WEBVTT - GARY SINISE

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<v Speaker 1>Here we are together again, my friend for a new episode,

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<v Speaker 1>an exciting episode. I cannot tell you. I know I

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<v Speaker 1>say this every time, but I am so thrilled to

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<v Speaker 1>present this episode of Love Someone with you today. This

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<v Speaker 1>podcast is for grads and dads especially. I want to

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<v Speaker 1>honor all graduating seniors, whether it's from high school or college,

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<v Speaker 1>and I'd like to honor dads as well, and I'm

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<v Speaker 1>going to do that by dedicating this podcast to a

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<v Speaker 1>couple of my sons. Isaiah, my oldest son, happens to

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<v Speaker 1>be the most amazing father I have ever met. He's

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<v Speaker 1>also a first responder who wears a police uniform and

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<v Speaker 1>bears the responsibilities of being an officer, not the profession

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<v Speaker 1>I would have guessed when who is a kid because

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<v Speaker 1>he was such a sensitive child. Can't believe he decided

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<v Speaker 1>to become a police officer and he has to face

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<v Speaker 1>so much heartbreak every single day. I don't know how

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<v Speaker 1>he bears up under it, but I understand without those qualities,

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<v Speaker 1>without him having that sensitive heart, he probably would not

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<v Speaker 1>be the stellar officer that he is serving and protecting

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<v Speaker 1>with admirable strength and incredible compassion. And he is such

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<v Speaker 1>a good, committed loving, nurturing, hands on, involved in every

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<v Speaker 1>aspect of their life daddy, and I'm so proud of him.

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<v Speaker 1>I also would like to dedicate this podcast to my son, Thomas.

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<v Speaker 1>Thomas graduated high school a couple of days ago. He

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<v Speaker 1>has had many hurdles to overcome in life. He experienced

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<v Speaker 1>childhood trauma before he came to us and his forever family,

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<v Speaker 1>and yet, in spite of is kind, he has emerged

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<v Speaker 1>such a wonderful young man. I'm so proud of him.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm so proud of his older brother Sonny. I'm so

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<v Speaker 1>proud of all my boys that are fathers, and so

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<v Speaker 1>I just wanted to dedicate this podcast to them. Today's

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<v Speaker 1>guest joins me from the passenger seat of a car

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<v Speaker 1>taking him to one stop after another on a frantic

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<v Speaker 1>press day. He's on his cell phone, not in the

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<v Speaker 1>studio with me, as my guests usually are, so the

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<v Speaker 1>audio quality of our conversation isn't as good as it

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<v Speaker 1>normally is, and I do apologize for that, but the

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<v Speaker 1>conversation is so powerful and inspiring, so compelling. You will

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<v Speaker 1>be grateful for these stolen moments out of the life

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<v Speaker 1>of an incredibly busy man. Before I introduce you. I

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<v Speaker 1>want to stop here for a few moments and take

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<v Speaker 1>a moment for a message from our sponsor. Today we

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<v Speaker 1>have the privilege of talking with the man admired by

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<v Speaker 1>many for many different reasons. He's an actor, it's a

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<v Speaker 1>talented musician. He's an advocate and activist, and now an author,

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<v Speaker 1>amongst many other titles I could bestow upon him. He

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<v Speaker 1>has spent his life in the entertainment industry, playing brave

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<v Speaker 1>and honorable characters to great acclaim. Now, in addition to

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<v Speaker 1>TV and movie roles, he devotes his life to bettering

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<v Speaker 1>the lives of our service veterans, our first responders, and

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<v Speaker 1>their families through his time, his resources, his great works organization,

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<v Speaker 1>the Gary Sinise Foundation. Let's welcome Gary Sinise. Hi, Gary, Hello,

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<v Speaker 1>I am so geeked out to get to talk to you.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you for taking time. So geeked out.

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<v Speaker 1>When I heard about your new book that's just come out,

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<v Speaker 1>grateful American for himself to service. I put my order

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<v Speaker 1>in for a copy right away. I did not know

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<v Speaker 1>I could love you anymore than I did when you

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<v Speaker 1>played Lieutenant Dan. Now I love you all the more so.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you for taking the time. Gary to be on

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<v Speaker 1>our podcast.

