HOME OF THE FREE … BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE IS THE BIGGEST ONE YET
Celebrating its 20th edition, the dinner provided a first-class night out for more than
four dozen service members and their guests while also raising funds for Patriot Point
A capacity crowd of more than 300 gathered as service members and their guests were treated to a special evening as the Military Bowl Foundation and board member Paul Norman hosted the 20th annual Home of the Free … Because of the Brave dinner at Fogo de Cháo restaurant on Thursday night.
The event provided a first-class night out and welcome respite for more than 100 military family members including service members recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and other service members from across the Washington area.
With the season opener between the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys playing on televisions throughout the venue, those in attendance included Medal of Honor Recipient Barney Barnum, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel, and U.S. Army Col. (Ret.) Greg Gadson, a former West Point football team captain and whose military service culminated as the Garrison Commander of Fort Belvoir, where he oversaw the daily operations of the post.
“What a special night and what a special event,” Military Bowl President & Executive Director Steve Beck said. “We are honored to join Paul Norman and welcome so many service members and their guests and provide this much-needed night out. Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets to pay for their meal and those of service members, those who donated and the sponsors who helped make this night special for our invited guests.”
As has become a tradition, Norman worked his way through the restaurant, personally greeting each service member and caregiver and asking their favorite football team.
“Paul was a patriot [by founding Home of the Free … Because of the Brave ] and figured out a way to turn his patriotism into action,” Gadson told the crowd. “By virtue of being here, you are all patriots.”
The service members present also were invited to attend the 2025 Go Bowling Military Bowl on December 27 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.
Home of the Free … Because of the Brave was sponsored by John Pellerito and the Pellerito family; Cushman and Wakefield; Capital One; Evergreene Homes; Finmarc; Good Housing; H2BC Partners; Xcelerate Solutions; Kettler; Linden Development; Stanley Martin Homes; Walsh Collucci Lubely and Walsh; BFM Seaward LLC; Matt and Marianne Beck; Capital Hilton; The Concordia Group; Constellation Brands; Jeddah Deloria; Rick DiBella; the Hogan Group; L.F. Jennings; Howard and Joni Katz; Mill Creek; Oasis Digital Partners; Pulte Group; Albert Small; Toll Brothers; Tower Facility Management; and Vika Virginia.
Proceeds from the event benefit Patriot Point, the Military Bowl Foundation’s retreat for recovering service members, their families and caregivers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Donations are welcome at patriotpoint.org.
“For a long time, I was struggling without realizing it,” Pasha Palanker, a 16-year U.S. Army veteran who attended as Gadson’s guest, told the crowd. “I have a wife and four boys. Eventually, I started to isolate. I lost a lot of years with my family, probably 5 to 8 years. But eventually, through amazing organizations – and Patriot Point is one of them – I was able to find myself and rebuild myself in the process. I’m not exaggerating: What you’re supporting here is life saving.”