1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WVS Boston's news radio. 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:08,959 Speaker 2: Thank you very much, al As we head into our 3 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 2: nine o'clock hour on a Friday night, I am delighted 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 2: to be joined by two women who have made a 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 2: tremendous commitment individually and together. Although they run separate organizations, 6 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 2: basically sending care packages, packages that include the toiletries that 7 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 2: people we all take for granted here back home in America, 8 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 2: but for US military personnel men and women who are 9 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 2: serving overseas, deployed in places around the world where maybe 10 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 2: there isn't a PX, there isn't a nearby Walgreens or 11 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 2: a CVS, and just the little things of life that 12 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 2: are important to us, whether it's a few kid bars 13 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 2: or package of band aids or some chapstick, or just 14 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 2: any sort of toiletry that all of us take for granted, 15 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 2: and our men and women who are serving don't necessarily 16 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: have it available. The two guests are Wendy Raka. Her 17 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: organization is called Operation American Soldier. They're been in operation 18 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 2: since two thousand and two, and Kelly Conroy adopted Platoon 19 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 2: SOUTHI style. Wendy, let me start with you if I 20 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 2: could and now I will go to my good friend 21 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 2: Kelly Conroy, tell us what exactly does Operation American Soldier 22 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 2: do and what have you been doing now for twenty 23 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 2: two years? 24 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 3: Well, thank you for having me on. First of all, 25 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 3: I appreciate it, mister Ray. 26 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 2: And call me Dan. I'm not that old. Call me Dan. Please, 27 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 2: wen Day, Okay. 28 00:01:58,200 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 4: Go ahead, sure, sure. 29 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 3: Kelly and I have been collaborating for maybe six months 30 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 3: or so on different ways to make our projects work. 31 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,959 Speaker 3: Mine has been, as you said, since late two thousand 32 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 3: and two. We've been shipping thousands of packages every year 33 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 3: to any deployed service member in any branch. These packages, 34 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 3: they're not just filled with things and stuff. They're filled 35 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 3: with letters from the person who packed it for you. 36 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 3: They're filled with things that you missed when you're not home. 37 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 3: And when my sons were deployed, if I sent them 38 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:43,239 Speaker 3: a box of cocoa puffs, they'd be tackled for it. 39 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 3: The little things in life that they miss. 40 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's in our pantry. They don't have pantries when 41 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:53,839 Speaker 2: they're halfway around the world, that's for sure. So you've 42 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 2: been doing this for twenty two years, and I'm going 43 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 2: to get into the mechanics of it in a moment. 44 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 2: But I also want to get Kelly in here. Kelly, 45 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 2: you had a real personal reason. Your group is called 46 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 2: adopt a platoon SELFI style. Your son was deployed, but 47 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 2: not before he graduated from West Point. 48 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 5: Yes, that's true. I started it about four years ago, 49 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 5: but he was deployed. He came back about a year ago, 50 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 5: and I was able to adopt his platoon. Well he 51 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 5: was gone, so we were able to experience firsthand how 52 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 5: our packages affected the people that he dealt with on 53 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 5: a daily basis, and some of the men and women 54 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 5: that were underneath him, and a lot of their young kids, 55 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 5: and they don't have necessarily a lot of family or 56 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 5: people to send packages, so they get these packages from 57 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 5: complete strangers. And we would get notes and letters and 58 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 5: emails from them, and how much it meant just to 59 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 5: receive that. And in all of my packages I try 60 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 5: to send them, I send them personalized notes to like 61 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 5: Wendy's grew hop and I try to find out everybody's 62 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 5: birthdays and send them separate packages on their birthdays and 63 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 5: birthday cards. And those were the most meaningful things of everything, 64 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 5: with those little those little things, the cards, and the 65 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 5: notes and the letters, especially the ones from kids. 66 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 2: Well, now, so both of you have been doing this, 67 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 2: you know, with different groups, little difference in your time commitment. 68 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 2: I'm using the phrase care packages. What do you call them? 69 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 2: Let me go back to Wendy. Wendy, I refer to 70 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 2: them as you know, sending a care package. What is 71 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: the term of art that your group uses? And what 72 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 2: is Kelly Kelly's group use. 73 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 3: My husband coined the phrase that we send care cheerboxes 74 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 3: because they're full of cheer and to bring a smile. 75 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 2: To your cheerboxes. Okay, Kelly, what do you got? What 76 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 2: are you folks in Seuthea? By the way, when you 77 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 2: adopt a platoon, you're talking about fifty or fifty five 78 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 2: service person and in a platoon? Correct? 79 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 5: Yes. And then recently I've been asked to take on 80 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 5: a lot more so on top of my platoon, I 81 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 5: will have probably several others, so it will work out 82 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:14,559 Speaker 5: to be probably a couple of hundred a month. 