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<v Speaker 3>Oh my pleasure.

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<v Speaker 2>You're so inspiring. Thank you so say your name the

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<v Speaker 2>way that it was before it was changed. I love that.

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<v Speaker 2>I love that.

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<v Speaker 1>I was saying it out loud after I read that

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<v Speaker 1>in your book, and I see you in a whole new.

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<v Speaker 3>Light now Italian.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I'm getting pinched on your cheek by a grandma.

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<v Speaker 3>For my grandfather's laughing.

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<v Speaker 1>So grateful American is a culmination of well, it's a

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<v Speaker 1>story of your life, but it's a culmination of so

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<v Speaker 1>many ways that but your heart has been impacted by

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<v Speaker 1>the men and women who are there to serve. And

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<v Speaker 1>I want to know, do you remember that first time

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<v Speaker 1>that you felt your heart grow like ten times when

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<v Speaker 1>it hit you or did you have that moment like

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<v Speaker 1>I did, where the reality of that kind of sacrificial

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<v Speaker 1>love hit you full force?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, sure, in various ways over time. I have veterans

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<v Speaker 3>in my family. Why it all begins there with my

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<v Speaker 3>side of the family, my grandfather, my uncles, my dad,

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<v Speaker 3>my wife's side of the family. Her brothers be a

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<v Speaker 3>non veterans or sisters serving the army. Sister married to

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<v Speaker 3>be a non veteran who was in the Army for

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<v Speaker 3>twenty two years. They had a son that served in

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<v Speaker 3>the army for thirteen years. A lot of veterans in

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<v Speaker 3>my family into the kind of that that gets your men.

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<v Speaker 3>Then I just got great compassion back in the seventies

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<v Speaker 3>and eighties after meeting the Vietnam veterans on my wife's

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<v Speaker 3>side of the family, because they were just slightly older than

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<v Speaker 3>I was and had gone to war and come come

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<v Speaker 3>back in the nation that was corn apart over the war,

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<v Speaker 3>and the Vietnam veteran got gout in the middle of

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<v Speaker 3>all that, and it was a it was a terrible

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<v Speaker 3>period in our history when the way we treated them

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<v Speaker 3>when they returned home. And so I felt great compassion

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<v Speaker 3>there and I just tried to supporting veteran supers in

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<v Speaker 3>various ways. And then I played the veteran and Chrest

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<v Speaker 3>Gump that that started me working without wounded and I

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<v Speaker 3>just started meaning, you know, multiple injured warriors, and you know,

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<v Speaker 3>going back to World War Two and all the way

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<v Speaker 3>up until that time. The Forrest Gumps came out a

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<v Speaker 3>few years after the Golf War, and I met a

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<v Speaker 3>lot of folks back then, and then after September eleventh,

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<v Speaker 3>I just you know, there was a calling for serving

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<v Speaker 3>a greater capacity after that, and it's just manifested itself

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<v Speaker 3>into a full time commitment and a full time foundation, the.

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<v Speaker 2>Gary Sonese Foundation.

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<v Speaker 1>And if somebody would like to volunteer, like to get involved,

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<v Speaker 1>like to say, hey, use me, I'll help, I'll jump

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<v Speaker 1>in there.

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<v Speaker 2>How can they do that?

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<v Speaker 3>First thing to do is go look at the website, Garison,

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<v Speaker 3>these foundations dot board, and I always recommend people go

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<v Speaker 3>to the YouTube channel. It's at the bottom of the homepage.

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<v Speaker 3>You just click on that little icon and that'll take

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<v Speaker 3>you to the YouTube channel and you'll see all our

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<v Speaker 3>programs and accinam videos from every one of our programs,

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<v Speaker 3>ranging from building homes for our badly wounded service members

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<v Speaker 3>to supporting World War Two veterans, taking them down in

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<v Speaker 3>the National World War Two Museum in New Orleans and

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<v Speaker 3>preparing them up with the high school kids. It's an

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<v Speaker 3>educational trip that we do. Our Serving Heroes program. We

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<v Speaker 3>go into usos and vas all over the world and

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<v Speaker 3>provide appreciation with a big meal and everything, letting them

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<v Speaker 3>know that we're not forgetting that they're serving out there.

