the national anthem. These are all so embodied or folded into that whole sense of patriotism, military honor, and it's who we are, it's why we do what we do.

Larry Zilliox: 6:13

It's another element of why we do what we do so gates open at 11 it officially is going to be 11 to 2 and we'll have some wonderful ceremonies and it'll be a great time for you to honor our service members, fallen and those that are still with us but injured, ill, that still need our help and our care, and you'll also be able to tour the residences.

Larry Zilliox: 6:43

If you haven't seen the Grand Lodge, you want to make sure that you stop by and enjoy, just take a tour and kind of soak it in the property too. The property looks beautiful and it's only going to look nicer as we get more into the season and the grass gets greener and it fills in some. And it's only going to look nicer as we get more into the season and the grass gets greener and it fills in some, and hopefully it won't be all that windy that day. But that is a challenge for us here up on this hill. That is the first of our series of events that we're going to have throughout the rest of the year. Next comes Vets for Willing Warriors.

Diane Lunsford: 7:20

Yes.

Larry Zilliox: 7:21

And that's in July.

Diane Lunsford: 7:22

So the Vets for Willing Warriors is on July 19th this year, and one of the things that I think is very exciting about this particular event is, once again, it's hosted on the Warrior Retreat grounds. So anytime we have an opportunity to have community and beyond coming and experience something on the grounds, it's just a golden nugget for us, because we get to proudly showcase again why we do what we do. So there's home tours, there's beautiful cars both core events as well as classic cars that will be exhibited throughout the day, and this particular event is gaining more recognition, more momentum with each passing year. I always tease Chuck Burge. Chuck Burge, he's a board member, but he's also the ambassador. He is Vets for Will willing warriors in terms of going out there and shaking the bushes and raising the awareness and you know kissing babies and you know shaking politicians' hands Not literally, but you know what I mean.

Larry Zilliox: 8:27

And he is a Corvette judge. Yes, he judges competition, so he knows his Corvettes.

Diane Lunsford: 8:34

Yes.

Larry Zilliox: 8:35

And he brings some amazing cars here. So a couple of things about a Corvette show if you've never been to one. They're beautiful, they're spotless. If it's going to rain, they ain't coming. Some of them don't even drive here. They get trailered in because they're so special the year before last.

Diane Lunsford: 9:04

I believe it was the 50th anniversary. Yes, it was two years. No, it was Corvette's 50th anniversary.

Larry Zilliox: 9:08

Okay, and we had the Corvette from that first year next to the next year's model.

Diane Lunsford: 9:18

It was nose to nose.

Larry Zilliox: 9:21

Right on display. It was crazy how different they were.

Diane Lunsford: 9:23

number one and Tommy Milner was here that year. Tommy, he's a Formula One racer, a huge supporter of the Warrior Retreat, and it was interesting when he came to be part of that event because it wasn't like sure I'll sign some autographs and shake some hands. He wanted to be here to experience the warrior retreat and see a little bit more of what we were doing. So it does it. I'm not saying that, larry, to say like aren't you all so impressed? I'm saying it because we have something that is coveted, and what I mean by coveted is we have. We're spreading, our news is spreading, our word is spreading, our awareness is spreading. And it's spreading because once you, figuratively, have had the experience of being at the Warrior Retreat, you want to tell people, you want people to experience what they have.

Diane Lunsford: 10:22

You know Diane Polk, who is our operations director. Often I love this line that she uses, or this description that she uses when she's welcoming a new family, the warrior and their family members in. She said I can always immediately tell who the warrior is because when they first show up, his shoulders, his or her shoulders are up around their ears, they're as tense as like a stiff stick or something, and they're just kind of looking around, you know, eyes darting and what's going on here and this looks kind of nice, but I'm not going to let my guard down. And then she usually is there for the guest checkout five days later and that same warrior is relaxed, giving her hugs, saying thank you. I used to think my family would be better off without me. This is the best thing that's ever happened to me. So if I sound like I'm rambling, it's because I can't help but ramble when you think about the lives that are being impacted by just having that connection point with the warrior retreat.

Larry Zilliox: 11:21

And that's all the result of the community and the community support that we enjoy. It's not lost on us here as staff that we have one of the best jobs ever Yep that we get to bring this to the warriors and their families. To bring this to the warriors and their families. We are doing that on behalf of the community, that they've entrusted us with this duty to safeguard what they've donated and allowed us to make here on the property. And it is a privilege for us and it's not lost on us. And we do use these events as fundraisers. We do fundraisers. We need money to be able to operate and to keep doing what we're doing and to expand what we're doing into brand new great programs, which is another episode. Programs, which is another episode. But one of the reasons why we'd like to have the Vets for the Willing Warriors event here on the property is to showcase the property, because we can talk till we're blue in the face and tell people all about it, but it's different.

