It was standing room only last Saturday at JV’s Restaurant in Falls Church, when it sponsored a fundraiser for the Walter Reed Society, raising money to support wounded soldiers and their families.
Patrons were asked to make a minimum donation of $10 during the event, held from 3 – 8 p.m., and additional money was raised by holding several drawings. There was a “50/50” drawing where half the money collected in the “mini-lottery” went to the winner of the draw and half went to Walter Reed. Several JV’s tee shirts were raffled off, and there were an assortment Harley Davidson items as door prizes, thanks to the donations from Lyndon Abell, General Manager at Patriot Harley-Davidson in Fairfax.
First in a series of fundraisers to be held at JV’s, proprietor Lorraine Campbell said, “I don’t think veterans get the recognition and credit they deserve for their sacrifices.”
Music was provided by “The Bad Influence Band” and rocked the patriotically decked-out restaurant which was adorned with small American flags at the bar and a large American flag (flown over the Pentagon just after 9/11) on the ceiling.
JV’s, a venue for some of the best live music in Northern Virginia for over four decades, has been supportive of the military since its establishment in 1947 by Campbell’s father, George Dross, a Greek resistance fighter against German forces who was held as a POW for 18 months before coming to the United States with his wife. JV’s support for the military, veterans, and especially for POWs/MIAs is as unwavering today at as it was 62 years ago.
JV’s Restaurant is located at 6666 Arlington Blvd in Falls Church.