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<v Speaker 3>We have multiple programs and various capacities. Our Snowball Express

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<v Speaker 3>program is focused on the children of our fallen heroes.

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<v Speaker 3>Just dozens of things that are going on at the

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<v Speaker 3>garis and Ees Foundation. You can learn more about it

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<v Speaker 3>at Garisne Foundation dot org.

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<v Speaker 1>So before anybody goes there, I have to say, though,

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<v Speaker 1>please have a box or two of tissue, because when

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<v Speaker 1>I watched the videos, I was a wreck.

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<v Speaker 2>So inspiring.

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<v Speaker 3>There's a lot of very moving things. You meet all

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<v Speaker 3>these various people that we're working with and supporting them.

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<v Speaker 3>We learn the stories, and we have profiles of everyone

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<v Speaker 3>in the wounded service numbers that we're building homes or

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<v Speaker 3>I'll do a special profile on their life and what happened.

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<v Speaker 3>Those profiles are all on the YouTube channel. Yeah, and

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<v Speaker 3>you know you can see us take We took over

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<v Speaker 3>a thousand children of our fallen Heroes down to Disney

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<v Speaker 3>World last December and treated them to four days of

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<v Speaker 3>what we call hope and healing. You know, when you

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<v Speaker 3>bring these kids together and they meet all these other

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<v Speaker 3>kids who are going through the same thing having lost

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<v Speaker 3>a parent in military service, it really is a very

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<v Speaker 3>healing thing for them to meet these other kids. And

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<v Speaker 3>then we provide a lot of fun and joy and

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<v Speaker 3>love and just give them a lot of support, which

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<v Speaker 3>they desperately need going through this grief. We can never forget,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, these families and what they go through. So

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<v Speaker 3>and they do it, you know, selflessly in any ways,

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<v Speaker 3>and they don't ask for a lot. I just want

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<v Speaker 3>to take a proactive approach to making sure that they

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<v Speaker 3>get the services they need when they need them.

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<v Speaker 2>And you're not just building homes.

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<v Speaker 1>When I was watching and reading, I was fascinated Gary

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<v Speaker 1>with the fact that you're finding the latest technology that

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<v Speaker 1>makes life livable for somebody who's been seriously wounded. I

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<v Speaker 1>mean everything from appliances that they can work using computers

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<v Speaker 1>and that sort of thing. I was like, dang, you're

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<v Speaker 1>not just putting in a ramp for wheelchair. You're giving

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<v Speaker 1>back the fullness of life.

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<v Speaker 3>What we you know, I started doing this home building

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<v Speaker 3>back in two times. We met a soldier who has

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<v Speaker 3>blown up and he lost both his arms and both

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<v Speaker 3>his legs. He was opposed to survive the prabupal amputation,

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<v Speaker 3>so obviously he's going to have some special needs. And

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<v Speaker 3>we get a concert to raise money and stat In

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<v Speaker 3>Island to build him especially adapted house that he would

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<v Speaker 3>be comfortable in and feel more independent of them because

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<v Speaker 3>of the things that we provide inside there. You know,

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<v Speaker 3>he had obviously special needs, and that was quite a

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<v Speaker 3>while ago and in between them and now we're with

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<v Speaker 3>all the homes that we've completed and the ones that

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<v Speaker 3>are under construction and then planning stages. We're over about

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<v Speaker 3>seventy houses now. So our guys that these are all

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<v Speaker 3>professional builders and we've learned a lot over the years

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<v Speaker 3>about the needs of these wounded service members. We try

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<v Speaker 3>to provide each individual with, you know, the special things

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<v Speaker 3>that that person might need. We want them to be

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<v Speaker 3>able to be more independent in their home. The program

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<v Speaker 3>is called RISE Restoring Independence Supporting in Parliament and we

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<v Speaker 3>want to give them their independence back. You know, they've

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<v Speaker 3>kind of taken away. They have to depend on people

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<v Speaker 3>to help them, and we provide this smart technology in

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<v Speaker 3>the house that helps them to take better care of

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<v Speaker 3>themselves and that that provides more independence for the people

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<v Speaker 3>that are they're living with it because they can worry

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<v Speaker 3>a lot us and as the wounded serviceman can take

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<v Speaker 3>better care of themselves on their own.

