Urbanna Oyster Festival Queen Contestant Hailey Bruce and her Little Miss Spat contestant Leah Fuccella devoted their summer to raise funds and awareness for “Veterans in Need” throughout their community. Hailey’s family background in military service fuels her dedication. Her father, Elvin Bruce, retired as a chief warrant officer after 30 years in the United States Coast Guard.
Her grandfather, Gordon Bruce, served in the Air Force, and her great-grandfathers, Max Morton and William Beswick, served in the Army and Navy during World War II, respectively. Leah’s commitment is also personal — her father, Kevin Fuccella, is a retired Air Force member, and her mother, Mikella Musik, served six years in the Virginia National Guard. Their shared family commitment to the military created a strong bond between Hailey and Leah.
Hailey and Leah struggled at the beginning of their project with locating individuals and organizations associated with Veterans in Need in their community. After weeks of searching, Memorial Day was upon them, and what would be a perfect way for Hailey and Leah to start spreading awareness for Veterans In Need in Middlesex County.
Beginning their journey in May, Hailey and Leah hosted two events and participated in another. They created American flag suncatchers and delivered them to the veterans at Riverside Lifelong Health and Rehabilitation Center in Saluda. They also organized a bake sale at Hartfield Volunteer Fire Department and had the honor of presenting their project to VFW Post 8356. In June, they hosted “Veterans Night at the Deltaville Ballpark” and participated in the “We Honor Our Heroes” event in Urbanna. In July Hailey and Leah spread awareness throughout the county and hosted several events. Hailey presented their project at the
Masonic Lodge in Deltaville and to the Moose Lodge in Hartfield. They also as a duo participated in the Blue Crab Festival of Hartfield, a bake sale in Urbanna, the Holly Point Market, and hosted a Pancake Dinner and Silent Auction featuring locally donated artwork.
In August, they concluded their project with a veterans Thank You dinner at the Urbanna firehouse and continued providing services throughout the county.
One touching project involved helping a local veteran from Warner whose backyard was overrun with trees and overgrowth. Hailey and Leah worked with Dixie Tree Removal, which generously donated their services to clear the space. On Aug. 1, the veteran’s backyard was transformed, allowing her to create a new backyard space. Hailey and Leah were moved by her joy and gratitude.
They also supported Helping the Homeless Ministries, a nonprofit organization that provides meals to those in need and travels to Middlesex County. In 2023, this organization served an average of 11,396 meals in Middlesex County, including around nine veterans each month. Hailey and Leah donated $500 to the food bus and three extra-large, frozen pans of spaghetti, prepared by Nick’s Spaghetti and Steakhouse, to be served. Meeting with Pastor Wendy Roundy, the CEO of the organization, learning about and touring the facility was a heartwarming experience for them, as they saw her deep care for Middlesex County’s veterans.
Additionally, Hailey and Leah matched a $3,500 donation from Hands Across Middlesex to renovate the bathroom of local retired Army veteran Mr. Harris of Water View, making it handicapped accessible. Hailey also met Elmore Hodges, a Navy veteran who has volunteered his services for 14 years delivering meals in Bay Aging’s Meals On Wheels program. In his honor, they donated $1,000 to the program. After speaking with veterans and listening to needs in the community, they recognized the need and lack of dental care for veterans. Hailey and Leah then made it a priority that everyone should have access to dental care. They partnered with Dr. Eric Miller, DDS in Saluda, contributing $1,500, which Dr. Miller matched, creating a $3,000 fund to provide dental care for veterans in need. Another way to honor veterans and raise awareness, they placed three benches in the community: one at Middlesex High School and two
at Taber Park in Urbanna. These benches serve as lasting tributes to those who have served and as reminders of the ongoing need to support veterans.
Hailey and Leah’s project successfully raised nearly $13,700 during their events to support ‘Veterans in Need” in Middlesex County.
Hailey and Leah thanked all of the following businesses and people for their support and donations during their project:
- Urbanna Market
- Dixie Tree Removal
- Maritime Museum of Deltaville
- Pilot House Inn
- Deltaville Ballpark
- Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club
- WeKenz
- Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department
- Dr. Eric Miller
- Pieces of Paper and Friends
- If It’s Wood and More
- LaserUS LLC
- Dragon Run Brewing
- Connie and Johnny Clarke
- Mary Lou Bray
- JarenTate Jewelry
- Timely Shelton
- Bob Kates
- Katelin Reiner
- Margaret Thompson
- Rae Oney
- Art Berkley
- Beth Bader
- Kelsey Eanes
- Julia Dorsey
- Water View Arts
- Ferry Creek Pottery
- Hartfield Volunteer Fire Department
- Georgetown Farm Flowers
- Abel Crader
- Jody Ball
- Susan Fleet
- Vicki Blake
- Horn Family
- Kate Oliver
- Hailey and Leah’s parents
What Hailey enjoyed the most about the competition was being able to create a bond with Leah and bringing light to the struggles veterans face. Hailey and Leah made many memories from putt-putt, swimming, baking, flower picking, watching the Olympics and dancing, just to name a few. Hailey could not be more grateful for the time she and Leah spent
together creating wonderful memories together. Hailey and Leah enjoyed each and every conversation they held with a veteran in our community. Not only did this project make them more aware of the needs veterans have, it also allowed veterans to share their stories and struggles.
Hailey has been on the Middlesex High School volleyball and tennis teams since her freshman year. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Student Athlete Scholars and Student Government. She also plays club volleyball for Coastal Hampton Roads in Newport News.
Hailey strives to obtain above a 4.0 grade point average and has made the Superintendents List and All Academic each athletic season.
Hailey plans on attending a four-year university earning a degree in health sciences and continuing onto graduate school to become a physical therapist.
Hailey Bruce is the daughter of Christy and Elvin Bruce; granddaughter of Vicki Blake and the late Ernie Blake of Topping, and Bonnie and Gary Glasscock of Hartfield.
Leah Fuccella is the daughter of Kevin Fuccella and Mikella Musik; and the granddaughter of Lisa and Bill Lech of Deltaville, and granddaughter of Sally and George Davis of Winter Haven, Fla. She enjoys playing with Barbies, singing and dancing, riding her bike, playing with friends, and attending church. When she grows up, she aspires to be a doctor or a professional singer.
