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Town of Ashland hosts community picnic Aug. 6
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Vol. 7 No. 47 | Richmond Suburban News | July 27, 2022
Habitat breaks ground on 75th home By Christina Amano Dolan Editor Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity has been keeping busy this summer in the community, most recently with the organization celebrating the groundbreaking last week of the nonprofit organization’s 75th Habitat home Keedra Reeders and her son, Damien, are set to be the newest local Habitat homeowners, and the community was invited to join the celebration of their milestone on Thursday, July 21. Joined by Habitat staff, family and friends, the duo officially see HABITAT, pg. 7
Local author’s newest book brought to life by visionary students By Christina Amano Dolan Editor
Christina Amano Dolan/The Local
Keedra Reeders and her son Damien perform the ceremonial groundbreaking to their new Habitat home in Doswell.
VFW Post 9808 launches ‘Band of Brothers’ community events By Christina Amano Dolan Editor Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9808 has launched a series of events in honor of the 20th anniversary of the “Band of Brothers” miniseries. The events, which will all be held at the post located at 7168 Flag Lane in Mechanicsville, will feature screenings of the award-winning TV show along with dinner, artifacts, speakers and historians highlighting World War II and the exploits of one Airborne Infantry Company in the conflict. Each event is open to all veterans and their guests and will offer an opportunity to socialize and learn more about
the accomplishments of WWII veterans. Bob Seifert, a VFW member and one of the events’ organizers, said that while the events are designed for veterans and their guests, anyone who’s interested is welcome. If a civilian who wishes to attend does not know a veteran to bring, they can contact the post to be provided with a veteran host. see POST 9808, pg. 8
Contributed photo
Shown is Bob Seifert’s collection of biographies inspired by the ‘Band of Brothers’ novel by Stephen Ambrose that were on display during Tuesday’s event. Ambrose’s book was also the inspiration for the widely-acclaimed and awardwinning HBO miniseries.
Local artist, teacher, pastor and retired Navy chaplain David Reid Brown’s latest book, “Lost S u m m e r ,” carries a message of loss and recovery inspired by his difficult journey through the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The book holds special significance for the Grace Christian School teacher, as the finished product is owed to the talented minds and creative vision of his very own students. Brown served as a U.S. Navy chaplain for 21 years. His first published work, “Spirit Soundings: A Chaplain’s Journal of Life at Sea,” was similarly inspired by his global experiences in the chaplaincy and navigating through 21 years of peace, war and three oversees deployments. Retiring from the chaplaincy in 2016, Brown began his teaching journey at a Christian school in Hawaii, where he taught art, government, history and Bible study to high school-aged
Photo courtesy of Grace Christian School
David Reid Brown, author of ‘The Lost Summer,’ reads aloud the newly-published book during the publication party held at Grace Christian School in March.
students. After five years, he transitioned to Grace Christian School in Mechanicsville to teach the same subjects. Brown shared his inspiration behind “Lost Summer,” which is a prayer devotional that has been in the works for many years. In the summer of 2005, Brown travelled to the Gulf of Mexico to participate in PANAMAX, a military exercise with various nations from Central America and South America. After six weeks of training and preparing to travel back home, they were advised see AUTHOR pg. 16