2023 Trips

Scheduled Trips for 2023

April 13th, 14th, 15th & 16th
Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, Rehoboth Beach, DE
(Completed)

May 18th, 19th, 20th & 21st
Fairfield Inn & Suites - Marriott, Chincoteague, VA
(Completed)

June 8th, 9th, 10th & 11th
Marriott Center City Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
(Completed)

July 20th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd
Spring Hill Suites, Hershey, PA
(Completed)

September 14th, 15th, 16th & 17th
Fairfield Inn & Suites - Marriott, Chincoteague, VA
(Completed)

October 12th, 13th, 14th, & 15th
Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, Rehoboth Beach, DE
(Completed)

November 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th
Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, Rehoboth Beach, DE
(Completed)

2023 Trips
Pictures and Comments

Comments and Pictures from the trip to Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, Rehoboth Beach, DE
April 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th

Name: Sergeant Dominique Elliott
"The hotel arrangements were great. Check in/out went smooth. The gift cards for the restaurant helped a whole lot. When I had a long day, I ordered room service. This is my second trip here and I must say the flexible itinerary works. The first day of check in is to relax, second day families get to meet for dinner and the choice of location for dinner and lunch had a great variety. The gift cards for Lefty's was a great idea. My son had a blast. I will say if people want to bowl, call or make reservations ahead. My last day for brunch I think the waitress was overwhelmed or something or the restaurant was short staffed."

Name: Sergeant Quintis Reese
"My family and I had an awesome time during the entire Warrior Weekend, Rehoboth Beach, DE trip. The hotel accommodations were very nice and adequate for my families needs. The boardwalk and very close proximity to the beach made my youngest daughter very happy and excited. The food options at the VFW and Tiki Jacks were great options as well. Due to all attractions being so close, we (my family) didn't have to be concerned with finding food and fun. Thank you for all that you do!"

Name: Sergeant Adrienne Toliver
"I had the opportunity as a soldier who is part of the Ft. Belvoir SRU to participate in the Warrior Weekend Getaway at Rehoboth Beach. I was very impressed with all the accommodations with was given to me as well as the other soldiers. The hotel was great, food and all amenities were the real deal. Being able to meet the volunteers who put this together was very rewarding within itself. I enjoyed the beach although I did not get to test the water out. The boardwalk, the food, the atmosphere, weather and Lefty's was a plus. I hope to come back again! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am so grateful. This is just what I needed. Special accommodations for wheelchairs is needed. Thank you Karen, Jim and Buddy for everything that you do. Please continue and don't stop."

Name: Master Sergeant Kim Crosby
"All accommodations were excellent! Hotel staff very pleasant and attentive. Dinner that was provided by Jim & Buddy was excellent. Everyone was friendly & helpful. Luncheon that was provided at Tiki restaurant was good and filling. Truly grateful for all the gift cards and money, was not expecting all the items given. I'm so grateful and honored to have been able to experience this vacation. Thanking Ms. Karen, Buddy and Jim for all their hard work and support."

Comments and Pictures from the trip to Fairfield Inn & Suites, Chincoteague, VA
May 18th, 19th, 20th & 21st

Name: Sgt Todd Summers, Hampton, VA
"This weekend was absolutely wonderful. I cannot see any ways it can be better. I totally enjoyed the opportunity to just relax and take in some time away from my daily regiment. This area on Chincoteague Island is so serene. The boat ride was relaxing and Dillon was very informative. Tom and Buddy are very warm host, who make everything easy. My family really enjoyed these outings that wouldn't happen without the blessings from "Warrior Weekend". Thank you so much. I hope I can get the opportunity to make it on another Warrior Weekend."

Name: Master Sergeant Kim Crosby
"Hotel accommodations were excellent, friendly hotel staff, breakfast arrangement very satisfying! Boat ride was a plus, in addition to subs for lunch. Great location for vacation for SRU soldiers! Both restaurant meals were feasible with the added ice creamery. All in all everything was very successful!"

