1 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: As if it doesn't work, you're just not using enough. 2 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:26,279 Speaker 2: You're listening to SOFTWAB Radio Special Operations, Military Nails and 3 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 2: straight talk with the guys in the community. 4 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 3: It's rad your host of soft Rep Radio and I'm 5 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 3: super stoked today to have a wonderful guest and we're 6 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 3: going to talk about wonderful things. Tis the season, as 7 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 3: you can see in the screen that you know, I 8 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 3: have some holiday decor going down, you know. So what 9 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 3: we're what we're going to talk about is, first, we 10 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 3: do have the merch store. Okay, so softwap dot com 11 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 3: Forward slash Merch, So go check out our merch the 12 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 3: branded items that we have out there, branded by branded 13 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 3: web get it branded branded, but look check it out. 14 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 3: We really appreciate all the support, all of the flare 15 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,320 Speaker 3: that you guys show out there and gals and tagging 16 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 3: us on your Instagram, So thank you so much soft 17 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 3: Rep Mafia tag that. Also, I want to say that 18 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 3: we have a book club and it's soft Rep dot 19 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:24,559 Speaker 3: com Forward slash book hyphen Club. That's book hyphen Club. 20 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 3: Those of you that are new today to this show, 21 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 3: welcome those of you who have been here and have 22 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 3: been following me for the last four or five years. 23 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 3: I can't do it without you, and to you that 24 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 3: just join again. Thanks, welcome and welcome aboard. Now today 25 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 3: we're going to be talking about veterans, wounded veterans, healthy veterans, 26 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 3: how they can get some help, and one organization, one 27 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,199 Speaker 3: of the largest organizations that's in the US right now, 28 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 3: the dot org, which is Freedom Alliance dot org. And 29 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 3: today I have President Tom kilgannon of Freedom Alliance. Welcome 30 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 3: to the show. Tom, Happy holidays. 31 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 4: Hey, you're right great to be with you. Thanks so 32 00:01:58,960 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 4: much for having me on. 33 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, and so you know, we were reached out to 34 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 3: by Jack. Let's give Jack a shout out. Okay, he's 35 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 3: sitting there saying, hey, let's get Tom on. You guys 36 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 3: would be a great fit you. He has books in 37 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 3: the background. Okay, he can't go wrong with a guy 38 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 3: with books. Okay. Now, Tom, you guys work with veterans 39 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 3: of a spectrum, right, Can any veteran first off, just 40 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,119 Speaker 3: kind of reach out to the Freedom Alliance dot org 41 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 3: and look for any type of assistance And if so, 42 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 3: what kind of assistance would they be looking towards. Let's 43 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 3: go into that. 44 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 4: Sure again, thanks for having me On and Freedom Alliance 45 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 4: is a it's a military support and veterans support organization, 46 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 4: and we're providing help in a variety of ways. So 47 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 4: mostly what we're trying to help is the oe f 48 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 4: OIF generation of veterans, which is. 49 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 3: An Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Right, correct, Yes, 50 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,079 Speaker 3: I just want to make sure because acronyms right to 51 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 3: make sure. Yeah yeah, oh yes, And. 52 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 4: I just want to make sure ye I rack in 53 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 4: Afghanistan mostly, and most of our programs are geared toward them. 54 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 4: So we have we have a few things. One is 55 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 4: our scholarship program, and we give college scholarships to kids 56 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 4: whose parents were killed or disabled in military service. And 57 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 4: this year alone will give just about three million dollars 58 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 4: to about seven hundred and fifty eight hundred kids. And 59 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 4: each of these kids as a parent who sacrifice life 60 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 4: or limb for our country. So, as you probably know, 61 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 4: the cost of a college education keeps rising and rising, 62 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 4: and every military parent wants for their kid, you know, 63 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 4: a better life and better opportunities, and oftentimes college or 64 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 4: trade school provides that. So we give that to help 65 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 4: with that the practical costs. But what's really special about 66 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 4: this scholarship, and many of our students acknowledge it is 67 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 4: that the students qualify because of their parent and it 68 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 4: is the parent's sacrifice that qualifies them for the scholarship. 69 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 4: So every scholarship sends a message. It says, to that 70 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 4: kid and to that family, your parents sacrifice is not 71 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 4: going to be forgotten by a grateful nation. And that's 72 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 4: the message and the motive behind the scholarship. Now, once 73 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 4: they get on, the student has to do the work 74 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 4: and they you know, they have to be able to 75 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 4: get into a school and to keep their grades up 76 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 4: and go to class and things like that, and you 77 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 4: stay away from the frat parties. 78 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 3: But it's all true. A lot go to the parking 79 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 3: lot doesn't mean you went to class. They go into 80 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 3: the quad, go into the classroom, and keep your c 81 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 3: average so that they don't come back for it. 82 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:52,919 Speaker 4: That's right. We ask them what the inside of the 83 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 4: library looks like exactly. 84 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 3: You know you should go and teachers are going to 85 00:04:57,279 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 3: stay in college. Hey, here's still of us. Here's the 86 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 3: whole year schedule, and we understand that you may not 87 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 3: be able to make the class all the time. But man, 88 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 3: you're the customer in this situation. They're there to provide 89 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 3: the education and you got to go or else you're 90 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 3: just going to That's right. 