Marines in Seguin

June 14th started bright and early for Jackie, Dottie & Sharon as they were joining Marines from the Marine Annex, Fort Sam Houston at the Lazy U Ranch in Seguin for their town hall meeting. We arrived about 9 a.m. and were greeted by Brandon, our POC and several others who took the peach cobblers (still warm) to the kitchen area for us while we joined other marines and their families in the pavilion just as the meeting began. We were one of several organizations who had been invited to address the families letting them know what our organizations do and how they can participate. After the presentations everyone disbursed to enjoy being outdoors and some of the many activities available. We provided lunch from Bill Millers BBQ with dessert of fresh peach cobbler from Clear River Pecan Co., Fredericksburg. Of course there was ice cream for the warm cobbler. It was a beautiful day to be outside with just enough breeze to keep from being hot. In addition to fishing and canoeing there was archery complete with an instructor, board games and miscellaneous other games to keep everyone busy & involved. Fun day with good people.

Photos from the event can be viewed in the album “Marines in Seguin” by clicking on photos at the top of the page.

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Day Event

Nimitz Golf Classic

Every year the Nimitz foundation has a golf tournament as part of their fund-raising activities. This year Wounded Warriors at Nebo was honored to be a part of that. We had three warriors who rode back seat in WWII airplanes doing a fly over to kick off the golf tournament at Boot Ranch Golf Club. Saying they were excited is obviously an understatement. All had flying experience but said this was like nothing they had ever done. In addition, there were 8 golfers who participated in the actual golf tournament. It was a perfect day with a breeze to offset the high temperatures. One of the joys of this event was seeing wounded warriors and their family again whom we hadn’t seen since they were medically retired. Each golfer was paired with a foursome. It was obvious at the close that new friendships had been made. Anthony Iwuchukwu, one of our wounded warriors, was on the team winning 3rd place in the tournament. What a wonderful day.

To see more pictures click on “Photos” at the top of the page. They are also posted on our facebook page.

Day Event

Kick Up Your Boots

May 26th was our annual fundraiser featuring Bernie Nelson and Thomas Michael Riley in concert. What a great night!! Great Music! Packed Crowd! Generous People! It was a perfect storm. People were competitively bidding on silent auction items and trying not to miss any of the great music. We interrupted the music from time to time to draw prizes. Grand prize, $1,200 toward a cruise from any port to any destination, was won by Nathan Crenwelge. Second prize, $1,000 in $50 gift cards went to Jim Heupel. Third prize, $550 cash, to Farley Hemphill. In addition, there were multiple gift baskets, gift cards, etc won. People’s generosity was overwhelming and not just those attending the concert but all who purchased tickets for the drawing and donated items for the silent auction. In addition to the numerous local supporters (Fredericksburg and surrounding area) there were many who were visiting our fair town from Houston, Midland, New Mexico to name a few. GOD really blessed this fund raising event. Proceeds will help WWAN to provide respite to the wounded, injured, & ill active military, medically retired veterans and their families.

In a true act of selflessness and generosity, several winners of both the drawings and silent auction items immediately gave their winnings to a warrior(s) attending the concert or donated their winnings back to WWAN to be used at a future event for the warriors.

SPECIAL THANKS to Western Edge Cellars who provided the space for the concert and their staff for excellent service, Inn on Barons Creek for discounted rates for the warriors who attended and all the tireless volunteers whose labor is priceless.

Click on “Photos” on the menu at the top of the page to see more photos from the fundraiser.

Day Event

Evening of Elegance 2/9/2019

A special note of thanks to Kris Lara for her help with this article.

Couples, dressed in semi-formal attire, gathered at Maggiano’s Restaurant at the Rim for a special evening designed to remind couples of the little things that keep a marriage alive – things that can often be forgotten or taken for granted. The mood was set with heart shaped balloons and chocolate decorating the tables. Building Blocks for a Healthy Marriage was the theme of this magical evening.

Chaplain Thompson started the evening with some ‘ice breaker’ games which require couples to interact with each other and other couples. Except for the entrée which each individual selected, appetizers and dinner were served family style thus everyone was able to sample several different dishes. By all reports the meal and service were outstanding.

Later the guest speaker, Dr. Yancosek, spoke about how important communication is to a healthy relationship. She stressed that couples need to honor and respect each other and how to reconnect during troubled times. Dr. Yancosek’s presentation was followed by Mrs. Thompson who reiterated the importance of communication in maintaining and strengthening a marriage. She also shared information about their new baby boy.

Entertainment was provided by Kezia Brel who played the guitar and sang while the couples socialized. A total of 44 people attended the event.

To view more photos from the event click this link https://wwnebo.org/photos and select the album “Evening of Elegance”.

Day Event

Deer Hunt

Brad Bowen, DOD Military Adaptive Sports Program, brought three wounded warriors from the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Sam Houston to Fredericksburg to help a local rancher thin the deer on his property. While the ministry doesn’t promote or arrange hunting trips we do provide the ranchers with military contacts. Both the rancher and the warriors benefit.

Day Event

Warriors at Natural Bridge Caverns

The following provided by Jackie Heupel and Sharon Massey

The Wounded Warriors at Nebo treated seven warrior families, a total of 30 adults and children, to a day at the Natural Bridge Caverns in Schertz on June 16^th. We gathered in a beautiful grove of old oaks with picnic tables next to the main information building at 10:00. Soon after, the group went with one of the park guides for a tour of the Maze. Once they returned, we all had a wonderful lunch of barbecue beef and hot dogs followed by several desert choices provided by Diane Smith, Annie Matthews, Dusty Smith, and Debbi McCurdy of the Republican Women from Fredericksburg. Lunch was followed by another group tour, this time of the cave itself. By the time the tour was over it was 2:00 and everyone began their trips home.

