On an absolutely beautifully fall day, our motorcade of six vehicles and 20 invited guests arrived at the Carter Hall Estate located in Millwood, Virginia.

Dr. John P. Howe, III, M.D., President and CEO of Project HOPE, and staff members extended a “red carpet” welcome to Navy League members and spouses.

Included in today’s invited guests were members of Council’s adopted ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50). Traveling from Norfolk were Carter Hall’s Commanding Officer CDR Frank Linkous, CDR James McGovern, LCDR Brian Finman, CMC John Heistrand and MC2 Tom Smith.

Following a tour of the Estate, we joined Dr. Howe and members of the Project HOPE staff for a delicious buffet lunch. What followed was the highlight of today’s visit.

Dr. Howe spoke on the history of Project HOPE and of its many accomplishments since being founded in 1958. It is truly a remarkable inter-national humanitarian service and is recognized today as a world leader in the areas of women’s and children’s health.

On behalf of USS CARTER HALL, CDR Linkous presented Dr. Howe with a plaque of the ship’s crest and a special bottle of wine bearing the history of both the Carter Hall Estate and the U. S. Navy ship, Carter Hall (LSD 50).

Through the combined efforts of Bill McCathern and Wirt Christian, the Richmond Council presented the Estate with a beautifully-framed picture illustrating side-by-side the USS Carter Hall and the Carter Hall Estate, along with the story on how these two entities were brought together. Council’s Liaison with USS Carter Hall, Lewis Brandt gave an excellent summation of the humanitarian service provided by both the USS Carter Hall and by Project HOPE.

President Martin, on behalf of Council, presented Dr. Howe with a book describing the history of the Navy League since its inception in 1902.

We left the Carter Hall Estate with a much better understanding of and appreciation for the outstanding service being provided by Project HOPE worldwide.