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One of our supporters on the Central Route this year was the Willing Warrior Retreat (WW) in Haymarket, VA. They worked with Sons and Daughters in Touch to provide a Vietnam Era pinning ceremony for riders at the Day 10 lunch. It was a pretty moving moment. The WW Retreat provides a healing retreat for warriors and veterans who are in long term rehab situations. It is an awesome peaceful place. One of the ways they raise money is by selling pavers to their supporters. RFTW worked with WW to have a brick made (it is not specific to any of our routes – 1 mission, 4 routes!), but WW would not let us pay for it…. So… I took the brick to CA on my bike, and then every morning, we collected donations from riders who wanted the honor of carrying the brick for the day - a different rider each day. I had no idea the adventure this brick was going to take!! It did time in multiple platoons, Road Guards, etc. Just like our riders, It made it through “the storm”, and kept popping up on social media in different situations. (Who had it during the storm? I would love to hear the story!)So, now it is time for us to put the brick in the ground at Willing Warriors.
The retreat center has 2 locations where bricks are placed. One, is a walkway in front of the center – this is where sponsors, supporters, and the community places their bricks. The other is in a place called the Survivors Garden. The focal point of the survivors garden is a tree that has been hit by lightning twice, and still lives. At the base of the tree, warriors who stay at the retreat are given the option of placing a brick in the Survivors Garden. Given the story of RFTW, and the journey this year, WW has decided to place the RFTW Brick next to the Survivor’s garden.
The challenge with activities at the retreat is that on most weekends, the center is hosting retreats – not the place where a pack of motorcycles would necessarily be helpful. However, on Saturday, July 13th there is a small availability for us to place the brick in the garden, and for us to thank them formally for their support.
On Saturday, July 13th, if you are able to join us, we will have an early lunch at Logans Roadhouse in Manassas (11 AM) (7731 Donegan Dr, Manassas, VA) . We will leave Logans at 12:30, and proceed to the Willing Warrior retreat center in Haymarket (20 minute ride max), for a short ceremony/paver setting at 1:00 pm. PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT AN OFFICAL RFTW EVENT OR RIDE!!!
This is for all routes! Cars and Motorcycles are welcome!!!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Logan's Roadhouse (7731 Donegan Drive, Manassas, VA), United States