Free Republic

The “milkshake man” is Jim Mayer ...he has been going to both WRAMC and NNMC to visit with the wounded warriors. He has been involved as a volunteer with Aleethia’s “Friday Night Dinners” since they started in 2003 (Hal Koster and Jim Mayer started these dinners). Also, he is currently the Director of Peer Mentoring and Training for the Wounded Warrior Project. He plans to continue his peer mentoring for the injured service members as they move to the Bethesda Campus and Ft. Belvoir.

Thank you for proudly standing guard every Friday night outside WRAMC...264 and counting! It is a wounderful tribute to these fine men and women ... they will not be forgotten and their sacrifices were not in vain. We placed a tribute to all the “Friday Night” FReepers on our website (www.aleethia.org) under support stories. BTW, Cpl Edinger was on the bus last Friday night attending his first “Aleethia Friday Night Dinner!” Hooah!

Regarding the Bus returning from the “Friday Night Dinners” sponsored by The Aleethia Foundation...As you have noticed, we are no longer using the “New World Bus” that is because of a lost of sponsorship in paying half the costs...so we are using WRAMC buses which are different on some Fridays due to the size of our group coming out to dinner. We usually have the DAV bus and one other bus...but they don’t always return at the same time...But I know the injured troops are delighted to see all of you every Friday night...thanks for everything you folks do to let these brave men and women know that America has not forgotten what they do for our freedom and all their sacrifices. God Bless you all!!!

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.