Project Description
The #1st Gathering of Mountain Eagles, 24-28 Sep 2008
The first Gathering of Mountain Eagles was conducted 24-28 September 2008. We coordinated with the US Army’s Wounded Warrior Transition Brigade at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC and the US Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, and offered our services, and 19 Soldiers/Marines attended the event.
Read below for more detailed information about our schedule of events and view a video from our whitewater rafting trip.
Schedule of Events
24 Sep: Arrival, Cookout, Introductions & Music (Beckley, WV)
For the first afternoon and evening, we were guests at the Glade Springs Resort near Beckley, WV. We gathered for introductions and a BBQ provide by the resort. In addition, there was some musical entertainment.
25 Sep: Whitewater on the Lower New River (Fayetteville, WV)
The next morning, we moved near Fayetteville where the adventure part began with a whitewater trip down the lower New River.
Rob Dobson of “West Virginia Adventures” coordinated the support of several companies supporting our trip.
After the river trip and the evening meal, we moved to the Stonewall Resort near Roanoke, WV.
26 Sep (AM): “Mountain Eagles Open Golf Tournament” (Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, WV)
In the morning, the adventure aspects continued with a modified golf tournament. Called the “Mountain Eagle Open,” professional and accomplished amateur golfers hosted this tournament under the direction of Stonewall’s Professional Golfer Randy Hernly. Each Mountain Eagle was teamed with an accomplished golfer. With using only one ball per team allowed even the non-golfers to have fun.
26 Sep (PM): Variety Theater Show (Elkins, WV)
In the afternoon, we moved to Elkins, WV. There we stayed at Davis & Elkins College’s Graceland Center and that night attended the American Mountain Theater’s variety theater.
27 Sep: Tailgate Party & WVU – Marshall University Football Game (Morgantown, WV)
In the morning, we moved to Morgantown, WV. There we attended a pre-game “tailgate” party compliments of the “Friends of Coal.” Afterward, we moved a few yards to Milan Puskar stadium for the West Virginia University and Marshall University football game. After the game, we moved to the new lodging facilities at Camp Dawson (West Virginia National Guard) for the final overnight stay.
28 Sep: Final Assembly at Camp Dawson (Camp Dawson, WV)
In the morning, we conducted our final assembly at Camp Dawson, home of the WV Army National Guard.
“One of our supporters, Donel “Don” Kinnard of Hurricane, WV, died on 19 Feb 2009. Mr. Kinnard, who received the Navy Cross during the Vietnam War while serving as a Navy SEAL, graciously greeted our Mountain Eagles at the Stonewall Resort last year.
His presence, along with Mr. Woody Williams (Medal of Honor recipient for his actions on Iwo Jima) and many other Marine veterans was a special event for our wounded warriors. The passing of this great veteran and friend saddens us all. We had presented him with the Gathering of Mountain Eagles challenge coin for his support.