83 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,840 Speaker 2: Wow, Wow, what we do well? I use the phrase 84 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:20,840 Speaker 2: care package? What what do you guys? What do you 85 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: guys in adopt a platoon? Southea style? Call what you said? 86 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 5: I would probably say care packages too. 87 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 2: Okay, great, great minds thing go like, Kelly, to make 88 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 2: a difference, I know, great minds thing go like okay, 89 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,280 Speaker 2: only only kidding you. You guys are the ones who 90 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 2: need to be saluted here because you guys are doing 91 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 2: this great work. Now, everything's been going hunky dory, and 92 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 2: as as Wendy has explained it to me, and I 93 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: assume it's it's the same for you, Kelly. You have 94 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 2: a group of all both of you have a group 95 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 2: of volunteers and uh you folks from from scratch. You 96 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 2: you amass the the materials, the contents of the packages, 97 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 2: you packed the packages. You you sent letters with the package, 98 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 2: and you address it to an individual, a military personnel, soldier, 99 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 2: man or woman whatever. That's the way that it's done, 100 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 2: both of you essentially, Is that correct? 101 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 5: Yes? 102 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 2: Okay? But but but bye bye Bud. Within the last 103 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 2: couple of weeks, because Kelly reached out to me, I've 104 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 2: known Kelly for a while and I've talked to Wendy 105 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 2: now for the last couple of weeks to understand this. 106 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 2: I'm going to Wendy. Have you described it? You you 107 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:41,239 Speaker 2: were informed that as of September first, for some reason 108 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 2: you could no longer just put a package together, seal 109 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 2: it up and send it to a soldier. What is 110 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: this additional obligation that is making that process so complicated 111 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:57,799 Speaker 2: that now rests on your shoulders. 112 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 3: So we've been getting very deep in this Dan and 113 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:06,480 Speaker 3: we have found out that it is now required that 114 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 3: we have to not only line item, which we we 115 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 3: did anyway. We line what's in what's in the box, socks, 116 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 3: peanut butter, crackers, fruit spread, spread, whatever, and then we 117 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 3: put the quantity in an approximate weight in just just 118 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 3: an approximate weight for the box in total, and that 119 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 3: was enough. Now we have to line item every single 120 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 3: item that fits in that twelve by ten by six 121 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 3: inch box, which, if you can imagine we're playing tetris 122 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 3: with the box, there's not there's no room left. So 123 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 3: if there's one to put in, one more chapstick, it 124 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 3: goes in there. And we have to line item every 125 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 3: single thing. We have to have the HS code, which 126 00:07:53,040 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 3: is helped me out here, Kelly, the customs code, sorry, 127 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 3: the customs code. We have to know where the product 128 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 3: originated from. So if you're putting in a package of 129 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 3: oreos and it's just the fellow pack of oreos. Those 130 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 3: might be made in Mexico. But if you're putting in 131 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 3: the MINDI oreos, those could have been made in Spain 132 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 3: and they way different, and they it's it's nuts, It's 133 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 3: absolutely nuts. We can't. It's our volunteers grab a box, 134 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 3: they look at where it's going and they know what 135 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 3: they can put in there because we have signs up, 136 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 3: and then they just pack it as tight as they 137 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 3: can pack it. But I've already predone the labels. 138 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 2: Okay, So now I want Kelly to get in on 139 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 2: this as well. So, Kelly, this complicates this process immensely. 140 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 2: But my understanding, it's not the United States Postal system 141 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 2: that is imposing this upon you, folks. It's some sort 142 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 2: of a group that is associated. It's called the Universal 143 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:05,319 Speaker 2: Poe Still a union, which is an agency of the 144 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 2: United Nations based in burn, Switzerland. How is it that, Kelly, 145 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 2: How does it make you feel, as the mom of 146 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 2: an American soldier, that some group in burn, Switzerland has 147 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 2: decided to make it more difficult for you and your 148 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 2: volunteers to send packages overseas to US military personnel. They're 149 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 2: actually almost discouraging you from doing this making it so complicated. 150 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 5: Exactly, it shouldn't it should not be this layer of 151 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 5: red tape just to do something like this for our 152 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,679 Speaker 5: own people. And that's why we were hoping that just 153 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 5: by bringing this to your attention where you reach thirty 154 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:58,559 Speaker 5: eight states, that maybe somebody can help us get to 155 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 5: the bottom of this. Change this regulation. Somewhere along the line, 156 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 5: this was changed, and they've now made it almost absurdly 157 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 5: impossible to send packages. And then if you do send 158 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 5: them and everything isn't line item and correct with that 159 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:17,719 Speaker 5: HS code, they come back to you. So now you've 160 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 5: spent all this money sending packages out, all this time 161 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 5: and effort, and then it turns around and four weeks 162 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 5: later it's coming back to you and it's just deflating. 163 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: Oh my god. 164 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 2: Now one quick question here before we go to break. 165 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 2: Have you had any success and I know that this 166 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,719 Speaker 2: has just happened. I'm assuming that there must be some 167 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 2: people who you've reached out to. Have any of our 168 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 2: political leaders said we can I mean, you can't call Burn, 169 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 2: you can call Burn Switzerland. Good luck getting this changed. 