Lt. Col. Deborah Brown has spent her Army career offering spiritual guidance to service members. Now, she is trying to inspire others through her debut documentary.
Roughly 150 people, dressed to the nines, gathered on Jan. 13 at the downtown Norfolk Waterside Marriott for the premiere of “Pounders: We are who we are.” The 40-minute documentary chronicles the lives of four individuals as they overcome the challenges of living with spinal cord injuries and pursue their passion of riding motorcycles.
“They are the epitome of resilient,” Brown said.
Brown, who lives in Williamsburg, wrote and produced the film through her business, DAT Gypsy Productions. She first envisioned the venture 30 years ago but it took a backseat to her military career. She has served the Army as a chaplain for 23 years.
When asked about making a documentary now, she said it was all about the timing.
“And on a spiritual level, God said I could,” Brown added.
Brown brought this film to life with the help of her brother, Wendell Thompson, a Williamsburg resident who is living with a spinal cord injury. He is one of the four “pounders” featured in the documentary.
Thompson, a 59-year-old Army veteran, was injured in 1985 in a service-related incident. He is paralyzed from the waist down, and recently had his left leg amputated at the knee. He is still an avid motorcycle rider.
“When we ride motorcycles, we pound the road,…
