Building On A Decade Of Healing At The Warrior Retreat

Ten years in, the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run stands on stories that still move us—volunteers who swung the first hammers, families who found rest here, and a community that showed up in sunshine and storms. We take that history and turn it into fuel for a packed 2026, staying true to our core promise of five-night, no-cost respite for wounded, ill, and injured service members and their families while growing programs that answer urgent needs we see every week.

We dig into the heart-work behind a moral injury initiative shaped by conversations with chaplains and hospital leaders. These gatherings help service members, first responders, and frontline medical staff name and heal wounds tied to guilt, loss, and values in conflict—pain that often hides behind diagnoses. We also share details on our new financial literacy series with ambassador Jeff Schlegel, built to replace checkbox training with real-world tools: budgeting, debt, emergency funds, investing basics, rent versus buy, and insurance essentials, all designed to ease transition and strengthen family stability.

Partnerships bring even more impact to our grounds. The 9:57 Project returns with a fully sponsored student leadership week taught by veterans and anchored in the story of Flight 93, including a visit to Shanksville. Mighty Oaks and American Warrior Association schedule men’s and women’s retreats, 1010 for Life joins us for focused weekends, and DAV chaplains fill all three houses for intensive, restorative work. The Grand Lodge does what it was built to do—host, support, and give space to breathe—while miles of trails invite quiet reflection between sessions.

Through it all, we keep sight of why we started: saving lives, strengthening families, and honoring service with compassion and action. Want to help sustain meals, transportation, materials, and the everyday costs that make this possible? Visit willingwarriors.org, choose donate, and, if you like, direct your gift to a program that speaks to you. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who cares about veterans and first responders, and leave a review to help more people find these stories.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome And 2026 Focus
• 1:15 Reflections On The 10-Year Anniversary
• 5:16 Community Stories And Lasting Impact
• 8:06 Weathered Milestones And Community Support
• 13:07 Adapting The Mission For Real Needs
• 14:12 Moral Injury Program Priorities
• 17:39 Financial Literacy For Transitioning Veterans
• 21:41 Youth Leadership With The 957 Project
• 26:32 Hosting Partner Groups At The Retreat
• 31:14 Space To Heal: Nature And Reflection

Transcript

Larry Zilliox: 0:14

Good morning. I'm your host, Larry Zilliox, Director of Culinary Services here at the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run. And this week, we are going to take a look at what's in store for the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run in the next year, 2026. And I have two perfect guests for that. Diane Polk, who's our director of operations, she is here along with our executive director, Sarah Ford. So welcome.

Sarah Ford: 0:43

Thank you.

Larry Zilliox: 0:44

I want to start by thinking a little bit about 2025. Now I did a recap episode. Everybody is familiar with all the events that we had and the things that we did. But for each of you, and Sarah, we'll start with you. What's your fondest memory of 2025? Now it can be a warrior you interacted with, a volunteer, an event, anything really.

Sarah Ford: 1:10

Wow, it's hard to just say one thing, right? One memorable moment, one experience that stands out. So as I look back over the year, we were celebrating our 10-year anniversary, right? So 10 years of having the warrior retreat at Bull Run here, having this property where we host families and and groups. So it was it was a year that was, you know, filled with a lot of impactful moments. And it it kind of culminated into this anniversary celebration that we had here on the grounds. And I just was in awe seeing the people, the community that came out for that event, seeing faces and, you know, those those just impactful people in the history of the Warrior Retreat that came out that day and and to hear their stories, to hear how they were here on day one. They saw the home. They they were part of the demo team that was knocking down walls and and um, you know, truly building the foundation for this retreat and to hear their stories and for them to see the property now, how we've grown, how we've expanded. Um, it was just such a blessed day to be a part of that and to see how the community who literally built this, who literally built this warrior retreat, um, come and and um have such a huge part, not only in our past, but our present, and then looking ahead to our future. So um there was just so many, so many stories that that came out of that came out of that day, that time, and that year, um, you know, as a year kind of of reflection, but then a year looking in looking ahead and saying, what's next? What's now? This is what we've done, you know, look how much could be accomplished. But now where do we go from here?

Larry Zilliox: 3:10

Diane, what about you?