170 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 2: As an individual, who will you reach it out to 171 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 2: and who has responded in any way shape or form. 172 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 3: Senator Marky's office has been the one that has responded 173 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 3: more than anybody. Mark Lenigan and Julius Spagnolia are very 174 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 3: involved in trying to get to the source and see 175 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 3: why the military has to do this, and they've been 176 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 3: super responsive. 177 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:23,559 Speaker 2: So is the military also obligated to do this or 178 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,599 Speaker 2: the military has not said that care package is that 179 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,079 Speaker 2: the military has to do this? Explain what you meant by. 180 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:34,559 Speaker 3: That that for all the military packages, you have to 181 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 3: remember that every single family who's shipping to their loved 182 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 3: one has to go through this process as well. 183 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 2: Okay, all right, So what we're going to do is 184 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 2: we're going to take a break. I'll open up the 185 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 2: phone lines if there are people out there who want 186 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,079 Speaker 2: to comment in this. First of all, we have two 187 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 2: women here, two people who have spent literally thousands of 188 00:11:56,600 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 2: hours doing this great volunteer no benefit, well, no financial 189 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:08,439 Speaker 2: benefit to them, a great deal of satisfaction. But we 190 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 2: now have somewhere, some unnamed anonymous bureaucrat with this United 191 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 2: Nations agency, the Universal Postal Union. I didn't even realize 192 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 2: such an union existed, as now imposed on the moms 193 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 2: and dads and friends and volunteers of these two great 194 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 2: organizations and probably other great organizations. Operation American Soldier and 195 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,319 Speaker 2: adopted Platoon SEALTI style this obligation. If you'd like to 196 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 2: join the conversation six seven, two, five, four ten thirty 197 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 2: six one seven nine three one ten thirty uh and 198 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 2: if you are someone out there who knows anything about this, 199 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 2: feel free. There's no suggestion that this is being done 200 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 2: to ensure the safety of US military personnel. It sounds 201 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 2: to me like someone came up with this idea, some 202 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 2: bureaucrat who had nothing better to do that day, came 203 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 2: up with an idea that would simply frustrate and diagonize 204 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 2: people who are doing really God's work. Back on Nightside 205 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 2: six one seven, two, five four ten thirty six one 206 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 2: seven nine three one ten thirty back right after this 207 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:20,839 Speaker 2: very quick commercial break up Nightside. 208 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: Night Side with Dan Ray, I'm telling YOUBZ Boston's News Radio. 209 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 2: Now, I know that many of you out there this 210 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 2: may sound like a confusing story, but at its core, 211 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:39,839 Speaker 2: it's pretty simple. You have Americans civilians who are sufficiently 212 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 2: concerned with the just the comforts of American military personnel 213 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 2: serving overseas that they for in the case of both 214 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:52,439 Speaker 2: Wendy Rocke and Kelly Conroy, they form an organization and 215 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 2: within their organization they have dozens of volunteers, and they 216 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 2: also and I will give you guys an opportunity to 217 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 2: to find out how people can get in touch with 218 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 2: you if they would like to join your efforts basically 219 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 2: providing materials free of charge conveniently to people who are 220 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 2: posted again anywhere anywhere around the world on behalf of 221 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 2: the American the American government. And now we have some 222 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 2: United Nation agency that I don't know ever existed. Wendy 223 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 2: or Kelly, What is the legal status of this group 224 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 2: Universal Postal Union that it has even the right to 225 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 2: consider imposing these restrictions, this additional red tape on groups 226 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 2: like yours that are just simply trying to send some 227 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 2: creature comforts and some reminders of home to our military personnel. 228 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 2: Can any of you can, either of you explain how 229 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 2: they have this authority? 230 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 5: I certainly can't. 231 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 3: God good, we pulled up some information that just simply 232 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 3: says it's a United Nations agency that coordinates international postal 233 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 3: policies and procedures, acting as the primary forum for global 234 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 3: postal cooperation. Since the establishment in nineteen I'm try eighteen 235 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 3: seventy four. It sets the rules and regulations. 236 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 2: So way is that? So it's was established in eighteen 237 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 2: seventy four. That long pre data, if you're giving me 238 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 2: the right date. That long predated even the establishment of 239 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 2: the United Nations, which wasn't you know, created until after 240 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 2: World War Two. So this agency's been hanging around for 241 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 2: one hundred and fifty years, and now they're coming out 242 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 2: of nowhere to bother you guys, Wendy, what what do 243 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 2: you know about this group? Anything anything more than that? 244 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 4: No? 245 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 3: Sure, I just think they should go home and leave 246 00:15:59,600 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 3: us alone. 247 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 2: And no one knows, neither of you know what prompted this. 248 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 2: This is in some effort by some organization to keep 249 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 2: our military personnel safe. This you've been doing this for, 250 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 2: in your case, Wendy, twenty years, Kelly, in your case, 251 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 2: it's been over four years now, sending materials to military 252 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 2: personnel who really in many cases, some kids who joined 253 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 2: the military these days come from you know, poor circumstances, 254 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 2: may be broken homes. The military can be a lifeline 255 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 2: for someone to get their life in order. They don't 256 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 2: have the familial support that maybe you know everybody has 257 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 2: is that's a factor too, I think in terms of 258 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 2: the value of your outreach. Am I off base on. 259 00:16:56,520 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 5: That, ladies, No, no, no, that's percent. 