Name: Specialists Fawn VanBredevode
"Everything was great. There isn't anything I would change. We had a great time!"

Name: Sergeant Quintis L. Reese, Gaithersburg, MD
"Mr. Buddy an Mr. Tom made this entire experience so enjoyable for my family and myself. We can't express the thanks & gratitude we have for Mr. Buddy and Mr. Tom and the Warrior Weekend program. The hotel accommodations have been comfortable and adequate for our family size. All of the dining choices have offered many options with great food for ourselves and our daughter. We enjoy the time to freelance to discover and see what's in the area. However, we also have enjoyed all of the scheduled activities as well. I truly can't think of any improvements that can be done to enhance the enjoyment & fun of the weekend from our experience. If there was somehow, someway to clone Mr. Buddy and Mr. Tom, I believe that would make the weekends 200% more enjoyable. Thank you for the memories. Much love, Reese family!"

Name: Specialists David Mills, Jacksonville, FL
"Warrior Weekends at Chincoteague Island could be improved by offering an optional activity Saturday morning (nothing mandatory). Warrior Weekends at Chincoteague Island could also be improved by making the Island Creamery a part of the experience every time."

Comments and Pictures from the trip to Marriott Center City, Philadelphia, PA
June 8th, 9th, 10th & 11th, 2023

.Name: Staff Sergeant Todd Summers - Hometown Hampton, VA
"I cannot say there are any areas that I did not agree with. We were given the time and flexibility to do other things of our choice. The food and restaurants were excellent. I enjoyed the time spent with the other participants. The baseball game and NFL Films Studios were both awesome. To top off all of that, the Dallas Cowboys helmet was a wonderful surprise. Everybody should have gotten a "Cowboys" helmet. Thank you for such a wonderful and relaxing weekend. Joe and Garth are great hosts. The bus driver, Mr. Bill, does a good job and is a warm compliment to the trip. Thank you again."

Name: Major Karin Huber, VA
"Hotel arrangements were great! Garth & Joe met me at the front desk to give me my room keys, my breakfast tickets and spending money for the weekend. This weekend was such a great surprise! In the sense it was truly unexpected from the Philies game to the NFL Studios tour. Garth & Joe provided us with a very good itinery. We had an opportunity Friday morning to roam around Philly to see Chinatown & the Market at Market Street. For the next trip, could there be a Philly map added to documents? To see what they would recommend to visit if a soldier was not familiar with the area. Saturday was a great success! The tour of the NFL Film Studios was truly unexpected; how the studio makes these films & their process was truly eye opening! The only improvement I would recommend would be the marketing of the program. Garth & Joe (an Bill) have done a great job. If more wounded warriors understood the program, more might sign up to participate. Thank you for a great weekend!"

Name: First Lieutenant Alissa Sheiness, Fort Belvoir, VA
"This weekend was simply amazing. Joe and Garth were so nice and accommodating. It was so nice to arrive and have everything done for us already! I didn't even have to check into my room. I loved the scheduled events. It's nice to have events planned out, but also be able to venture out on our own and explore. Having transportation to and from everywhere was such a winner! The planned activities were perfect and I loved that dinner was right across the street. I was so surprised to get spending money and I am so thankful for that. Thank you Joe & Garth for an amazing weekend away. My family and I are so grateful."

Name: Sergeant First Class Frederick Ervin, Blackwood, NJ
"This was my second trip with Warrior Weekend. Just like the first, it was amazing. My wife, Lisa, and daughter, Amelia, joined me on this trip. Checking at the hotel was easy. There was plenty of options for food in the area. The second day was relaxing. We were able to see a little bit of the city before the Phillies game. The third day was amazing. NFL films was amazing to see everything they do to get things together was amazing. After NFL films, we had an amazing dinner planned at Maggioni's The had plenty of food and drink options for everyone. I would definitely come back for a third trip to another location. The smiles and memories that I was able to make with my daughter were amazing"

Name: Specialists Tiera White, Prince Georges County, MD
"The Weekend Warrior weekend was excellent. I have no complaints. The hotel was great. I had a few issues with the room but nothing that the hotel couldn't fix right away. I love the itinerary that Mr. Joe & Mr. Garth arranged for the group. The baseball was great. We had a perfect view of the field and we even all left with a cool "Dick Allen" souvenir. My favorite about the entire trip was the NFL Film Studios. I took away a lot of cool things that I learned. Thank you Joe & Garth!"