Larry Zilliox: 12:37

When you come here and you set foot on the property, you see and you get the sense of how special it is. And this is the thing that we see over and over again. With the Warriors. We'll go to the hospital. We'll talk to them about come out, $6 million 37-acre estate, two five-bedroom homes, bring your family, you can stay for free for five nights. Oh, by the way, we'll have a photographer get family photos for you. We'll have a visiting chef come and make you dinner.

Larry Zilliox: 13:05

And they don't believe it. They just they're like oh well, okay, maybe you know. And then we get them out here and they can't believe what this place is, what the community has done for them, to say thank you and to show their support. So that is really why we really like people and we bring out hundreds of Corvette cars to entice you to come and see these cars. And oh, by the way, take a look around, because you really are in a special place and it's a fun day Amazing cars, everybody has a good time. We have we have the Warriors Choice, we have the Founders Choice, we have a bunch of awards for the people that come out.

Larry Zilliox: 13:54

We get whole clubs of car enthusiasts and Corvette clubs that come out, 30 cars at a time. It's everything we can do to keep the traffic moving off the road and everything. So it's a full day for us, but it's a fun day for us. And again, that's July 19th.

Diane Lunsford: 14:15

Yes.

Larry Zilliox: 14:16

And what time is the public coming?

Diane Lunsford: 14:18

So the gates open to the public at 10.

Larry Zilliox: 14:20

Okay.

Diane Lunsford: 14:22

And there's a program or a ceremony at noon. That's it's very brief, it's not. That day is all about. Come out. This is our way of saying thank you to the community. Come out and learn more about us.

Diane Lunsford: 14:36

So anytime we have the opportunity to host on these grounds an event that's memorable, or we hope to be memorable, the intentional aspect of that entire event is gathering. It's community gathering, it's getting people together, people that would have never in a million years thought that they would ever met this other person, but they came together. So there's a real fellowship and a gathering. That happens when people come to the Warrior Retreat and, just to expand a little bit further on what you were saying, larry, when you go to Walter Reed or when you go to Fort Belvoir and you're talking with recovery units and explaining what we do here, or even the Wounded Warriors and saying you know you, you please come for a tour, please come see what we're doing out here.

Diane Lunsford: 15:27

I can't express enough how vitally important it is If, if anything that we've said today piques anyone's interest, solidify that interest by coming to see who we are and why we do what we do, because, firsthand eyes on the prize, you will want to become that long-term partner, journeying alongside, journey alongside with us.

Diane Lunsford: 15:51

And just to kind of closure on that it's we are not supporting our mission by reaching out to as many people who can financially support us as possible, like on a one-off type situation. We're not I know this sounds really quiet. We're not dialing for dollars. We're seeking organizations large, small in between, what have you as well as individuals that we want them to understand why we do what we do and to want to have that same sense of commitment and desire that we have to be a part of this long term. And once you commit to anything in life that you decide this is going to be a part of my life for the rest of my life. It's a no-brainer, it's easy, because you're doing something that is not only self-fulfilling but it's fulfilling for so many who are worthy and needing of it.

Larry Zilliox: 16:48

Yeah, yeah, for sure it's going to be a great day. Please come out July 19th. It's going to be fun. And if you can't come out or if you miss that, there's the bike ride in September. So get that bike out of the garage, dust it off and sign up for the Warrior. Ride.

Diane Lunsford: 17:14

This is the eighth annual, oh wow.

Larry Zilliox: 17:18

This probably is then the longest running event that we have. Yes, yeah, wow.

Diane Lunsford: 17:25

We are coming up on the eighth annual Warrior Ride this year, that is on September 6th. We are blessed to have Next Point Group as our presenting sponsor. This is the third year running. We're also equally blessed to have the Farm Brewery as the hosting grounds again, and I don't know if we're just fun or what, larry, but when you come to a Willing Warriors event, you have fun.

Diane Lunsford: 17:52

Oh yeah, and it's a wonderful day again where there's a lot of community involvement and community engagement but there's a lot of fellowship and there's a lot of that whole patriot sense of country and you know of country and just camaraderie and you know supporting each other and things of that nature, camaraderie and supporting each other and things of that nature. And what makes this ride a lot of fun is it's not a professional road race, it's a cycling enthusiast day. There's four different legs or heats that you can ride on. One is a 13 mile on earth flag which, if you're a little bit like I don't know if I can really do this the 13,. I'd highly recommend the 13 mile.