260 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,199 Speaker 2: Explain Explain to me why I'm why I'm correct here. 261 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 5: Those packages mean everything to the to these I call 262 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 5: them kids, They mean everything to these kids. You know, 263 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 5: it's just it's a sign of home. It's a sign 264 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 5: that you've thought about, that someone cares about you, a 265 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 5: complete stranger. And I always go back to and maybe 266 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 5: our packages don't have anything to do with this at all, 267 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 5: but I always think that twenty two a day, you know, 268 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 5: maybe somebody somewhere will get this package that's really failing 269 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 5: down and it can just brighten up their day, you know, 270 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,400 Speaker 5: a note from someone they don't know, things that they need, 271 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 5: just something to let them know that, you know, you're 272 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 5: not forgotten about where you are. It's a lot tougher 273 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 5: than where you ever thought you'd be, and we just 274 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 5: want to help in some way, shape or form. It's 275 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 5: that simple. 276 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 2: Well, you've both are doing, you know, amazing work, absolutely 277 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 2: amazing work. I'm hoping that there may be someone list 278 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 2: is out there who want to join our conversation. And 279 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:06,160 Speaker 2: I don't know what we can do other than ask 280 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 2: people to take up the cause here, affiliate with you folks, 281 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 2: maybe contact our senators and congressmen's office. I mean, obviously 282 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 2: they have the staff in the ability to get to 283 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 2: the bottom of this. I can't imagine that there was 284 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:29,400 Speaker 2: some bureaucrat who woke up some Wednesday morning, had nothing 285 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 2: to do, and said, you know, I'm going to tighten 286 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:34,719 Speaker 2: up the rules and regulations of those Americans who were 287 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 2: sending toiletries and care packages to their neighbors, sons and 288 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 2: daughters who were serving in the military. So you'd like 289 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 2: to think that there wasn't someone who just thought this 290 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 2: would be a great idea just to make people's lives 291 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 2: more complicated. But look, let's just open up the phone lines. 292 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:57,440 Speaker 2: And at the same time, when we come back, I 293 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 2: want to talk more about what you do and also 294 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 2: give you an opportunity to give people a way in 295 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 2: which they can contact you off here. They can contact 296 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 2: you on here by calling six one, seven, two, five 297 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,160 Speaker 2: four to ten thirty or six one seven, nine three 298 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 2: one ten thirty, but will also give you an opportunity 299 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 2: to give out either your website or email address or whatever. 300 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 2: If there are people out there would like to help, 301 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 2: because we're going to get this this red tape straightened 302 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,959 Speaker 2: out one way or the other. And if Senator Markeye office, 303 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 2: Senator Markey's office is going to get involved in this 304 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 2: and and help out, we'll give him all the credit 305 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 2: that that they would deserve here, because I think it's 306 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:45,640 Speaker 2: only at the federal level will something like this get 307 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 2: get resolved. It's it's way. It's way up at that 308 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,640 Speaker 2: food chain or that chain of command. My name's Dan Ray. 309 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 2: This is Nightside. Feel free to join the conversation six one, seven, two, five, 310 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 2: four to ten thirty six one seven, nine three one 311 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 2: ten thirty Kelly and Wendy, Wendy Rocca raca excuse me 312 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 2: of an operation American soldier in Kelly Conroy adopt a 313 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 2: platoon sealthie style. Honored to have them with me. I 314 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 2: hope you will be kind enough to join the conversation 315 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 2: and maybe even just give him a word of encouragement, 316 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:20,680 Speaker 2: because this, to me is something that really is a 317 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 2: kick in the guy from an organization and a group 318 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:30,240 Speaker 2: that has probably done nothing for the people who are 319 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 2: out there defending freedom on the front lines around the world. 320 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:36,160 Speaker 2: Back on Nightside right after this, you're. 321 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 1: On night Side with Dan Ray on w B Boston's 322 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 1: news radio. 323 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 2: With me is Wendy Roca. She runs Operation American Soldier. 324 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:50,959 Speaker 2: You're located, Wendy west of Boston. Is there a geographic 325 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:55,400 Speaker 2: area that people can it's more easy for them. 326 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:59,879 Speaker 3: To volunteer well, wearing Watertown. We're very easy to find 327 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 3: and we have so many volunteers. 328 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 5: We're very blessed. 329 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 2: Okay, that's great to have more good Okay, I'm going 330 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 2: to give you a chance. How can folks get in 331 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 2: touch with you if they would like to, you know, 332 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 2: help out or learn more about your organization? 333 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:20,640 Speaker 3: They can either go on the website, which is Operation 334 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 3: Americansoldier dot org. Or they can email me which is 335 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 3: Wendy W. E. N d Y letter r at Operation 336 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 3: American Soldier dot org. 337 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:39,360 Speaker 2: Both dot org. Okay, yes, all right, So you're you're 338 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 2: a five oh one C three Kelly Conroy. How can 339 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 2: folks most easily obviously the the name adopt the Platoons Southeastyle. 