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<v Speaker 1>You're sharing so much with me and my listeners, Gary

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<v Speaker 1>that I'm having trouble wrapping up my brain around all

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<v Speaker 1>it is that you and your foundation do for some

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<v Speaker 1>of the most deserving people in our country. We're going

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<v Speaker 1>to pause here and let some of it sink in,

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<v Speaker 1>and I'll take this time to talk about my podcast sponsor,

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<v Speaker 1>who is behind you all the way they love our

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<v Speaker 1>servicemen and women. I want to talk about the Home Depot.

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<v Speaker 1>I am always proud to have the Home Depot sponsor

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<v Speaker 1>my radio show at night, and now proud to have

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<v Speaker 1>them a sponsor this podcast. They help so many people

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<v Speaker 1>in times of need, in times of ambitious projects about

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<v Speaker 1>to take off, in times of changing your paint color

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<v Speaker 1>for the emptyenth time, no questions ask. The Home Depot

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<v Speaker 1>staff includes more than thirty five thousand men and women

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<v Speaker 1>who have served our new within our military ranks. They

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<v Speaker 1>came home and found a career with the Home Depot.

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<v Speaker 1>That's just one of the things I think of when

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<v Speaker 1>choosing where to go for any home improvement project. I

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<v Speaker 1>am thinking about taking on the Home Depot more saving,

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<v Speaker 1>more doing well the Garysonese Foundation. Like you said, go

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<v Speaker 1>to Garysonese Foundation dot org and and don't just be touched.

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<v Speaker 1>I really want to encourage people to step outside of

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<v Speaker 1>their comfort zone Gary and raise their hand and say

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<v Speaker 1>I can do this, I can help, I can do this,

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<v Speaker 1>I can get involved with. You know, almost every state

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<v Speaker 1>has a hospital or someplace that you can go, a

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<v Speaker 1>naval base, a military base where you can go and

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<v Speaker 1>get involved.

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<v Speaker 3>The one thing that I always say to folks, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>they asked me, you know who should I donate to?

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<v Speaker 3>And you know, while you can certainly donate to the

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<v Speaker 3>Garisonese Foundation and other great nonprofits, there's a different ways

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<v Speaker 3>that you can help if everybody in every neighborhood and

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<v Speaker 3>every community in every town and city just took a

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<v Speaker 3>little responsibility to plant their veterans on the back and

0:14:10.480 --> 0:14:13.439
<v Speaker 3>ask them what they need. These are all freedom providers.

0:14:13.440 --> 0:14:16.719
<v Speaker 3>They're out there all the sacrificing. Our first responders are

0:14:16.720 --> 0:14:19.960
<v Speaker 3>doing that on a great daily basis. You know, just

0:14:20.000 --> 0:14:23.840
<v Speaker 3>consider this. We support first responders in my foundation as well.

0:14:23.880 --> 0:14:27.880
<v Speaker 3>And you have police officers and firefighters that on a

0:14:27.960 --> 0:14:29.960
<v Speaker 3>daily basis they that they could see a lot of

0:14:30.000 --> 0:14:33.680
<v Speaker 3>bad things. I mean, just consider a massive car wreck

0:14:34.640 --> 0:14:37.200
<v Speaker 3>and the firefighters that have to go in there and

0:14:37.240 --> 0:14:39.160
<v Speaker 3>they see those things, and then they go home and

0:14:39.240 --> 0:14:40.960
<v Speaker 3>want and they have to go to sleep and get

0:14:41.040 --> 0:14:42.720
<v Speaker 3>up the next day and do the same thing all

0:14:42.760 --> 0:14:45.640
<v Speaker 3>over again. That can take its toll. And we know

0:14:45.760 --> 0:14:49.920
<v Speaker 3>that the community is behind them, supporting them and providing

0:14:50.000 --> 0:14:53.480
<v Speaker 3>services or support that can make a difference in the

0:14:53.520 --> 0:14:56.920
<v Speaker 3>morales somebody who's going through some difficult times like them.