Larry Zilliox: 18:37

Start low.

Diane Lunsford: 18:38

Yeah, exactly, Start low. Start low and build high.

Larry Zilliox: 18:41

Yeah, we'll, we'll have next year. You can go to the next highest one and work your way up.

Diane Lunsford: 18:46

That's right. And then there's also the there's a half metric, there's a full metric, and there is the gravel grinder, which is right up Bull Run Mountain, which that is, it's a true gravel route, and that very much so is, for that, beyond enthusiast. But you know, if you want to challenge, go for it.

Larry Zilliox: 19:11

If that's what you do we have that available for you to do it with us?

Diane Lunsford: 19:16

Yes.

Larry Zilliox: 19:16

On September 6th, the Warrior Ride. So the first ride, the last one out is the shortest, which is, you said, 13. 13-miler. Then the next. How many miles is the next ride?

Diane Lunsford: 19:30

That's a half metric, so that's 27.7. We'll call that 28. Yeah.

Larry Zilliox: 19:37

And then the top ride the very first one out, because they go out early, because they have the longest. That's the metric, and that is 300 miles. How long is that?

Diane Lunsford: 19:48

It's 56.

Larry Zilliox: 19:51

We're calling that 57 miles. Okay. So those are it 57 miles? Okay. So those are the big boys, those are the professionals. They ride like the wind. Let me tell you.

Diane Lunsford: 20:00

Yes, they do.

Larry Zilliox: 20:03

It's the real deal for them. I've seen them blow past the rest stops like hey rest stops are for sissies stops like hey rest stops are for sissies. I mean, they have, they have a great time and they are out early because they've got the longest to go, but they tend to be back sometimes before the other riders and we all the riders get lunch. Yes, which is uhbecue. Yes, comes in and we work with them to provide lunch for all the riders and there's some great presentations. And what's really fun is we have a lot of teams that ride, so it's usually teams around work. Yes, so, like Amazon Web Services will have a team, micron will have a team and they fundraise to support their team and then that comes in as a kind of group donation to us, which is really really great. They have their own jerseys, but riders get jerseys as well, right?

Diane Lunsford: 21:10

So how the jerseys work is Next Point Group as the presenting sponsor. Typically, what they'll do is they want that presence on the road, so they will issue jerseys to all of their cycling enthusiasts who are going to participate. We also have rider jerseys available if they raise a certain amount of money for the cause. So it's don't quote me on this, I should have been prepared for this. I want to say it's $750 or greater. They will receive a jersey. Nice, we do. I think it's important to do a shout out to Peter and Jeannie Eberle.

Larry Zilliox: 21:49

Sure.

Diane Lunsford: 21:50

They are the poster children of Kentucky that were formerly from this area.

Larry Zilliox: 21:58

Well, let's start by saying that not only were they formerly from this area, but they were both two of my best sous chefs.

Diane Lunsford: 22:07

Oh, I did not realize that, yes.

Larry Zilliox: 22:09

That's how they started volunteering with us here.

Diane Lunsford: 22:13

So they are. Truly, we are blessed to know them because they are so committed to what we do and it's not just again, it's not a one and done like, oh, the Warrior Riders coming up. I'll talk to you same time next year. They are tied to the Warrior Retreat. They used to live in this area. They moved to Kentucky to the warrior retreat. They used to live in this area. They moved to Kentucky, to the Western area of Kentucky, but they still travel back every year to do the warrior ride. Peter and Jeannie are fierce with their fundraising. I think he carries a stick and threatens his colleagues. But whatever it takes, peter, we thank you very much. Yes, but they're just a good. It's almost like coming home week when they come back.

Larry Zilliox: 22:55

Yeah.

Diane Lunsford: 22:56

And one thing I wanted to address, because there's something that's very much so, that symbiotic relationship between the events, how the events are launched, but what it takes to get them off the ground. It's not just a coordination aspect. Our volunteer pool for the Warrior Retreat is beyond 150, 200 people, and probably then some. So we have many pockets throughout the year where there are teams of volunteers or groupings of volunteers, like our grounds crew or our bakers on call or, you know, the staging group. These are all volunteers. The day of the events that we do, they all assume roles and fill those little holes in the dam that need to be plugged to make it a successful day, need to be plugged to make it a successful day, and they do so willingly. They source us and say what can we do, particularly with a warrior ride?