340 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 2: You are based out of South Boston. Uh so we 341 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 2: know how could where do your volunteers come from? How 342 00:21:57,480 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 2: how far away from South Boston? 343 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 5: I would say, the South Boston in the Greater Boston area. 344 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:07,399 Speaker 2: Okay, mostly, how can folks get in touch with you 345 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 2: if they'd like to be helpful? 346 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 5: So, mom, my website is adopt a Platoon SOUTHI Style 347 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 5: dot com and my email is adopt a Platoon ss 348 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 5: at gmail dot com. 349 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 2: All right, well, look, I want to thank both of 350 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 2: you for what you do. I want you to keep 351 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:27,680 Speaker 2: me posted as to what progress you have. And again, 352 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 2: if i'm Senator marky Is, you're going to be able 353 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:35,120 Speaker 2: to unravel this Gordian knot for you and find out 354 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 2: why this complication has been placed upon you, folks, or 355 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 2: why this complication has been placed on anyone, but particularly you, folks. 356 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:48,680 Speaker 2: I'd like to have you back and give him some 357 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 2: credit or give his office some credit. Again, you guys 358 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 2: spend thousands of hours, well you know, in total, thousands 359 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:01,400 Speaker 2: of hours, and you don't have the ability to pay 360 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 2: for lobbyists or things like that. It's not a problem. 361 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 2: It's just emphasize. It's not a problem with the American government. 362 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 2: It's not a problem with Congress passing something or failing 363 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 2: to pass something. It's a problem with this United Nations agency, 364 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:22,680 Speaker 2: the Universal Postal union based in Burns, Switzerland. So I 365 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 2: thank you both. I wish there were more people who 366 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 2: were willing to call and support what you do. I 367 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 2: think what you're doing is just an amazing volunteer activity. 368 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 2: I thank you for being with us tonight and hopefully. 369 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 5: We can jam. Could I just say one thing just 370 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 5: before we go. I want to reiterate to everybody, like 371 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:46,400 Speaker 5: Wendy and I were on a zoom probably a month 372 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 5: ago with other organizations. We're two organizations in Massachusetts. We 373 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:55,119 Speaker 5: were a zoom with all people all over the country. 374 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 5: So this is affecting every single person that puts on 375 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:02,680 Speaker 5: the uniform that's deployed. I just don't want people to 376 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 5: think this is more of a Massachusetts issue. Everybody that 377 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:10,639 Speaker 5: is deployed, they will have trouble getting their care packages 378 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 5: and this is key, and we just want to work 379 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,240 Speaker 5: this up the chain, get somebody to notice if somebody's 380 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 5: out there. I just want five minutes with Pete Heseth 381 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 5: and Steven Lynch's office is working with me on this 382 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 5: as well. 383 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 2: No, I think you're absolutely true. What comes down to 384 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:32,680 Speaker 2: is all of these people are approached by so many 385 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:37,400 Speaker 2: organizations and so many individuals with concerns. This is one 386 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 2: that should go to the top of anyone's list, I 387 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 2: hope again if look, I'm sure there are groups like 388 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 2: Operation American Soldier and adopt the platoon Southe style in 389 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,879 Speaker 2: every part of the country, in every state of the Union. 390 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:58,400 Speaker 2: And hopefully if it's a Senator or a Congressman from 391 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:02,160 Speaker 2: Hawaii or a lot or one of the lower forty 392 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 2: eight states that are able to ring the bell here. 393 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 2: I'm sure that if the White House knew about this, 394 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 2: or the certainly the Department of War knew about this, 395 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,960 Speaker 2: that they would be you know, they can contact the 396 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 2: United Nations and say, look, this is ridiculous. That's all. 397 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 2: That's all I'm hoping to do for you. It's as 398 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:25,879 Speaker 2: simple as that. I have one person who's called in here, 399 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:29,159 Speaker 2: so let me try to accommodate them before before we 400 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 2: let you go here, let me go to Michael Lee Boston. Michael, 401 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 2: I appreciate your calling in, Thank you for listening. You 402 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 2: round with Wendy Raka of Operation American Soldier and Kelly 403 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 2: Conroy adopt a platoon Southea style. 404 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 4: Go right ahead, Michael, great Dan, how are you tonight? 405 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 2: Great A little bit concerned about what these folks are 406 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:52,119 Speaker 2: being put through by some United Nations agency. Go right ahead. 407 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 4: Wait, we've talked off and on over the years. We 408 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 4: share a high school Alma Mata. There are two places 409 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:00,879 Speaker 4: to call here. One is to call sets Moulton's office, 410 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:04,000 Speaker 4: and the others to call Vice President jad Vance's office. 411 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 4: If you go through the regular if you go through 412 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:10,439 Speaker 4: the regular channels of these Massachusetts politicians, they're not going 413 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 4: to execute well. 414 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:16,200 Speaker 2: Seth Moulton, hold on, Seth Moulton's a Massachusetts politicians. So 415 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 2: if someone out there has his ear uh, he knows 416 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:21,479 Speaker 2: how to get in touch with me, I'll put him 417 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 2: in touch with Wendy RockA uh and Kelly Connolly in 418 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 2: a New York second uh and same way. If someone 419 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,680 Speaker 2: has the uh, the the cell phone number of the 420 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:34,120 Speaker 2: Vice President of the United States, there's such a time. 421 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:35,879 Speaker 4: Let me let me see, let me see if I've 422 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:38,880 Speaker 4: been working the other guys, Mark you those guys, it's 423 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:42,159 Speaker 4: gonna take forever. Uh. You know, this is a this 424 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:46,119 Speaker 4: is an organization that is sort of executing what what 425 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 4: I would call an anti US policy. 