It was my pleasure again this past Saturday to attend a portion of the Wounded Warrior Deer Hunt. No, I didn’t go out to the blinds with the hunters, but I did take a group photo for Monday’s paper.

The Wounded Warrior Program gives some of our American heroes the chance to experience the thrill of a deer hunt in Halifax County each year the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It’s heartwarming to see these guys so excited about their morning hunt while they partake of fresh Brunswick stew…made on-site, David Vaughan-style…during their noontime break.

Kudos to the Wheelin’ Sportsmen of the Halifax Area Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation for sponsoring the event every year in Halifax County.

The good ladies of the Berryman Green Chapter, NSDAR, and the gentlemen of the John M. Jordan Chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans co-sponsored the event this year along with the good folks of the Halifax Area Chapter of the NWTF.

A total of seven hunters participated in Saturday’s hunt on James Edmunds’ farm and property belonging to Tony Reaves. It’s really great of these guys to open their property to the disabled hunters for their big deer hunt. James has hosted the hunt on his property each year, and Tony came on board this year…a wonderful gesture!

Breezy Oaks Farm House Bed and Breakfast in Alton, decorated in a festive Christmas theme, hosted the Wounded Warriors for a home-cooked dinner and lodging on Friday night plus breakfast Saturday morning at no cost. Everything was donated and provided by NWTF, Linda Williamson Zuniga of Breezy Oaks Farm House B & B, and SAAM-Sportsmen All-weather All-terrain Marksmanship members.

Dr. Bill MacCarty, president of the Halifax Area Chapter NWTF, David Vaughan, stew-cooker deluxe and district director-NWTF, and the Rev. Randy Williams, Wheelin’ Sportsmen coordinator of the Halifax Area Chapter NWTF, and all their folks did a great job setting up everything for this year’s Wounded Warrior Deer Hunt event. All in all, Saturday was a super day for everyone involved in the project. Even the deer cooperated!

Our visiting disabled hunters harvested a total of nine deer during the day…two that morning and the other seven in the afternoon! Congratulations to our disabled heroes on their successful hunt…we owe you so much more than we could ever repay. Thank you for your sacrifice for our great nation!

Thanksgiving

Thursday is Thanksgiving in Halifax County and across the nation. It’s a time to give thanks for everything that has been provided to us.

I hope this has been a good year for you and your family. Please take time Thursday to pause and reflect upon everything you have. Thank the good Lord for everything He has provided to you and yours.

Even if you may be going through rough times, remember…every time someone shuts the door, God opens a window.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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“Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.” 

— Frederic Bastiat, French Economist