Diane Lunsford: 23:59

We have rest stops. Those rest stops are not unmanned. We have people assigned for snack stations, water stations where the cyclists can stop along the way and refuel, if you will. But then we also have volunteers along the course to cheer these people on. You know the woohoo, the bells, the whistles, the cowbells. So we're very blessed with the volunteer base that we have and that, in and of itself, consistently grows year over year.

Larry Zilliox: 24:31

So the other thing too I'd like to point out about the Warrior Ride. It's one of and I don't ride, I can barely drive these routes but I have talked to a lot of the riders and I consistently they say it is one of the best organized and most competently run events that they participate during the year when it comes to these cycling events and riding. And that's for a couple of reasons. One is the signup process is smooth, it's easy, it's not overly expensive, it's donating to a good cause. Then they arrive, they check in, they get their jerseys, they're ready to ride. We're going to have law enforcement along the route for traffic control. We're going to have motorcycles from the nam knights who will ride road guard on groups of riders. So the ham operators.

Larry Zilliox: 25:33

The ham operators are going to be out along the course making sure everybody's safe, keeping track of where the riders are, where the leads are, where the tails are, making sure nobody's left on the route. In case there's a problem, they can call to have a bike picked up. We have a bike shop that sets up shop at the brewery Nova.

Diane Lunsford: 25:55

Cyclery.

Larry Zilliox: 25:56

Nova Cycling to tune up and repair any bikes that need it. We have a massage therapist Holly Holly's amazing who's on site and she's warming up or working with riders who maybe have cramped up and are coming in and they're not in great shape. We have going back to the NAM Knights. These are the sweetest guys in the world, but they look a little sketchy and if you think you're going to crowd up some young kids on bikes who are on the 13 miler with your car because they're going too slow, think twice, because the NAM Knights are going to be between the riders and you and they're not going to put up with that nonsense. So it's a safe ride from that standpoint. Yes, and then make the ride, you come back in and you have a great lunch and it's a great day for everybody and it's just so well organized. If you're thinking about doing this, sign up now.

Diane Lunsford: 26:59

Yes.

Larry Zilliox: 27:00

And just go to our webpage. Go to events. It'll drop down. You'll see the bike ride and register. Now. We want to get as many people registered as possible.

Diane Lunsford: 27:10

Exactly and just to expand on what you just said, larry, once you do get to willingwarriorsorg, there's an actual dropdown on the toolbar that says events. When you click on events you'll see the warrior ride in the dropdown. As soon as you click that, it is driving you right to the registration page. It could not be any easier.

Larry Zilliox: 27:32

Yep, and I want to make sure I didn't leave them out. But at the brewery there's a medical tent set up and there's nurses from UVA NOVA.

Diane Lunsford: 27:41

Yes.

Larry Zilliox: 27:42

And then along the route, at each of the stations, the aid stations. There are medical personnel from ambulances and medical personnel from various fire departments in the area that volunteer their services.

Larry Zilliox: 27:58

So I don't think you're going to find a safer ride or a more enjoyable ride, and of course the route is beautiful that time of year. It's through the countryside out here in western Prince William and into Loudoun and it's just a really nice ride. It's a lot of fun. So come to the Vets for Willing Warriors. If you can't make that, get your bike out and come. If you want to volunteer and maybe you have one of those cowbells and you want to ring that, that's fine. There's plenty for you to do. We need a lot of help, but think about riding and think about the whole family riding, because it's really really a lot of help. But think about riding and think about the whole family riding, Cause it's really really a lot of fun. After that, things tend to slow down a little bit.

Diane Lunsford: 28:42

Oh no, they don't, Larry.

Larry Zilliox: 28:46

And yeah, we get like a three days of con and then we start looking and talking about the gala. Yes so this is a big talking about the gala.

Diane Lunsford: 28:57

Yes, so this is a big year for the gala and I mean every year is an exciting year because it's a consummation, it's the end of the year.

Diane Lunsford: 29:04

It's just kind of tying that last piece of the bow together on the package of another year, another memorable and meaningful and impactful year, and now we're going into the holiday season. Meaningful and impactful year and now we're going into the holiday season. What makes this year special is it's also the 10th anniversary of the gala. Yeah, so to have our 10th anniversary as opening our doors and to celebrate it with the consummation of the year, of the 10th anniversary, with the gala on November 1st it will be at Lansdowne again. It's just a reflection of the perseverance and the desire to want to again gather. We may not be gathering on site at the Warrior Retreat, but we are gathering to pay homage again, not only to all of the supporters who have been with us for many years, some of who possibly joined this year or two years ago, but it's that opportunity to go and put your black tie on and put your ladies, put your high heels and your best glam look and and just come and enjoy the evening.