426 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 2: Well, that's the way I see it. I mean, Michael, 427 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 2: that is the way I see it because the United 428 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 2: Nations we supported, we funded were We're their home base. 429 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 2: You know, people who live in New York are always 430 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:05,920 Speaker 2: inconvenienced Every September when the General Assembly comes to New York. 431 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 2: I think there would do nothing agency. They don't end wars. 432 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 2: Their Human Rights Commission is run by countries like Libya 433 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 2: and Iran. It's it's ridiculous. And I will say this, 434 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:24,440 Speaker 2: you know if Ed Markey's office is getting involved in it. 435 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:28,040 Speaker 2: And I spoke with Wendy, who's still with us, earlier today. 436 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:30,639 Speaker 2: I asked her, well, who's involved, and she said that 437 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 2: the one office they reached out to that responded was 438 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:36,880 Speaker 2: Markey's office. I don't care who it is, whether it's 439 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,880 Speaker 2: a Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative. I just want 440 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:45,399 Speaker 2: a member of Congress who has some sway. You know, 441 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 2: Ed Markey's office does. If he's not able to do it, 442 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:50,560 Speaker 2: he can pick up the phone and call the Defense Department. 443 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 2: The Defense Department may not even be aware of this. 444 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:56,399 Speaker 2: So I love your enthusiasm, Michael, and I appreciate you 445 00:27:56,480 --> 00:27:59,680 Speaker 2: having called in and supporting. 446 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:04,160 Speaker 4: These these these women are doing great work. My sister 447 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,119 Speaker 4: is married to a naval aviator. Uh, they did a 448 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:08,880 Speaker 4: bunch of stuff for them. And these women are doing 449 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 4: great work. And there there's an opportunity to get to 450 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 4: the right people in this environment. This is a political 451 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:18,119 Speaker 4: and and uh and and and get some action. If 452 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:19,840 Speaker 4: I can get a number of go back to Rob 453 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:22,400 Speaker 4: with it. But uh, don't give up. And I wish 454 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 4: these weremen the best are doing God's work. 455 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:28,359 Speaker 2: Well, thanks very much, very much. Appreciate you all. And 456 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 2: I see it exactly the same way you do. This 457 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:35,399 Speaker 2: is not partisan, this is uh. Look, if Elizabeth Warren 458 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 2: wanted to get involved in this, uh, I would give 459 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 2: her office credits. But that's how. 460 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 4: Credit. But there there are too many agendas here and 461 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 4: the purpose is too important and and and as as 462 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 4: a result, uh, we need some people action. So let's 463 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:53,720 Speaker 4: see what you can work and I'll get back to you. 464 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 2: Thanks very much, Michael. Again, Rob will give you my 465 00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 2: direct line. Again. I don't want to put the burden. 466 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,160 Speaker 2: There could be people who are listening right now who 467 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 2: have access to people you mentioned either Seth Molten. You 468 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 2: know we go through when we do interviews with some 469 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 2: of these people through their press office. All of these 470 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:14,880 Speaker 2: members of Congress, they have a staff of twenty twenty 471 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 2: five thirty people. I have a staff of one well, 472 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:22,320 Speaker 2: Rob at Knight and Marita during the day. I have 473 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 2: all I can do to put my show on five 474 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 2: nights a week, four hours a night. The fact that 475 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 2: it took so long for anybody to call in, and 476 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:30,760 Speaker 2: by the way, we now have a bunch of calls 477 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 2: which we're going to continue on with these folks here. 478 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 2: Maybe maybe your call is going to spur some action. 479 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 2: I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking 480 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 2: the time to call. I really mean that. 481 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 3: Now. 482 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 4: This is this is this is a no brainer. And 483 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 4: these women are doing and their team's wonderful work, and. 484 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:51,640 Speaker 2: They're doing they're doing They're doing the hard work. You know. 485 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 2: All I'm doing is talking about it. So yeah, I'm 486 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 2: with you. Michael, keep posting hang in with Rob. Will 487 00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:59,600 Speaker 2: give you my direct number so you can get to 488 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 2: me any time you want. Rob, give Michael my direct number. 489 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 2: We'll take a very quick break here six one, seven, two, 490 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 2: five four to ten thirty six one seven, nine, three 491 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 2: one ten thirty. Uh, ladies, you stay right there. I 492 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 2: got Mary Beth and handover and Sarah in California calling in. 493 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 2: We'll take their phone calls if and the only lines 494 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 2: that are open now are six one, seven, nine, three, 495 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 2: one ten thirty people are listening. It often happens here 496 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 2: that people listen, but this is really intended as a 497 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:29,600 Speaker 2: call to action. And even if people called up and said, hey, 498 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 2: thank you for what you do on behalf of you know, 499 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:34,960 Speaker 2: there are people out there who are veterans who probably 500 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:37,960 Speaker 2: know what it was like to be deployed overseas and 501 00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 2: there wasn't anyone sending them here. Packages you've done this. 502 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 2: You guys do the hard work. I'm just trying to 503 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 2: give you four It's as simple as that. And finally 504 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:50,719 Speaker 2: I've woken up some of my listeners and I will 505 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 2: talk to Mary Beth and we'll talk to Sarah uh 506 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 2: and uh and some more. If you want to call in, 507 00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 2: we'll be back on the Night Side right after this. 508 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 1: It's Nice Eye with Dan Ray. I'm w Boston's News Radio. 