0:14:57.360 --> 0:15:01.160
<v Speaker 1>You know, my oldest son is a police officer and

0:15:01.440 --> 0:15:05.160
<v Speaker 1>a member of the SWAT team, and my stepdaughter is

0:15:05.200 --> 0:15:08.200
<v Speaker 1>a police officer, and her fiance is a police officer

0:15:08.240 --> 0:15:11.400
<v Speaker 1>and an investigator, and my husband is a former Green

0:15:11.400 --> 0:15:16.120
<v Speaker 1>Beret and a former police officer. So we love our

0:15:16.160 --> 0:15:20.680
<v Speaker 1>first responders and the heroes, but truly, Gary, unless you

0:15:20.880 --> 0:15:23.880
<v Speaker 1>hear their stories. And I talk to my son, I

0:15:23.920 --> 0:15:25.440
<v Speaker 1>try to talk to him at least two or three

0:15:25.440 --> 0:15:29.560
<v Speaker 1>times a week. My heart is broken for him over

0:15:29.600 --> 0:15:33.120
<v Speaker 1>what you just said. And when he has to respond

0:15:33.200 --> 0:15:36.600
<v Speaker 1>to a situation where a child's been hurt or abused,

0:15:37.840 --> 0:15:41.200
<v Speaker 1>his heart is broken. My heart is broken for him.

0:15:41.560 --> 0:15:43.960
<v Speaker 3>It's difficult stuff. And then they have to put on

0:15:44.000 --> 0:15:46.320
<v Speaker 3>a uniform again the next day and go on go

0:15:46.560 --> 0:15:50.080
<v Speaker 3>back out, So you know what I mean, It can

0:15:50.200 --> 0:15:53.720
<v Speaker 3>happen to know that people appreciate what they're going through.

0:15:53.760 --> 0:15:56.640
<v Speaker 3>And they don't take it for granted, and we want

0:15:56.680 --> 0:15:59.880
<v Speaker 3>to do something. I write a book called Grateful America,

0:16:00.280 --> 0:16:03.800
<v Speaker 3>a Journey from Self to Service, and it was really

0:16:03.840 --> 0:16:06.680
<v Speaker 3>about the moments in my life that has led to

0:16:06.800 --> 0:16:09.800
<v Speaker 3>this full on service work. One of the people who

0:16:09.800 --> 0:16:13.320
<v Speaker 3>have inspired me along the way and are police officers

0:16:13.320 --> 0:16:18.120
<v Speaker 3>of firefighters, are military personnel. I've met extraordinary people. There

0:16:18.800 --> 0:16:20.880
<v Speaker 3>may be a lot of self with work. They don't

0:16:20.880 --> 0:16:23.160
<v Speaker 3>get a lot of packs on the back, and if

0:16:23.200 --> 0:16:25.080
<v Speaker 3>I can do something to help them, I'm not a

0:16:25.120 --> 0:16:26.800
<v Speaker 3>great way that I can serve.

0:16:27.480 --> 0:16:28.080
<v Speaker 2>And you do.

0:16:28.520 --> 0:16:32.840
<v Speaker 1>You and your Lieutenant Dan band, which is really really good,

0:16:33.800 --> 0:16:34.480
<v Speaker 1>Well thank you.

0:16:34.560 --> 0:16:38.040
<v Speaker 3>You know, we've played hundreds of concerts over the years

0:16:38.080 --> 0:16:41.000
<v Speaker 3>for the troops. I've started taking a band out about

0:16:41.040 --> 0:16:44.720
<v Speaker 3>two thousand and three, fifteen or sixteen years now. We've

0:16:45.360 --> 0:16:47.960
<v Speaker 3>just played hundreds and hundreds of shows and the band

0:16:48.040 --> 0:16:50.640
<v Speaker 3>is a program of the Jars and Ease Foundation. I

0:16:50.720 --> 0:16:53.880
<v Speaker 3>play for free, but I have to pay the expenses

0:16:53.960 --> 0:16:57.640
<v Speaker 3>of paying the band members their own musicians, that's how

0:16:57.680 --> 0:16:59.640
<v Speaker 3>they make their living. I have to pay them, and

0:16:59.680 --> 0:17:03.120
<v Speaker 3>I have to pay that production costs and things like that.

