This past weekend, Longwood University hosted the fourth annual Wounded Warrior Weekend. From Oct. 18 to Oct. 19, there was a surge of events, including soccer games and 5K runs. There were Longwood Wounded Warrior shirts available for purchase on many days in the past few weeks in the lobby of Dorrill Dining Hall.
On Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. there was an Longwood Wounded Warrior Weekend (LW3) Benefit soccer game which featured the “Dream Team” consisting of military members, family and friends of wounded warriors. The team also included family, friends and comrades of Army Capt. Shane Adcock, Marine Sgt. Donald Lamar and Army Sgt. Andrew McConnell.
The “Dream Team” took on members of the Longwood faculty and staff. The game took place at Johnston Drive field.
Saturday, Oct. 19 brought a Memorial 5K walk/run and Women's Soccer game. The Women's Soccer game was at 2 p.m. at the Johnston Drive field. This game honored Wounded Warriors and their families during half time.
The Memorial 5K walk/run began at 9 p.m. on High Bridge Trail. This was the fourth year the Memorial 5K has been a part of the Wounded Warrior Weekend.
Stacey Wilkerson, interim director of First Year Experience and Family Programs, has been involved in the Wounded Warrior Weekend events for the past three years. She wanted students to get involved by participating in the 5K and attending the soccer games.
She also said they should “make a donation to the Wounded Warrior foundation, support veterans, say thank you to a veteran or wounded warrior for their service to this nation.”
Wilkerson also mentioned that they were hoping to have 75 participants for the 5K, and the number was fluctuating daily. All the proceeds raised this past weekend are going to the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program. The run began at the train station on the High Bridge Trail and traveled farther along the trail.
Wilkerson hoped the weekend would “[bring] awareness of the Wounded Warrior programs both nationally and in the state, raise money for the cause, support veterans and support Longwood’s veterans, wounded warriors and the families of Longwood fallen soldiers.”
She continued, “Through an extensive network of local, federal and state partnerships, the VWWP can assist you in getting the answers you need regarding psychological health and traumatic brain injury.”
According to the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP), the program serves “veterans of an era who are Virginia residents, members of the Virginia National Guard and Armed Forces Reserves not in active federal service and family members of those veterans and service members.”
The VWWP began in 2008 when the Virginia General Assembly made it possible to ensure that services to veterans and their families are available all over the state. Longwood's weekend made a pledge that if the donations from the whole weekend exceeded $2,500, then a donation of $500 will be made to the Longwood University ROTC General Scholarship Fund. The Wounded Warrior Weekend soccer game was one of many events that assisted in raising money for the Wounded Warrior Program. T-shirt sales served as tickets into the game, which brought in funds.Photo By: Staff Photographer Laura Clarke
“Through an extensive network of local, federal and state partnerships, the VWWP can assist you in getting the answers you need regarding psychological health and traumatic brain injury.” Photo By: Staff Photographer Laura ClarkePhoto By: Staff Photographer Laura Clarke