509 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:08,600 Speaker 2: My guest. They're Kelly Rockup of Operation Americansoldier dot org 510 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:13,040 Speaker 2: and Kelly Conroy of Adopta Platoons SOUTHI Style dot Org. 511 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 2: Let me go to Sarah in California. Sarah, Welcome to 512 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 2: Night Side. 513 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 4: How are you hi. Good? 514 00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 6: Thank you for bringing attention to this matter. 515 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:25,920 Speaker 2: Well, thank you for calling in. All I can do 516 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:30,440 Speaker 2: is present different topics to my audience. There are certain 517 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:33,440 Speaker 2: topics I know the phone will ring on. My sense 518 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 2: on this one was that people would have rallied to 519 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:40,680 Speaker 2: the support of these, uh, these these wonderful women. You 520 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,360 Speaker 2: go right ahead, Sarah, are you a regular listener out there? 521 00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 2: Just happened to fun I'm not. 522 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 6: I happen to find you because you were talking about 523 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:53,000 Speaker 6: this topic. And I've been a co chair of Support 524 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 6: our Service Women, our SOOS project for sixteen years, and 525 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:00,200 Speaker 6: I really just hope we can get things change because 526 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:03,480 Speaker 6: they don't want to discourage people from sending packages overseas. 527 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:07,320 Speaker 6: We send the service women in particular, because we found 528 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:11,160 Speaker 6: that they're not receiving a lot of packages or any 529 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:14,600 Speaker 6: and so I'm really worried that this is going to 530 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:17,400 Speaker 6: hurt them. So I reached straight out to our Congressman 531 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 6: Scott Peters and darryl Isa and their team's trying to 532 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:25,200 Speaker 6: work on it, but it's you know, I want to 533 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:27,840 Speaker 6: try to get things changed before the holiday season. 534 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 2: Well, I think, Sarah, that's such an important point that 535 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 2: the holidays are coming up, and look, this is just 536 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:38,400 Speaker 2: making it more difficult for folks like you. And I 537 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:42,440 Speaker 2: don't know if you know Wendy or Kelly, but please 538 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:44,760 Speaker 2: say hello. Feel free to say hello to them right now, 539 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:49,000 Speaker 2: and you guys can be in touch after the program. 540 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:53,200 Speaker 2: Kelly And yeah, Kelly and Wendy, say hi to Sarah. 541 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:56,520 Speaker 2: Somebody from California. Whereabouts in California? Are you from? Sarah? 542 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,920 Speaker 6: I'm in San Diego. So we're in a military town 543 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 6: and we really want to support our servicemen and women 544 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 6: out here. I know everybody does, but I just feel 545 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:11,880 Speaker 6: like this is a hopefully our congressman can step up. 546 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:14,960 Speaker 6: But I'm willing to reach out to anybody that I 547 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:19,720 Speaker 6: possibly can. I think reaching out to Vance's office is fantastic. 548 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 6: I'm gonna be doing that tomorrow. 549 00:33:21,920 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 2: So yeah, and again, Sell, you know, there may be 550 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 2: someone listening who has a pipeline, because what happens is 551 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:31,040 Speaker 2: you end up with the staff person and you got 552 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:33,800 Speaker 2: to get to the to the principal as well. I 553 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,360 Speaker 2: assume you've never listened to my show before, which this 554 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 2: makes you a first. 555 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:40,200 Speaker 6: Time caller, right, I am a first time caller. 556 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:41,920 Speaker 2: Well, we're gonna. We love to give a round of 557 00:33:41,960 --> 00:33:44,440 Speaker 2: applause to all of our first time callers from our 558 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 2: virtual studio audience. Rob Let's get the audience up with 559 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:52,840 Speaker 2: their feet. So yeah, So please be in touch with 560 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:56,360 Speaker 2: Wendy and with Kelly. I've known Kelly for several years. 561 00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 2: I've just become a new acquaintance of Wendy. But you 562 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:03,200 Speaker 2: identified what the problem is, and all this is going 563 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 2: to do is to discourage I hope it is not 564 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:10,440 Speaker 2: being done by some UN agency through malevolence, and it 565 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 2: is just abject stupidity that has been utilized here by 566 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:17,560 Speaker 2: this UN agency. And if it is abject stupidity, let's 567 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:22,960 Speaker 2: just reverse it as quickly as we can. Exactly. Well, anyway, 568 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:25,759 Speaker 2: you know how to find these two groups. What's the 569 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:28,200 Speaker 2: name of your organization so we can give We have 570 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 2: listeners in California and particularly in Cia Anega. What's the 571 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:33,239 Speaker 2: name of your group? Will give it a plug. 572 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:37,680 Speaker 6: So it's Mission Beach Women's Club and our event is 573 00:34:37,760 --> 00:34:41,840 Speaker 6: in November around Veteran Stay and it's called Support or 574 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:44,680 Speaker 6: Service Women sos oh. 575 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:50,759 Speaker 2: Okay, Mission Beach Women's Plural Club. Is that a dot org? 576 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:53,520 Speaker 6: It is a dot org? 577 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:56,960 Speaker 2: Okay, so people who are listening and who want to 578 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,839 Speaker 2: be in touch with you Mission Beachwomen's Club dot org. 579 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:02,480 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Sarah. I hope you continue to 580 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 2: listen to Night Side. We're a