By Richard Carrier
Contributing writer

Promising “a Fourth of July celebration the likes of which Powhatan has never seen,” retired Marine Corps helicopter pilot Clyde Childress has thrown himself into making his commitment happen.

Mr. Childress predicts that no less than four thousand and possibly as many as ten thousand people will share a full day of “honoring our veterans and showing the younger generation what the fourth of July really means.” As a fund raiser for the nonprofit Families of the Wounded, Childress has scheduled a broad range of activities for his 44-acre Vista Del Mar home site, just off Route 13 on Old Tavern Road.

A 5K run is expected to have approximately 1,000 runners competing. A 55-piece combined Richmond and Petersburg Symphony Orchestra ensemble and choir will present a two-hour concert. A fly-over by the Army Air National Guard, a WWII P51 aerial display and an up close display of the famous Blackhawk attack helicopter should generate a lot of excitement.

A more unusual musical offering will be provided by the Saint Andrews Legion of Pipes and Drums bag pipers and the true spirit of the day will be highlighted by guest speakers Paul Galanti, a Hanoi Hilton POW, and Delegate Lee Ware, interpreting what the Constitution means to him.

Guests are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and picnic baskets for “an old fashion celebration of the Fourth of July,” Childress advised. But food concessions are also going to be available. Admission is free to the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. celebration.

Clyde Childress retired from the Marine Corps two years ago, after 21 years of service. He piloted helicopters during the Viet Nam War and was shot down twice. His recognition of the trauma faced by our wounded veterans led him to his association and support of the Families of the Wounded program, made up of ex-military personnel. “McGuire Hospital is one of the top hospitals which treat head wounds,” said Childress. As road side bombs have caused tremendous numbers of catastrophic head wounds, many of the wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan are sent to McGuire for head trauma treatment. Often their families travel here to support their loved ones during surgery, treatment and initial rehabilitation. The military does not offset the families’ expenses, the Families of the Wounded does. “We give each family $6,000.with no strings attached,” Childress said.

Clyde Childress graduated from a Chesterfield County high school, but his military career took him away from the area and he eventually retired in California. His return for his fiftieth high school reunion resulted in a bit of a catharsis. “We decided that there were just too many people in California,” he said and the kinder and gentler life style of Powhatan County became very appealing. The Childress’s are building their “dream home” on the 44-acre parcel overlooking a 20-acre lake on Old Tavern Road. They hope to moved in to their new home before the Fourth of July extravaganza, but it “could be close,” Childress agreed.

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