Comments from the trip to Hershey Park, Spring Hill Suites, Hershey, PA
July 20th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd

Name: Staff Sergeant Joseph DeCosta, Brooklyn, NY
"As a soldier of Ft. Belvoir, VA - SRU, I want to express my gratitude and honor to all senior leadership. SRU Medical Team, Mr. James Coleman, Mr. Jim Lafferty, Mr. Garth Miller, and Mr. Scott Underkoffler for allowing me to participate in the Warrior Weekend Program - the Hershey Park trip. When we arrived at the hotel late evening, Mr. Garth greeted us with a warm welcome, including room keys, two-day park admission tickets, and spending money/allowances that we used to pay for the two-day parking tickets and lunches. The hotel had everything we needed and was comfortable, including breakfast every morning with a flexible time for four hours to eat. It also had indoor and hot tub that kids enjoyed. Although the two evenings, Mr. Garth Miller and Mr. Scott had organized a gathering dinner for us, unfortunately, we could not attend both dinners due to insufficient time to complete the dry and water parks in two days because the lines, crowds, and school summer break. Also, we were glad and preferred the no timeline scheduled activities during our trip. The itinerary was clear and precise, we believe that the trip was a job well done and I do not see any improvement needed. Lastly, we all had a phenomenal time. We appreciate all your support and for all that you do. We look forward to another opportunity to attend another Warrior Weekend. Thank you. I hope to hear from you soon."

Name: Sergeant First Class Jeffery Hinson, Midlothian, VA
"My wife and I thoroughly ourselves in Hershey, PA. The hotel was close an convenient to many of the attractions, the park and local restaurants. We discovered there were so many things to do in Hershey other than going to the park. The hotel was adjacent to the automobile museum. I was able to walk over to the museum and they offered a military discount ($14). We also enjoyed the trolley tour and the "Hershey Story" museum and they both offered military discounts. The highlight of the trip was spending half a day at the Hershey Hotel enjoying the garden and the atrium with live butterflies. We discovered these things on our own so wanted to mention them in the comments for information purposes for future guests. This is a wonderful organization with wonderful people. We had a fabulous time and will highly recommend it to other veterans."

Name: Sergeant First Class Terrance Francis, Brandywine, MD
"I want to start off by saying thank you for this great opportunity to reset and refresh. The overall experience was unique and considerate allowing time to unplug and be in the moment. Hotel accommodations adhered to the requirements of quality sleep: cold, dark, and quiet so no complaints there. If anything were to be improved upon, I would consider maybe a care package waiting for the guest in each room. Now, scheduled activities sound more like an obligation. I personally would keep the same plan or structure used for the July 20-23 weekend but add some group picture times in there at reasonable times. I enjoyed the pizza and brewery dinner creating an opportunity to meet my fellow veterans. Thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to seeing you in the future."

Name: Sergeant First Class Jeffrey Winfree, Ft. Washington, MD
"The hotel accommodations were great, the location was convenient to the park, shopping and other touring options. The rooms were also great, comfortable with nice amenities, access to nearby ice cream parlor, museums and restaurants. The itineray for us was great! It allowed my family and I to enjoy ourselves and still have time to meet with the group. Nothing was mandatory other than having a great time and unwind. I know the dinning out was not mandatory but It should be because that's the only time the group can come together and show what the trip is truly about, bring us together with family and enjoying new faces, friends and memories that can last a lifetime and even more important, to show service members that people truly care about us! My overall impression of the weekend was not spending it with family but with strangers who chose to go above and beyond to make me and my family feel appreciated, respected and comfortable and like family. I will continue to advocate for programs like this one while I'm at the SRU. Please continue your mission because .what you're doing can mean the world to a service member who may not have a good support group or one at all. We had a blast!!!"