very patriotic group of 581 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:09,960 Speaker 2: people with this program here in Boston. And you know, 582 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:14,439 Speaker 2: even though we're very similar to California politically, even people 583 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:17,080 Speaker 2: here in the Democratic Party will line up in support 584 00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:19,359 Speaker 2: of this cause as well. As a matter of fact, 585 00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:22,920 Speaker 2: Steve Lynch, who's a congressman from South Boston, is a Democrat, 586 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:25,160 Speaker 2: but he's a great guy, and I know that Kelly 587 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:27,400 Speaker 2: will get him involved in this and we need to 588 00:35:27,560 --> 00:35:30,400 Speaker 2: we need to get All I can do is just 589 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:33,200 Speaker 2: be a modern day Paul Revere and try to make 590 00:35:33,239 --> 00:35:37,000 Speaker 2: people more concerned. Okay, so thank you, Sarah. Appreciate hearing 591 00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:40,160 Speaker 2: you your voice and feel free. We're on every every 592 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 2: week Monday through Friday from eight until midnight. And by 593 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:45,320 Speaker 2: the way, you're not our only caller from San Diego, 594 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:47,719 Speaker 2: so believe me there were people out there who listen 595 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:49,200 Speaker 2: to this show as well. Thanks Sarah. 596 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:51,200 Speaker 6: Night. 597 00:35:51,400 --> 00:35:53,439 Speaker 2: All right, good night. Let me go to Mary Beth 598 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:56,640 Speaker 2: and handover. Mary Beth is a regular Nightside listening Mary Beth, 599 00:35:56,640 --> 00:35:58,239 Speaker 2: thank you very much for calling in. You're on with 600 00:35:58,680 --> 00:36:00,640 Speaker 2: Wendy Raca and Kelly Conroy. 601 00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 7: Hi, ladies, I'm so happy to hear. I have to 602 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:07,920 Speaker 7: say I apologize. I just got out of work, so 603 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:11,480 Speaker 7: i don't know the entire story, but I'm so happy 604 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:15,920 Speaker 7: to hear that you have organizations that are dealing with this. 605 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 7: I have a son that is in. He's been in 606 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:22,799 Speaker 7: for twenty years. My daughter has been in for ten. 607 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:26,960 Speaker 7: She just got back from deployment from Poland about two 608 00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:30,120 Speaker 7: weeks ago, and so between the two of them, he's 609 00:36:30,120 --> 00:36:34,680 Speaker 7: got five deployments, she's got three. And I don't understand 610 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:37,759 Speaker 7: why the military always seems to kind of get the 611 00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:42,640 Speaker 7: short end of the stick. And I know my son. Yeah, 612 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:46,840 Speaker 7: last year, my son was in Saudi Arabia and he 613 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:50,880 Speaker 7: messaged on Facebook and he said that, you know, there 614 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:54,320 Speaker 7: were a lot of people that he, you know, was 615 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 7: in charge of and they weren't getting any love from home. 616 00:36:57,239 --> 00:37:01,600 Speaker 7: So he asked people to contact him. He would give 617 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:03,520 Speaker 7: them a name and they would, you know, that would 618 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:04,200 Speaker 7: be their person. 619 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:07,359 Speaker 2: Well that's what happened with with with Kelly and her son, 620 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:09,840 Speaker 2: who is a graduate of West Point and he's a 621 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:14,720 Speaker 2: platoon leader. A few couple of years ago, and Kelly 622 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:20,279 Speaker 2: formed the organization which is adopted Platoon Southistyle dot org. Uh. 623 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:24,680 Speaker 2: Wendy's group is Operation Americansoldier dot org. So be aware 624 00:37:25,160 --> 00:37:27,600 Speaker 2: that these are two groups in Massachusetts that are very 625 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:31,400 Speaker 2: active and we're trying to help him out. Trying to 626 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:31,920 Speaker 2: help him out. 627 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:34,040 Speaker 7: Okay, can you make sure that would you be able 628 00:37:34,080 --> 00:37:37,480 Speaker 7: to post those websites on the Facebook page? 629 00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:39,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, we can do that. Also, if you want to 630 00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 2: hear the hour in its entirety, if you've missed some 631 00:37:43,160 --> 00:37:47,080 Speaker 2: of it tonight, go to our web page tomorrow Nightside 632 00:37:47,160 --> 00:37:50,600 Speaker 2: on demand and the nine o'clock hour will be available. 633 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:52,839 Speaker 2: Rob will give you that. And as a matter of fact, 634 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:54,360 Speaker 2: if you want to hold on, I'm running out of 635 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:57,640 Speaker 2: time here, but Rob will will give you those give 636 00:37:57,680 --> 00:38:01,120 Speaker 2: you personally those names and so that you can have them. Okay, 637 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:03,920 Speaker 2: And thank you to your family for the sacrifice that 638 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:06,279 Speaker 2: your children will make you behalf of all of us. 639 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:07,080 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. 640 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:10,560 Speaker 3: Thank you for serving you when your kids serve your serving. 641 00:38:10,760 --> 00:38:11,200 Speaker 4: I get that. 642 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:14,120 Speaker 3: Kelly and I both understand how hard it is. 643 00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:17,000 Speaker 7: Well, you'll be in touch. I'd love to help out. 644 00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:21,680 Speaker 2: Perfect, excellent, excellent. Well, it turns out that I think 645 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:24,239 Speaker 2: we've done pretty well tonight, and who knows, maybe we've 646 00:38:24,280 --> 00:38:26,640 Speaker 2: found that one or two people that we'll be able 647 00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:30,680 Speaker 2: to help us. So Kelly Conroy adop Upatune Sauthi Style 648 00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:35,839 Speaker 2: dot org and Wendy RockA Operation Americansoldier dot org. Thank 649 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:38,920 Speaker 2: you both very much for bearing with us tonight and 650 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:41,520 Speaker 2: thank you very much for what you and your organization does. 651 00:38:42,680 --> 00:38:45,360 Speaker 5: Thank you so much, Dan for your time and bringing awareness. 652 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:48,960 Speaker 2: Well, let's see what happens and keep us posted. If 653 00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:50,719 Speaker 2: you hear anything good out of this, I'll come right 654 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:53,440 Speaker 2: back at this story next week if we need to. 655 00:38:53,600 --> 00:38:57,640 Speaker 2: Thank you very much. Good night, ladies. Here comes the 656 00:38:57,880 --> 00:38:59,920 Speaker 2: ten o'clock News, and right after that, we're going to 657 00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:05,000 Speaker 2: talk about the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize Today. 658 00:39:06,040 --> 00:39:09,120 Speaker 2: It did not go to Donald Trump, but there's no 659 00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:11,160 Speaker 2: reason to suggest he may not win it a year 660 00:39:11,200 --> 00:39:14,759 Speaker 2: from now. We'll talk about the disappointment and what's going on. 661 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:16,840 Speaker 2: Coming back on Night Side right after this