The day was a true gift from God, and the location of our picnic was so well shaded by the oaks that we hardly noticed the heat of a Texas summer day. As usual, the food and fellowship were wonderful and everyone seemed to have had a delightful time together in the park.

A special thank you is owed to the ladies of the Republican Women of Fredericksburg.

Day Event

Fishing – Fun – Fellowship

The Fredericksburg Fly Fishers Club hosted a fishing day out for eight (8) soldiers from Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio on May 19. When the soldiers arrived they were greeted by club members who assisted them in getting their rod and reel ready and selecting bait. They then accompanied “their guest” to a fishing spot and stayed with them visiting and tutoring where necessary since for some this was an entirely new experience.

They were fishing for bass although there were also hungry perch in the lake. It was catch and release so the excitement of catching fish was what was important. The first fish caught was about a two pound bass!! Naturally it was caught by the one person who on arrival stated “I am not going to fish”. By the end of the day everyone had caught at least one fish.

Lunch was from Backwoods Barbecue followed by yummy HOMEMADE desserts made by Fellowship Connection First Baptist Church. After everyone stuffed themselves they went back for more fishing and or kayaking.

As they were getting ready to leave, the soldiers revisited the dessert table for something to ‘munch on’ on the drive back to San Antonio. There were lots of smiling faces as people said their goodbyes.

Volunteers: Jackson and Judy Leddy, Roger Eppright, Gary Killion, David Cross, Jon Morse, Bob Spencer, Buddy Phillips, Lawrence Zenner, Keith Masters, Joe Salinas, Larry Ottmers who also donated 2 rods and Earl Robinette

Sponsors:

Fredericksburg Fly Fishers- Earl Robinette organized event
Ron Spencer- Donated 10 rods
Backwoods BBQ – Provided Lunch at a Discount
Hill Country Pump Service – Donated use of portable toilet
Fellowship Connection First Baptist Church made deserts
Bill and Pat Collins Donated use of the Back 40 for fishing
Ben Kvanli, Olympic Outdoor Center, San Marcos, donated the use of kayaks for the day.

Day Event

Card Party

Several friends at WFSC (Warrior Family Support Center) kept asking us to plan a day in Fredericksburg for them to come out and make cards. Those plans finally came together on April 27. The plan was to meet at the Cypress Room at Fredericksburg Inn and Suites where everyone would make four cards in the morning and four after lunch. As it turned out only half of the people signed up were able to come due to appointments, etc. , which meant the people who intended to teach were able to relax and make cards and visit. There was also a special treat for the guests. They each got a 30 minute chair massage!! What a fun day!!!

Day Event

5K and 10K Run

Early Saturday morning, May 13, seventeen volunteers gathered at the Wildseed Farm gazebo to hand out water during the Women’s Wildflower Run. This was the third year Wounded Warriors at Nebo Ministry was given the opportunity to “earn” a nice donation . Volunteers handed water and gatorade out to the runners while enjoying the beautiful morning and gardens. We are grateful to Bill Gardner, Run in Texas, for the opportunity to participate again. Of course we couldn’t have done it without the following volunteers:

Dottie Pieper, Sharon Massey, Michelle Reson, Ed Fredericks, Betsy Fredericks, Lavern Boos, Kathy Parrish, Diane Smith, Fred Nardini, Judy Nardini, Diane Boerner, Terry Harrison, Diana Harrison, Coleen Hickman, Sharon Ginder, Lisa Callahan and Susan Stephens.

Day Event

Marriage Wellness at SS American Memorial

Last Friday (4/21/17) Sharon and I met Chaplain Thompson (WTB, HHC) and nine couples in Seguin at the SS American Memorial aka Lazy U Ranch. It was a perfect day to be outside especially in such a beautiful setting. The property has the Guadalupe River on one side and Lake Placid on another. When we arrived, the couples were already a “Marriage Wellness” session with the chaplain. This gave us the opportunity to meet and visit with three veterans who help run and maintain the property. You see, the owner has dedicated the property to helping those who are or have served their country. To visit their website Click Here or go to ‘Related Links’ above.

The chaplain gave everyone a short break, long enough to grab donuts or kaloches and a beverage and to say hello to us before heading back for more words of wisdom. Lunch was Bill Miller Barbecue chicken and brisket. WOW! what a treat! There was another session following lunch then everyone was on their own. They had the option of staying and enjoying the weather, kayaking, playing games or leaving. Ben Kavnli, Olympic Outdoor Center, San Marcos was at the river helping all who were adventurous enough to kayak. Ben has generously provided the kayaks, help and/or instructions at our events for several years now. It’s so humbling to see how these warriors handle their ‘New Normal” and help each other. Rather puts our minor aches and pains into perspective.

Special Thanks to Ben for his generosity. To check out his website Click Here or go to “Related Links” at the top of this page.

Photos of the event are in the album “Marriage Wellness”. Click on Photos at the top of this page.

Thanks to Craig Russell, owner of SS American Memorial ( website ) It’s nice to be back in Seguin.

Ryan and Brandon, THANK YOU for all the help with setup, cleanup and everything else!!