Dianne Polk: 3:12

Uh well, I 100% agree with Sarah for the 10-year anniversary and meeting people who had been here before me, uh, been here eight years myself. So meeting those that had been here before, hearing their stories and actually speaking to warriors that had stayed here before and the impact that is still all these years later having on them. I think one of the most impactful stories is to hear about a warrior uh and his wife who had been here several years ago. And one of the wonderful volunteer gifts that they received was a prayer shawl. And to learn that many years later, she is still taking that prayer shawl everywhere with her, whether it's on an airplane, just there is comfort that that we were able, that Willing Warriors was able to give that kind of an impact that all these years later is still giving her comfort. Uh, also talking to some of the warriors that were here many years ago that are coming back. Uh it's very special to be able to keep that relationship with the Warriors, the families. We see them years later. Their children have grown. Then we're hearing from them as very young adults what an impact it had on them as well. So it's just kind of affirmation to um the actual healing that these grounds truly have. And it's an honor to be a part of that and to be able to help those who sacrifice so, so much for us. It's the least we can do to give it back.

Larry Zilliox: 4:45

Well, I I'm I'm with both of you. I I think the uh the 10-year anniversary was really something. It was quite an event. It was a lot of work on the part of the staff and volunteers, but it came off flawlessly. Um, for me, of course, the dedication of the Jim Cole Kitchen was really the highlight of that day for me. Having um seeing his family who'd come in from Washington State and Maine and here locally uh unveil his portrait that went in the kitchen was really special. I did run into a number of folks that I haven't seen in in 10 years, you know, that were volunteers early on. Um one uh especially she helped us get items for the house. You know, she worked at a home goods kind of store back then, and she set up a what was the equivalent of a bridal registry for us, and we directed people there and they would buy things off of that, and then she would bring them here to us. And I hadn't seen her in so many years, and she's married now and has kids, and it was crazy. Um, but it it really was quite a special day, and um the weather was nice, which is always a blessing. Uh, we've had uh well, the original ribbon cutting, I remember that vividly because uh the politicians that came yapped and yapped and yapped, and the plan was that everybody would give a short speech and then we'd invite people in to see the house. Well, they just kept yapping, and and then the clouds opened up and it started pouring raining. Everybody ran for their cars, and the only thing we could do was to say, you know, come back tomorrow, we'll we'll you can tour tomorrow, and and we had to have the open house part uh on Sunday. So yeah, it was a lot, it was a lot different.

Sarah Ford: 6:49

So but even with the rain then, and then when we had the ribbon cutting for here at the Grand Lodge, and it was a horrible weather day, you know, overcast, pouring down rain, but still to see everyone out there holding their umbrellas, they wanted to be a part of the day, rain or shine. Um, yes, we did for our 10-year anniversary have the most beautiful weather. You know, we were definitely, definitely so fortunate to have that. But but still, I think even if it had been cloudy, rainy, no matter what, we still would have seen just a great turnout because just the community, you know, feels feels a special attachment to to the warrior retreat because they are a part of the essence of this retreat. They are part of the heart of what we do.

Larry Zilliox: 7:36

Yeah, I kind of forgot about the ribbon cutting on the Grand Launch, and there was over a hundred people out there standing in the rain. Yes. You know, listening to the music that we had. We had a nice band and and a few speeches, which immersively were fairly short. Thinking about where we're going in the future this year, one of the things that I think is really special about this organization is its ability to adapt its mission to the needs of our warriors that we see either out in the community as veterans or they're at the hospitals at Walter Eat and Fort Belvoir. Too many veteran service organizations are uh unwilling to uh change or adapt, and they just keep doing what they've always done and it's almost forcing it on veterans. And we do ask what needs need to be met, and we're looking at moving towards addressing some of those needs to the veteran community through a lot of the um programs that we're gonna offer. So, Diane, what are a couple of the programs that you're or which program do you think uh is gonna be the most impactful this year coming up?

Dianne Polk: 8:58

Personally, I feel the moral injury program is going to be the most impactful. They're all extremely important and going to be very impactful. However, the more uh communication I'm having with our military leadership in the hospitals and even with our chaplains, it's becoming very apparent that uh mental health is for some reason really becoming uh something to be addressed in my conversations with them. They are uh excited as uh we are here at Willing Warriors to start really working together and really ramping up our moral injury program. The need is so great in the thousands, I believe. And uh to truly understand what moral injury is, not only to share that with our military, but our first responders as well. We want to be able to open up to our first responders, our frontline nurse care. The need is is very great. And um, I'm hoping and working towards expanding what we can offer, uh, whether it's a one-day seminar or a weekend. It's a busy year 2026 already, but that doesn't mean we can't um try to fizz something in uh even during the even during the week. We we need to do something, we need to be able to pursue that.

Larry Zilliox: 10:24

Sarah, one of the things I know that you've been working on with um our one of our ambassadors, Jeff Schlegel, is uh transitioning assistance program for financial assistance for veterans. And uh if you would just tell us a little bit about that program and and and the value that uh it br it brings to the veteran community.