Name: Sergeant David Spurlock, Fort Belvoir, VA
"Hotel arrangements: 10/10 Service was great, breakfast was good (all 3 kids ate very well each morning.) Rooms were very spacious. Restaurants: 10/10 Loved the vibe the place gave off. Servers were incredibly great & the food was fantastic. The beer was even better. Itinerary flexibility: We really enjoyed the flexibility, the itinerary provided but we would've liked to do more with the Warrior Weekend team. Overall, this weekend was a 10/10 and we created an unforgettable memories with our children. I got to see them smile ear to ear so thank you so much for giving us this opportunity."

Comments and Pictures from the trip to Fairfield Inn & Suites, Chincoteague, VA
September 14th, 15th, 16th & 17th

Name: SGT Jarelle Turner, Ft. Belvoir, VA
"Thanks!!! We would like to express sincere gratitude for the thoughtfulness and generosity this organization has provided my family. Lasting memories and family bonding time is priceless. Your organization's willingness to go above and beyond for military families shows there is still compassion in our world. It was pleasurable spending time with each of you who visited. Suggest for weekend events were a nice touch to add. Once again, please know that your kindness will always be remembered. See you all on the next trip."

Name: SPC Christina Simpson, Culpeper, VA
"This weekend my daughter and I had an amazing time. The hotel was in a beautiful spot and having the balcony right over the water was awesome. Buddy and Tom were excellent hosts, as well a the other Warrior Weekend staff that attended the boat ride with us. The restaurants were excellent and the ice cream was a delicious treat. I will definitely recommend these trips to other soldiers at the SRU."

Name: SPC Wang Lee
"It's been a wonderful weekend spending time with the Warrior Weekend in Chincoteague, VA! The staff, Buddy and Tom, came out to greet us even when we arrived at the hotel very late on Thursday night, allowing us the flexibility and comfort on arrival time. The scheduled boat ride was amazing as we have never been up so close to the wildliee habitat! Although events were scheduled, Buddy and Tom emphasized that we were free to do whatever or however we would like to spend our weekend which provides us many more options to enjoy the Warrior Weekend in our own taste and choices! The reserved dinner and preordered meals provided the comfort of not having to take time to decide on where to eat. It's been an amazing weekend and my family and I are looking forward to even more trips in the future!"

Name: SPC David Mills, Jacksonville, FL
"I believe that very few improvements can be made to the Warrior Weekends due to how perfect they are. My overall impression was that the events were well planned and coordinated with great progress. Thank you to all who were involved in the making and preparation for this trip!"

Comments and Pictures from the trip to Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, Rehoboth Beach, DE
October 12th, 13th, 14th & 15th

Name: SFC Adrienne Toliver, Hagerstown, MD
"What can I say? I am here enjoying Rehoboth Beach for the second time and I enjoyed every minute of it. Each day something new to do. Jazz Festival and Doggie Show, walking on the beach and boardwalk. I was here in April and I was on the knee scooter two months out of surgery and I could not enjoy myself freely. The hotel was superb, hospitality was great, room was wonderful. I just love the beach and all that comes with it. Weather was perfect. Dinner on the last night at American Legion Post 17 in Lewes was a 4 out of 4; the food, music, atmosphere was very inviting. I really enjoyed myself and I was very relaxed and definitely needed this weekend. Momma Martin came with me and enjoyed herself fully. People at the legion were fun and she had a wonderful time and so did I. I will be back."