0:17:03.280 --> 0:17:07.480
<v Speaker 3>So much like when you donate to the USO. You know,

0:17:07.560 --> 0:17:11.119
<v Speaker 3>the USA provides entertainment to the troops if you donate

0:17:11.160 --> 0:17:13.480
<v Speaker 3>to the Gerris and Ease Foundation. One of our programs

0:17:13.560 --> 0:17:16.639
<v Speaker 3>is Gerris Andise and the Lieutenant Van Dam and that

0:17:16.720 --> 0:17:20.760
<v Speaker 3>allows me to multiple times a year go on to

0:17:20.880 --> 0:17:26.440
<v Speaker 3>military bases or do fundraiser for first responders support concerts

0:17:26.480 --> 0:17:30.359
<v Speaker 3>all over the country. I'd do maybe thirty some shows

0:17:30.400 --> 0:17:32.919
<v Speaker 3>a year, and it's all for the military and our

0:17:32.920 --> 0:17:36.760
<v Speaker 3>first responder community. John Andrasik and I just did a

0:17:36.760 --> 0:17:41.200
<v Speaker 3>contract that my foundations produced right down here in California

0:17:41.400 --> 0:17:45.359
<v Speaker 3>in Thousand Oaks. You know, we had those terrible shootings

0:17:45.400 --> 0:17:49.360
<v Speaker 3>at Borderline Bar and Grill and then you know, ten

0:17:49.440 --> 0:17:53.160
<v Speaker 3>within ten hours, the hills were on fire and burning everywhere.

0:17:54.320 --> 0:17:56.879
<v Speaker 3>So we did we did something called Contract for the

0:17:57.000 --> 0:17:59.720
<v Speaker 3>Fenders and it was just a free concert to support

0:17:59.760 --> 0:18:03.399
<v Speaker 3>that community and to bring our first responders some joy

0:18:03.520 --> 0:18:08.479
<v Speaker 3>and to support the Borderline families. The foundation allows me

0:18:08.520 --> 0:18:11.080
<v Speaker 3>to do that. The people that donate to the Gears

0:18:11.119 --> 0:18:14.879
<v Speaker 3>and each foundation are generously helping me to help other people,

0:18:14.880 --> 0:18:16.080
<v Speaker 3>and that's a good thing.

0:18:16.560 --> 0:18:21.000
<v Speaker 1>So the book title again, Grateful American. It's available everywhere now,

0:18:21.760 --> 0:18:25.560
<v Speaker 1>I would say to listeners even if you are not

0:18:25.720 --> 0:18:28.800
<v Speaker 1>an avid reader, that you don't you go to bed

0:18:28.840 --> 0:18:31.479
<v Speaker 1>every night with the book in your hand. This is

0:18:31.520 --> 0:18:34.639
<v Speaker 1>a book that you need to get and then you

0:18:34.800 --> 0:18:37.959
<v Speaker 1>need to give it away to bless somebody else that

0:18:38.000 --> 0:18:38.480
<v Speaker 1>when you're.

0:18:38.359 --> 0:18:38.800
<v Speaker 2>Done with it.

0:18:39.440 --> 0:18:42.560
<v Speaker 3>Well, thank you. That's a great endorsement, and I really

0:18:42.600 --> 0:18:46.240
<v Speaker 3>appreciate it. I hope people we'll pick up a copy.

0:18:47.119 --> 0:18:48.760
<v Speaker 1>I hope they will pick up a copy, and I

0:18:48.800 --> 0:18:51.160
<v Speaker 1>hope they will be motivated. And I hope every time

0:18:51.200 --> 0:18:56.440
<v Speaker 1>they see a police officer, a fireman, an EMT, member

0:18:56.440 --> 0:19:00.520
<v Speaker 1>of the military, they sincerely thank them and their fans families.

0:19:01.400 --> 0:19:01.680
<v Speaker 3>Awesome.

0:19:01.720 --> 0:19:05.520
<v Speaker 1>Indeed, Gary Sonise, thank you so much for being here

0:19:05.680 --> 0:19:09.040
<v Speaker 1>on love Someone with Delilah, and God bless you and

0:19:09.119 --> 0:19:12.159
<v Speaker 1>your family and your wife, your kids, your grandkids and

0:19:12.240 --> 0:19:13.440
<v Speaker 1>everything that you put.

0:19:13.280 --> 0:19:15.479
<v Speaker 2>Your hand to. I just pray that God blesses you

0:19:15.960 --> 0:19:16.840
<v Speaker 2>and protects you.

0:19:17.640 --> 0:19:20.560
<v Speaker 3>Thanks so much. You have a wonderful day.

0:19:20.600 --> 0:19:22.200
<v Speaker 2>Okay, all right, thank you.

0:19:22.640 --> 0:19:24.880
<v Speaker 3>I appreciate it. Well.

0:19:25.359 --> 0:19:29.040
<v Speaker 1>Gary shared so much with us about all that his

0:19:29.240 --> 0:19:33.159
<v Speaker 1>foundation does. Now you know why I ask you to

0:19:33.320 --> 0:19:36.200
<v Speaker 1>listen to this podcast. Even though there was some static

0:19:36.400 --> 0:19:39.920
<v Speaker 1>over the line, many of you know that I am

0:19:40.000 --> 0:19:42.440
<v Speaker 1>a loud and proud supporter of the men and women

0:19:42.480 --> 0:19:46.520
<v Speaker 1>who serve our freedom providers, as Gary calls them, and

0:19:46.640 --> 0:19:49.679
<v Speaker 1>during our conversation, he and I both mentioned all of

0:19:49.680 --> 0:19:53.480
<v Speaker 1>our family members who wear uniforms. What many of you

0:19:54.040 --> 0:19:58.960
<v Speaker 1>may not know is the story of my own awakening revelation,

0:19:59.440 --> 0:20:04.000
<v Speaker 1>the moment and when the enormity of the sacrificial love

0:20:04.000 --> 0:20:07.520
<v Speaker 1>that service members embody hit me and changed me forever.

0:20:07.600 --> 0:20:09.720
<v Speaker 1>It's one of the two or three things that have

0:20:09.760 --> 0:20:11.840
<v Speaker 1>happened in my life that I believe changed me on

0:20:11.880 --> 0:20:16.919
<v Speaker 1>a cellular level. Before I went to Iraq and Afghanistan,

0:20:17.040 --> 0:20:20.600
<v Speaker 1>before I was asked to be a part of the

0:20:20.880 --> 0:20:25.160
<v Speaker 1>Air Force Reserves, I loved our servicemen and women I did.

0:20:25.359 --> 0:20:29.600
<v Speaker 1>I thank them, I respected them, I appreciated what they did.

0:20:30.880 --> 0:20:33.359
<v Speaker 2>But I had no clue.

0:20:33.480 --> 0:20:39.680
<v Speaker 1>I truly had no clue what sacrificial love was, because

0:20:39.720 --> 0:20:44.479
<v Speaker 1>in my life and my experience, love happens between people

0:20:44.520 --> 0:20:49.800
<v Speaker 1>that are connected, that are family members, or sweethearts, or

0:20:50.400 --> 0:20:55.679
<v Speaker 1>husbands and wives, or in a committed relationship. Love is

0:20:55.800 --> 0:21:01.400
<v Speaker 1>demonstrated for your cousins or your best people you went

0:21:01.440 --> 0:21:06.000
<v Speaker 1>to high school with. I never knew what sacrificial love was.

0:21:06.880 --> 0:21:11.640
<v Speaker 1>Until I went with our military to Afghanistan and Iraq,

0:21:12.680 --> 0:21:17.720
<v Speaker 1>and I met men and women in our military that

0:21:17.880 --> 0:21:21.639
<v Speaker 1>were willing to lay down their lives not just for

0:21:21.680 --> 0:21:24.520
<v Speaker 1>their family members, not just for a friend, but for

0:21:24.640 --> 0:21:28.480
<v Speaker 1>complete strangers, for people that might not even like them

0:21:28.560 --> 0:21:33.399
<v Speaker 1>or respect them. And I saw it in action. I

0:21:33.480 --> 0:21:35.960
<v Speaker 1>saw it in action. I met men and women on

0:21:36.000 --> 0:21:39.480
<v Speaker 1>a Thursday night, Thanksgiving night, in fact that I saw

0:21:39.760 --> 0:21:44.280
<v Speaker 1>one week later, exactly one week later, coming into Ramstein,

0:21:44.400 --> 0:21:49.119
<v Speaker 1>Germany and too Ramstein the military hospital missing limbs because

0:21:49.160 --> 0:21:54.200
<v Speaker 1>they were at war, and their lives were forever changed

0:21:55.400 --> 0:21:59.080
<v Speaker 1>for you, for me, for our country. And even though

0:21:59.119 --> 0:22:03.160
<v Speaker 1>I might disagree with what they are asked to do,

0:22:03.840 --> 0:22:07.720
<v Speaker 1>I love and respect our military men and women so

0:22:07.880 --> 0:22:11.840
<v Speaker 1>much and what they do for us. Like I said,

0:22:11.840 --> 0:22:15.280
<v Speaker 1>I was changed forever. I hope you have been inspired

0:22:15.760 --> 0:22:19.719
<v Speaker 1>by this podcast to become more involved wherever your heart leads.

0:22:20.119 --> 0:22:23.520
<v Speaker 1>Helping our veterans, helping first responders might be what you're

0:22:23.560 --> 0:22:24.240
<v Speaker 1>called to do.

0:22:24.440 --> 0:22:25.119
<v Speaker 2>I hope it is.

0:22:25.760 --> 0:22:29.000
<v Speaker 1>I encourage you to pick up a copy of Grateful American.

0:22:29.160 --> 0:22:31.400
<v Speaker 1>It is such a good book, such a good read,

0:22:31.800 --> 0:22:35.199
<v Speaker 1>and to visit the Garysiniz Foundation dot org. You can

0:22:35.280 --> 0:22:39.280
<v Speaker 1>also visit my American Forces Network section of Delilah dot

0:22:39.320 --> 0:22:43.760
<v Speaker 1>com for further inspiration and help a veteran bless somebody.

0:22:44.280 --> 0:22:46.880
<v Speaker 1>I'd also like to wish all the dads out there

0:22:46.880 --> 0:22:50.040
<v Speaker 1>are very happy Father's Day. It's an important job, this

0:22:50.240 --> 0:22:56.200
<v Speaker 1>datting business, and deserves much applod recognition and respect, as

0:22:56.280 --> 0:23:00.000
<v Speaker 1>do all the accomplishments of the cap tossing graduates life

0:23:00.119 --> 0:23:03.040
<v Speaker 1>Like my son TK Toma is so proud of you,

0:23:03.119 --> 0:23:06.199
<v Speaker 1>Lindsey Piper, so proud of my niece. Good luck in

0:23:06.320 --> 0:23:09.399
<v Speaker 1>all that you do in life. Subscribe to my podcast

0:23:09.920 --> 0:23:13.959
<v Speaker 1>Love Someone with Delilah for access to new episodes as

0:23:14.040 --> 0:23:16.760
<v Speaker 1>soon as they drop. Also tune into my nightly radio

0:23:16.800 --> 0:23:20.240
<v Speaker 1>show of course, thank you for joining me. My friends.

0:23:20.320 --> 0:23:21.720
<v Speaker 1>We'll be back together soon.

0:23:21.760 --> 0:23:22.480
<v Speaker 2>Do me a favor.

0:23:23.160 --> 0:23:26.520
<v Speaker 1>Slow down and love someone.

0:23:29.320 --> 0:23:32.520
<v Speaker 3>Slow down and love someone

0:23:34.440 --> 0:23:35.399
<v Speaker 2>With love