Sarah Ford: 10:49

So a financial literacy program is something that we've been talking about, you know, for actually a couple of years. We had someone, an employer actually in the DOD space, reach out and say, Hey, do you know of any program for veterans to kind of teach them some just basic financial principles that'll help, you know, set them up for success, right? When you're transitioning from active duty to to civilian life. I couldn't find any here locally in the area. So if we don't have any and there's a need, then then we need to be a part of the solution. So that's how that idea came about. And yes, Jeff Schlegel, he's a Willing Warriors ambassador and uh just a true champion and advocate for our for our veterans. And and uh so he has uh taken on this project as as project lead. And it's gonna be a program that is diverse in its in its educational offerings, just from the very basics of financial planning 101, right? Budgeting, um, how to set a budget, what what do you need to budget for to other ideas such as um investing, investing in yourself first, investing in opportunities that are that are available and then what makes sense with with the markets and how to kind of read what's what's going on in in the economy to to make good and and smart decisions and different different topics even as far as mortgages and and does it make sense to to rent versus buy and and insurance, what kind of insurance do you need? So it does cover a vast variety of topics, but just to meet that need, those that have already um transitioned to the to the civilian sector know that when you process out of active duty, you have to go through a number of classes, one of which does kind of touch on um budgeting and finances and so forth, but it's really for many um almost a check in the box. And we want to definitely get away from that, have something that's interesting, engaging, and really get questions answered as opposed to just being a check in a box on a paper that you need to get through in order to process out of active duty. So we're really excited about the program and it's gonna be kicking off um the spring. So um we'll have our first program here at the Grand Lodge.

Larry Zilliox: 13:07

There's also gonna be a number of programs that we had previous years that are coming back, such as the uh partnering with the 957 project, and we'll have the um uh high school kids here for a week-long day camp. Um, tell us a little bit about that and how can somebody in the Northern Virginia area reach out, maybe if they're interested in getting their child involved.

Sarah Ford: 13:35

Yeah, so partnering with the 957 project um has just been a phenomenal experience and just such an asset for for this region. And the more that we're getting feedback um from the students and and the parents of these students that have attended, the more we see we need to to continue this partnership. And and uh the the program, the program is run by uh Peter Finler with the 957 project. Uh, he and his team come here and their curriculum is is top-notch. There's there's nothing like it in the country. And it is so on point with its messaging and with its impact that that the families of of our fallen have embraced this program, want to be a part of the program. They want to lean in with these students and share their experiences and do what they can to be a part. And it's it's just really a transformational week. It's it's one week, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to to 3 p.m. each day. Uh one day includes a trip to Shanksville. Um the 957 project teaches the lessons of courage, resilience, empowerment, service, and teamwork. And it's it revolves around the story of Flight 93 and the passengers of Flight 93. So the families of those passengers of Flight 93 have embraced the program. They want to come be a part of the program, be a part of the teaching of those principles because it does carry on the legacy of their loved ones that were lost. And and to see these students lean in on the on the lessons and um these values that that we all hold near and dear. And certainly the the relatives of the passengers of flight 93 hold near and dear, to see these students really lean in and want to dive in and learn more and then not only learn about it, but then are inspired to do something in their community, in their state, and in the country to to make a positive impact. It honors those those passengers of flight 93, it honors the victims of of uh 9-11. It's just a great way to to spend a week. I can't think of a better, you know, activity for for the youth in the summer, you know, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., they're here at the at the retreat. And one day includes the the visit to the the crash site of Flight 93 um in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. And it's it's sponsored by members of our community, fully sponsored, so the students can attend. Um, so there's no there's no cost, there's there's nothing that would prohibit someone from from coming. It's just a great investment of time.

Larry Zilliox: 16:24

And one of the special aspects of it is that the curriculum itself is taught by veterans.

Sarah Ford: 16:30

Yes.

Larry Zilliox: 16:31

Yeah, which is a great utilization of the space here at the Grand Lodge because the kids can come, they're here all day, and then the veteran instructors stay here and lodge. So it's it's almost what this Grand Lodge was made for. It's just it's really perfect, and it's a great, it is a it's it's just a wonderful, wonderful program. Diane, we are moving in the direction of hosting a number of other groups to come and bring their programs here to the retreat. Can you tell us a little bit about some of the groups that are going to be coming this year?

