As the Iraq War began, Vietnam veterans and DAV life members Hal Koster and Jim Mayer wanted to find a way to help wounded military members recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C. In 2003, they introduced what became known as the Aleethia Friday Night Dinner, a weekly steak dinner at rotating venues throughout the national capital area, all fully funded by generous donors.
The dinners allowed patients and their families to get out of the hospital setting, meet other wounded veterans and enjoy a good meal in a relaxed, casual environment—something the hospital staff believed was an important part of the healing process.
DAV was one of the first supporters of the dinners, and in 2020, Koster and Mayer turned the event over to DAV to manage and operate.
Now known as DAV Night Out, we are proud to continue the mission of serving and honoring the nation’s veterans and their families in this uniquely impactful way.
Schedule
DAV Night Out is open to patients and family members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. A schedule of upcoming events will be coming soon. For more information, contact [email protected].
How Can I Help?
To help sponsor a DAV Night Out event, click below: