FOUR key events for TSP at Washington, DC 2015:
1. TSP at Rebellion Fundraiser: What a tremendous turnout at our first ever, DC based, TSP Fundraiser at the veteran owned, Rebellion DC. Led by TSP Board members, David J. Cote, Kirsten White, Ted Coffin and Betsy Hutchins. Far exceeded our expectations. The giving spirit of such a diverse group is so remarkable and inspiring. About 100 people attended, half of them native Mainers. Of the amazing folks we met last night; Active duty service members, CIA, FBI, Secret Service agents, childhood friends from Maine, college buddies, a squad of TBS Second Lieutenants who drove up special from Quantico, friends Maine State Society in DC, White House staff, wounded warriors, my Tuesday night trivia team, wine tasting friends, DoD Art Therapists, Washington Post reporters, DC lawyers, Congressional staffers, and two Gold Star moms from Maine. (At one point we reached fire code capacity.) All to raise awareness and support for the unique way in which we honor and sustain the memories of fallen heroes from Maine.
2. TSP Board members, David J. Cote, Kirsten White, Ted Coffin and Betsy Hutchins at the White House: Visibly worn furniture in smaller than imagined spaces; computer free Oval Office with curved doors, gorgeous wood floors, busts of MLK and Lincoln, and the most ornate and later heightened desk, originally made from timbers of the sunken HMS Resolute; a cozy cabinet conference room with one slightly larger chair, a twice modernized press room with specific media assigned ready room seats, half basketball court size but very fragrant rose garden with familiar white iron patio furniture, the Navy mess and galley known for its frozen yogurt and veteran owned coffee line, a beautiful model of Old Ironsides, a heavily bunkered situation room, large rotating art prints from powerful images of the current administration, and reminders everywhere of American history and the value of hard work — this is the people’s house and I was thankful to have an after-hours, closer look of the west wing.
3. TSP on the National Mall: TSP board members, David J. Cote, Ted Coffin, Betsy Hutchins took the memorial stones of Cpl Mark Goyet and CPL Andrew Hutchins all through the National Mall, visiting the Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
4. TSP Board members, David J. Cote, Kirsten White, Ted Coffin and Betsy Hutchins, visited Great Falls Park and the Billy Goat Trail and carried the stones and stories of Maj Samuel Leigh, CPL Andrew Hutchins, Cpl Mark Goyet, SGT Edmund McDonald, SFC Thomas Dostie, LCpl Joshua Bernard.
MHANF.
- TSP at Washington, DC 2015