Larry Zilliox: 30:21

Yeah, oh it's. It's a lot of fun and it's. We have an auction. We have a silent auction and we have a live auction, and it's a great way to to donate and get some cool stuff. Dinner is always good. It's last couple of years and this year is going to be at Lansdowne.

Diane Lunsford: 30:42

Yes.

Larry Zilliox: 30:43

So it's a beautiful location, a beautiful facility. We always have a good time there and it's just. It's really a celebration of the warriors yes, that we have some amazing warriors that have stayed with us. I think of Zach, who does his explosive art program and he donates a painting that he's done. We just have a lot of warriors that are willing to come and meet people and tell their story and say this is a good cause because it really did impact my life and my family's life and what you all support does really help people. And we just have a slew of amazing former guests, alumni, that are willing to tell their story and say this is what your money goes to and it's a great time you get put on your Sunday go-to-meet-and-close and come on out and have a great dinner and listen to some great speakers and give us your money.

Diane Lunsford: 32:04

I'm glad that you put it in that order, Larry, yeah.

Larry Zilliox: 32:06

I know you don't have to give us your money up front.

Diane Lunsford: 32:09

No, just before you leave. Yeah right, well, one thing to interject there too. It's a fun evening because we had so much fun with the entertainment that we sourced last year the Nighthawks. They are a phenomenal swing era band, but they also are capable of doing some modern classics as well. We had so much fun we invited them back again this year and the Nighthawks will be playing again this year.

Larry Zilliox: 32:42

That is awesome. They are wonderful.

Diane Lunsford: 32:45

They are just a phenomenal group.

Larry Zilliox: 32:46

Yeah, yeah. So entertainment-wise, you won't be disappointed, I guarantee you.

Diane Lunsford: 32:52

Yes.

Larry Zilliox: 32:53

It's quite a show and everybody has a good time and I can't wait. I really can't wait and I really like the gala and really it's one of my favorite because I don't have anything to do with it. I don't have to Not my monkey, not my circus.

Diane Lunsford: 33:14

I'm very envious Larry, because basically what Larry is saying out there in the listening world right now is he just gets to show up and have a good time. That's right.

Larry Zilliox: 33:26

I don't have to do any planning. I don't have to sit in on meetings. I don't have to do Zooms, I don't have to do any of that. I just have to put on a suit and just show up and eat and put on a happy face. That's it. And look in my world. It doesn't get any better than that, let me tell you Well, that's just fantastic. These are some great events. Just very quickly, we'll recap. We have the 10-year anniversary, that's on.

Diane Lunsford: 33:58

Memorial Day, May 26th. It's from 11 am to 2 pm.

Larry Zilliox: 34:03

Right.

Diane Lunsford: 34:03

Then followed on its heels. On July 19th is the Vets for Willing Warriors Gains open up at 10. Event is over at 2. And if you have never been to, this is our sixth annual.

Diane Lunsford: 34:16

So if you've never participated, make the time to come out. It's a lot of fun. And then we continue on into the fall for the Warrior Ride. This is our eighth annual this year and that's on September 6th. The hosting, start and finish grounds are the Farm Brewery and Broad Run and then we finish out the year with the event that Larry does nothing other than to show up. That's the 10th annual gala and, larry, I think I said November 1st, but I want to say it's November 2nd.

Larry Zilliox: 34:50

I think it is, and I apologize for the errors.

Diane Lunsford: 34:53

It's a Saturday. It's the first Saturday in November, November 2nd, and that's from 5 pm to 11 pm.

Larry Zilliox: 35:01

Yeah, so please think about coming out. The first two we talked about are actually here on the ground, so you'll get a chance to visit the retreat, take a tour of the houses, meet the staff, meet the volunteers so, like the guest stay coordinators the people that arrange the stay for the warriors, that have personal contact with the warriors and their families and you can ask them any question. They'll tell you. They're happy to talk to you about what a guest stay is all about. Even the grounds crew loves to talk about mowing the lawn. It's the craziest thing, but you get to meet everybody when you come out. Our founders will be here, of course, and the board will be here, and it's just a fun time. So try to make one of those early ones in May and July so that you can actually come to the property. Diane, thank you so much for joining me today and getting the word out that we've got some wonderful events coming up.

Diane Lunsford: 36:05

Well, thank you very much, Larry, it's been a pleasure.

Larry Zilliox: 36:08

Well for our listeners. We'll have another episode next Monday morning at 0500. For those of you like to get up early and listen to podcasts, you can find us on all the major podcast platforms.