Dianne Polk: 17:10

Well, first and foremost, I do want to uh reiterate that our mission is still for our wounded, ill, and injured service members that are in recovery. While we are adding a few programs to this year with other groups, that is our number one mission is to bring the families together out of the hospital for a one-week, five-night, five-day, no-cost stay here at the retreat. That is our number one priority. We can't forget those that are that are away from family. And um that's goal number one. And number two, some of the groups that we're hosting are referencing uh Mighty Oaks is a faith-based organization that will be coming four times this year for week-long stays. Uh, there'll be two men's groups coming and two women's groups coming. The need is is tremendous right now. There's a backlog everywhere uh for service members that that need help, along with American Warrior Association. They'll be coming for several weeks, uh broken up within two one week time frames uh for the same faith-based uh healing. It's very um eye-opening to talk to so many different groups that have a waiting list that there is such a tremendous need out there. And um that uh we're grateful that we're part of being able to support that. And another group, 1010 for life, is coming for weekend stays. Basically, the chaplains that I've talked to lately, they're like, oh, I'm gonna talk to uh the chaplains of Fort Bragg, I'm gonna talk to the chaplain here, they have access to all of that. We just heard last week the need is just absolutely tremendous. I know it's sounding repetitive, but the need isn't going away. So we can't, we have to keep talking about how important it is.

Larry Zilliox: 19:04

I know that uh the DAV chaplains, the the disabled American veterans chaplains are coming for a state, which is really gonna be great.

Dianne Polk: 19:14

Yep, they'll actually be occupying all three houses.

Larry Zilliox: 19:17

Wow.

Dianne Polk: 19:18

And um, which would mean upward of twenty five chaplains here will be great. And um, as you had said earlier, the reason, you know, the 957 student leadership, uh part of why we have the lodge, and this is another way is we can help another 12 to 13 people. And they have the activity room here on the Grand Lodge so they can have their classroom sessions comfortable, beautiful views, relaxing scenery. They can take 15-minute breaks or whatever the case may be through intense sessions that are usually in the morning is usually the most intense. And then they can go walk the trails and just think about what they just learn, try to absorb it, or even just walk off by themselves and reflect. And that's one of the benefits of the retreat is there's enough space here uh to be with nature. You might get lucky and you might have. Have a bear come out of the woods and say hello. Which we did last year and we had some youth here. But uh that was a nice trade. And then she just went back to her business. And uh thank goodness.

Sarah Ford: 20:27

It's great. So, Leary, I think um, you know, when we started talking, you're talking about, you know, organizations and and flexibility and and kind of evolving and changing with the times. And as Diane mentioned, um, you know, our our founding mission was supporting these warrior families, providing them with the respite stay, a place to get away and to connect and heal together. But a part of that evolving and growing is just as Diane was was speaking about these programs and maintaining our old partnerships and gaining new partnerships, when there's a wait list to get into these programs, a huge wait list for several of them. Um, and we have the opportunity to bring these warriors here to our grounds for healing, for hope. You know, it's it's it's an honor to be able to do that. And so when we can combine um the healing and these these warrior family stays also with week-long stays for warrior groups to come, it's just um it's that perfect, you know, combination and being available, being accessible, and um being what this retreat was founded to be, as we've said many times, a a place for healing.

Larry Zilliox: 21:42

Well, you know, I'm a member of the um Air Force Security Forces Association. Put out a monthly newsletter at the end of the newsletter, um sort of ended watch section where you'll see pictures and little bios of those members of the organization that are no longer with us. And I always look through, see if I knew anybody. I may have been stationed with someone. It was really troubling uh when I looked the other day and amongst all these old black guys were pictures of young guys, and I searched on their names and was able to learn that I saw three young active duty soldiers who committed suicide. And it's just shocking. It it's such a it's such a uh troubling issue to have these young soldiers think that that that's the answer to their problem. And you know, anything that we can do here, and and I commend both of you for thinking of these programs and coming up with new programs to address these issues, uh, it's just um it's just something that needs to be done. The other thing I think we need to talk about as we sort of kind of wind down is funding.

Sarah Ford: 23:10

So, Larry, we're always looking for sponsors, sponsors for each of the programs that we discussed, whether it's the financial literacy program, the summer student leadership program, um, even our warrior group stays that come. You know, we're we're fortunate to have the volunteer support, the community support that we have to help us with providing facilitators and so forth for these groups. Um, but the bottom line is when they're here, you know, the meals, the the different materials that we provide with the students, you know, we we provide the transportation to Shanksville to take them for that experience. And and um fortunately with with our partnership with the 957 project, you know, we've been able to receive funding that pays for the you know, transportation to and to and from. And we take care of all the meals and and uh there's just resources that we have here that we rely on funding to to make happen. So we appreciate any any and all support for these programs. And and if anyone is interested in supporting any, any of the programs that we've talked about, um, you can certainly reach out to Willing Warriors or info at willingwarriors.org, go to our website, willingwarriors.org, and click on the donate button. And you can specifically put on there if you want to support a particular program. And and that donation will go specifically to the program of your of your choice. Um, but lots of lots of great opportunities for individuals, for businesses to to be a part of what we have going on.