Name: Sergeant Dominique Elliott
"Hotel arrangements have always been amazing; check in is pleasant and smooth. The front desk recetionists are always welcoming. This is my third trip and my son always looks forward to coming. He loves the boardwalk, the pool in the hotel and dancing when we all meet for dinner. His favorite is when we go to Post 17 he can cance all over the floor. I love that while we have an itinerary to follow, we still have time to do other things with our families and/or other vets. While I enjoyed the trip overall, I will say this is the first time I had a horrible experience with room service. I notified management and Karen from the Warrior Weekend program who immediately addressed the situation with the staff involved. Overall, I enjoyed my stay just as much as my son! Karen, you are an amazing person and I want to thank you and everyone who makes this possible for us and our families"

Name: First Lieutenant, Allissa Sheiness, Long Island NY
"What an amazing weekend! The hotel was top notch and just so beautiful. Karen and the hotel staff were so welom
ing and friendly. We immediately felt right at home. The 10 second walk to the beach/boardwalk was such an experience. We enjoyed relaxing, shopping and exploring. Lunch was so much fun that day and getting to meet so many of the Warrior Weekend "crew" in person was a nice surprise. The dinner at the American Legion Post 17 was so enjoyable and sweet. The food was great and getting to meet so many people who support us was heart-touching. My son was so loved and cared for - I am grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving us such a special weekend away. This memory will last a lifetime. Love and appreciation, Alissa & Myles."

Name: First Lieutenant Wilde Ketchatang
"I am grateful for this experience. In my point of view, I don't want to change anything about this program. All the folks were very welcoming. From a very nice reception at the beginning to a very nice dinner to interact with other veterans. I wasn't comfortable with the way the guy for the room service handled our food request and was so much in a rush. The travel back and forward was worth the over all experience. Thank you so much, Miss Karen. You laid down the plan and communicated so well. Thank YOU. God Bless America!!!"

Comments and Pictures from the trip to Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, Rehoboth Beach, DE
November 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th

Name: Sergeant Quintis Reese, Gaithersburg, MD
"This was my family and I second time attending the Warrior Weekend trip here at Rehoboth Beach. We have enjoyed ourselves this time as we did at the last time. The hotel accommodations were truly delightful. The close proximity to the boardwalk and beach makes the experience that much more enjoyable. All of the activities and events that are arranged were truly memorable experiences and we enjoy every moment, from all the wonderful food and the shows "The Elvis Experience", and the grand welcome we received from the American Legion Post 28. We are truly grateful and thankful for sharing with us and making us feel so welcomed. Lastly, I cant say enough about Mr. Tom, Mr. Buddy, Mr. Jim and Ms. Karen and all the other Warrior Weekend volunteers. This organization with your efforts makes these experiences for all of us so wonderful and unforgettable!"

Name: First Lieutenant Wilde Ketchatang, Fort Belvoir
"The hotel was great and it accommodated me and my family well. The seaview rooms were incredible. I like the idea of having to decide where I eat instead of a gift card restricted to the hotel. I do not prefer scheduled activities. I like it the way it is now in terms of schedule. The show organized on Saturday was amazing and everyone had alot of fun time. Only recommendation could be more variety of food at the occasion if it is possible to do. Overall, it is still a 10 out of 10 for me."

Name:  Sergeant Major Kevin Facemyer, Franklinville, NJ
"We had an amazing weekend. The hotel accommodations were wonderful. The staff were friendly and helpful. The American Legion folks were absolutely amazing! We appreciated the hospitality & food. FYI, my daughters are new Elvis fans!! We had plenty of time to relax and enjoy the hotel pool & ocean. We also had a nice time socializing with our other warriors. Five Stars!! Would love to come again!!
P.S. I'll be a life-long booster to try to get some donations!

Name:  Specialist Wang Lee, Oxen Hill, MD
"Thank you for the amazing trip! My family and I would like to express sincere gratitude for welcoming us and accommodating us with memorable events! I'm grateful to have spent time with volunteers and military families. Thank you for bring us together. Spending time with my family was beyond therapeutic! Everyone in the organization certainly made me feel comfortable, respected and appreciated and I cannot be more grateful to have met each one of you! Your compassion and support for us will always be remembered. Once again, thank you!!