[Sammy Baugh Fan]

Here is my email to the Teams and Vols.

Hey guys and gals,

I made a recon trip to Walter Reed today to meet Pauline Ray of the USO and to get a look at where we will be and get a few answers and to tell her more of my plans. Things are going to be wonderful for the Troops and they need it. I was prepared to see the guys and gals with amputations as an amputee but, the scars and wounds were hard to see them wear. Our great medical achievements keeps so many more alive but sometime pretty wounded. I'm more committed then ever and we'll do a great job.

USO and Walter Reed Are Excited
The plans and details we have worked out are just perfect and the ladies from the USO today think this will be such a great event. The Soldiers I met are excited too and one said he hopes he's "not discharged too soon". [I hope he goes home. We'll get someone to bring him BBQ.] They liked our plans and coordination and things we have are going to do..

Changes Hair Salon and Massages
The owners and folks at Changes Hair Salon are now coming to give quick hair style cuts to the wives of the wounded men and hair cuts to husbands of wounded women and their children. They will give massage back RUB therapy too. I'll have them under one of our 10x10' EZups

Load In Time & Parking
We may be able to Load in as early as 7am the morning of the event. Parking is VERY limited so arrive as early as possible and carpool. We may have to limit the pits to about 6 or so but I want as many as possible. Get there early folks. You don't have to have a Special Pass before hand but I may send out a form we may all need to fill out as we get there or before. All looks smooth but very little parking.

Maps, Directions & Site Layout

Once there we will be serving the food in long tables down the sides of this long Breezeway. It's like 20' wide and 80' long. Hospital enters this area on both sides so food can be taken up to rooms as well as feed in rain or shine.
http://www.mikehedrick.com/bbq/opbbq...on/recon01.jpg

Go up the steps behind me and it's where there will be a stage tent with a long pond behind them. I've been added to the music as a filler but I'm so competitive it's Battle of the Bands" to me. lol
http://www.mikehedrick.com/bbq/opbbq...on/recon02.jpg

This is a view of the way we'll need to drive the pits up from the road to cooking area.
http://www.mikehedrick.com/bbq/opbbq...on/recon03.jpg

Pits will have to fit up here under these trees. There will be a 30'x30' tent back to the left there too.
http://www.mikehedrick.com/bbq/opbbq...on/recon04.jpg

Here is a map of where Walter Reed is off the I-495. Georgia Ave. South. Take 16th Street South for about 4 Miles and Turn Left into Main Gate.
http://www.mikehedrick.com/bbq/opbbq...on/recon05.jpg

Pull in and over to the right to get a Pass. Go around Roundabout and take first Right. Hook Left into Access Road/Path to Cooking Area. Vols. find a place to park...quick.
http://www.mikehedrick.com/bbq/opbbq...on/recon06.jpg

Close up. I flew up there to get these shots. Shew!
http://www.mikehedrick.com/bbq/opbbq...on/recon07.jpg

My Master Plan! Moowhahahahahaha!!!!!!!
http://www.mikehedrick.com/bbq/opbbq...on/recon08.jpg


Food Tally & Pit Count
I'll work on this Friday folks. We should have plenty of Food and possibly too many pits but I want to bring all we can fit. But I don't want a fella to haul his pit and not have space or make him haul it home. I'm working on it.

Delegating Duty
I'll be picking a guy to be the Head Chef On site to coordinate all us cooks and to make sure we are all on the same page and time schedule. I'll also be picking a Lady to be the Serving Lead to coordinate the set up and serving and also keeping the Vols. Clean and Works to our overall goal. I'll work as MC and also as a Floater to work with Walter Reed and the USO. As this gets bigger I will get smaller, as it increases I will decrease.

That's my story and I'm sticking with it!
Look for an Update on Monday.
Thanks and God Bless
mike