Larry Zilliox: 24:49

Well, listeners, you know from all my other episodes, whenever we're talking about a veteran service organization, I'm always telling you to go up to the right-hand corner and bang on that donate button. So please, this is no exception. We need funding for operations and to pay the bills, the the mortgage and the electrical bill, the cable bill is ridiculous. We have way too many TVs, but all that stuff, you know, is not free. And so uh please uh donate, give what you can. I'll give each of you just a minute here as we kind of wrap up. So, what's the one thing you think listeners need to know about the retreat and where we're going in 2026, Sarah?

Sarah Ford: 25:41

Great question, Larry. You're always you're always full of of good questions, and that's why you're the best at what you do. But looking ahead to 2026, you know, we we talk a lot about programs and new programs and the outreach that we're doing. Um, I want I want everyone to know that we have never left our roots. We have never left our core mission and our passion for service and serving those who have served our nation. Whatever we do, wherever we go, um whether it's here, whether it's out in the community, or if we're looking to um to go to another community, right? To to expand, to expand our footprint. Whatever we do, it has the heart of our military, our first responders in mind. We are here to to meet a need. And as you mentioned, we're we're losing far too many service members to suicide, far too many veterans to suicide. If we have a piece of that answer, then we want to make sure that we are available and we are out there and we are doing what we can to make a dent in that uh one life saved is is is all worth it. All the work that it takes, all the effort that that goes into events and programs and and just having this property available, saving one life is is is worth it. And that's what we're gonna continue to do no matter where we are or what we have going on, serving our serving our service members and veterans is is the heart of what we do.

Larry Zilliox: 27:16

Diane?

Dianne Polk: 27:17

How can you follow that? I agree a hundred percent. I agree a hundred percent. Uh we're we're not starting from the core of what started this uh with these programs. We are expanding. We are expanding due to the need that we have seen firsthand communicating with leadership uh within all branches, have expressed the need, the growth of that need, unfortunately. Not quite sure why some things are the way they are, but they are. As long as we can be here to help, that's what we do. I mean, we're all either military militarily related somehow, you being a veteran. I'm the mom of two active duty uh army soldiers. Sarah's husband, military, 99% of our volunteers are military. So we all get it. And I think that's another thing that makes Willing Warriors so special is we're all like-minded, related in some way through our experiences. So when the families come, we're just not just like trying to fill a fill a slot, add numbers. We actually understand it. We have felt it. So uh I think that that's very important. And that's why we have year-long relationships with the families that come. They come back, they come to our events.

Larry Zilliox: 28:38

Mm-hmm.

Dianne Polk: 28:38

That's huge in my book.

Larry Zilliox: 28:40

Yeah. Well, I couldn't agree more. I mean, we get so much out of the families when they come. They we we see them when they come and we see them when they leave. And we're privileged to see the difference and the impact that the stay has on the family. It's uh as we know from them coming back and sharing their stories about their time since they were here, it's clear that their stay had an impact on them. And we're blessed that we're able to do that for the community on behalf of the community that supports us on so many levels. Uh, you know, we're just we're just so thankful that we were able to celebrate 10 years, which is quite a milestone for a nonprofit that started out with nothing. And today we have this beautiful 37-acre estate with these three homes on it. And we're not only continuing to support our mission of wounded, ill, and injured families coming out for five nights of free respite, but also to expand our programs to support our veteran community and our active duty soldiers in ways that many of them are experiencing issues that are being unmet by the VA or unmet by other veteran service organizations. So we're really thankful that we're able to do this. And 2026, I think, is gonna be a great year for everyone here at the retreat. So thank you for sitting down and joining me. I know I kind of tore you away from a lot of work that you're doing, but I really, really appreciate it.

Sarah Ford: 30:35

Well, it's always a pleasure talking to you, Larry.

Larry Zilliox: 30:37

Yeah.

Sarah Ford: 30:38

Thank you, Larry.

Larry Zilliox: 30:40

So, listeners, we'll have another episode next Monday morning at 0500. If you have any questions or suggestions, you can reach us at podcast at willingwarriors.org. You can find us on all the major podcast platforms. We're on YouTube and Wreaths Across America Radio. So until then, thanks for listening.