Just wanted to update you on the “Friday Night Steak Dinners” for our injured service members recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. As you recall, Hal Koster, former co-owner of Fran O’Brien’s Steak House, started “free steak dinners” back in October 2003…and in April 2006 the restaurant lost its lease at the Capital Hilton Hotel location. Your group and other military bloggers fought a great battle to assist in getting the word out in hopes to overturn the Hilton’s decision and Hal greatly appreciated your efforts.
Hal founded The Aleethia Foundation, a fully volunteer organization (www.aleethia.org) and through many challenges Hal has been able to continue these dinners. Since May 5, 2006, it has been a moveable feast. Several venues including the Capitol Hill Club, City Club, Morton’s Army Navy Club, Washington Golf and Country Club have offered space for the dinners. Corporations, AEI, Ambassadors of Italy, Australia, Taiwan, Israel, and many others have sponsor dinners at their facilities. On this Friday, October 17th, we will have our 5th year reunion of the “Friday Night Steak Dinners,” with many of our first time service members returning to DC. Thanks again for your support of our troops and for all you do. The troops look forward to you welcoming them back after the dinners on Friday night.
DC Chapter ping to post #13.
Thanks for that info, Margaret. Happy Anniversary!
Tom, JVB, and kburi,
We need to include info on the Aleethia Foundation (www.aleethia.org) as boilerplate in our AARs from now on.