91 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,279 Speaker 4: I'm just and I think I mean about this rat 92 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 4: is that you know, most of the kids who are 93 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 4: on scholarship with us, they are working hard and they 94 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 4: do want to do well because they understand that they 95 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 4: got this scholarship because of their dad, in some cases 96 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 4: their mom. So that's that's one aspect of what we 97 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,919 Speaker 4: do is providing those scholarships. Now, since September eleven of 98 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 4: two thousand and one, we've given out almost thirty million 99 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 4: dollars in scholarship assistance and we're really proud of that. 100 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 4: That's something that means a lot to us because of 101 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 4: you know, how the kids qualify. The second part of 102 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 4: what we do is what we call support our Troops, 103 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 4: and we have a variety of things under that. So 104 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 4: we're giving mortgage free homes to wounded veterans, in some 105 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 4: cases new vehicles. You may have seen these all terrain 106 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 4: wheelchairs that have treads that look like a tank, and 107 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 4: those are going out to vets who are paralyzed or 108 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 4: amputees or just have you know, struggles walking but want 109 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 4: to get to the lakeside, want to go deep into 110 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 4: the forest and do some hunting, and we give out 111 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 4: those and we have a lot of recreational rehab. So 112 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 4: it's fishing trips, but as you know, it's not just 113 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 4: a fishing trip. It's going out on the water, going 114 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 4: out on the boat, having a great time catching fish. 115 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 4: But when you come back, we're having meaningful, structured conversation 116 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 4: about where you are in your rehab, what's bugging you, 117 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 4: what triggers you, how can we put together a plan 118 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 4: to help you get through it, and and really just providing, 119 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 4: you know, our time and attention to people who sometimes 120 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 4: just need to talk or you know, have somebody to 121 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 4: listen to them. And and and so that's a that's 122 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 4: an overview, and I'm happy to get into the specifics 123 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 4: of any of those the homes or the vehicles or 124 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 4: any of what we do. 125 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 3: Well, I want to get into the specifics about why 126 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 3: you have found yourself as the president. Uh you know, uh, 127 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 3: you know, did you want to tell you a little 128 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 3: bit about how you fell into the selfless acts that 129 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 3: you're involved with? Or so it seems. 130 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 4: Sure, you know, I I love doing this this kind 131 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 4: of work because it's so meaningful, and you meet great 132 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 4: people and very humble, very amazing people who come from 133 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 4: long lines of service in their families and uh and 134 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 4: they're just I enjoy being around them so much. So 135 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 4: my story, you know, I'm a civilian. I did not 136 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 4: serve in uniform, and you know that's something that you 137 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 4: know sometimes I wish I had, But you can't go 138 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 4: back and say should it, would have, could have? You 139 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 4: Just you do what you can from from the perch 140 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 4: where you sit. And so for me, it was when 141 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 4: I graduated high school, the country was in a position 142 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 4: where there wasn't a lot going on militarily. My parents 143 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 4: both came to this country from Ireland, so they did 144 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 4: not serve themselves or really have family that served. So 145 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 4: there was for me to a degree, I think a 146 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 4: large degree, military service was out of sight, out of mind. 147 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 4: I just didn't I didn't have that influence in my 148 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 4: life to push me in that direction. And so that's 149 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 4: how it worked for me. When I got to Freedom Alliance, 150 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 4: it was in the summer of nineteen ninety eight, so 151 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 4: it was pre nine to eleven, and the organization was 152 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 4: doing some great work. Was more on the policy side 153 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 4: as opposed to the veteran support, although there was some 154 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 4: of that. And I was on a plane on September 155 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 4: eleventh of two thousand and one, and it was just 156 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:07,679 Speaker 4: an incredible experience for me. I was flying from Detroit 157 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 4: to Reagan National Airport and it's the only boarding pass 158 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 4: I've ever kept twenty five years of airline travel. But 159 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 4: we were probably one of the last flights to take 160 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 4: off that morning. 161 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 3: And early am. Were you a seven am or something Detroit. 162 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 4: Eight thirty four Detroit time. 163 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 3: Oh, yeah, so that was right at the time of 164 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 3: like the first or second plane happening right there. 165 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, And shortly after we took off, all air traffic 166 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 4: was grounded, and so we were scheduled for Reagan National, 167 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 4: which for your viewers, that is in basically the heart 168 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 4: of d C. And it's in the flight path over 169 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:52,559 Speaker 4: the nation's capital. And so our flight was diverted from 170 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 4: Reagan National out to Washington Dulles, which is in the 171 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 4: Virginia suburbs. And it was fine for me because it 172 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 4: was to my office. But you know, at the time, 173 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,079 Speaker 4: we really couldn't understand. And I looked out the window 174 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 4: and it's a beautiful day, and so I'm trying to 175 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:12,839 Speaker 4: think what's going on at Reagan, you know, was there 176 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:16,680 Speaker 4: a crash, was there a fire? And at the time, 177 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 4: I had one of those pagers, you know, that pager 178 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 4: with the phone number that you called back, and it 179 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 4: got a little bit of text messaging news headlines, and 180 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 4: as the plane came down and got closer to where 181 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 4: those messages could get through, it just the scroll just 182 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 4: said bombings at the World Trade Center, bombings at the Pentagon, 183 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 4: bombings at the State Department, bombings across Washington, d C. 184 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 4: And And you know, some of it turned out not 185 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 4: to be accurate, but most of it was. And I 186 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 4: turned to my seat mate and I said, I think 187 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 4: we're at war. And and then shortly after that, the 188 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 4: pilot comes on and confirms that there were terrorist attacks 189 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 4: and that all traffic was being grounded, and so rad 190 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 4: we walked out into the airport and there was just 191 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 4: one shopkeeper who was closing the doors. It was empty. 192 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 4: It was a Tuesday morning, about ten thirty or so, 193 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:22,439 Speaker 4: and it was eerie, and it was just an incredible 194 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 4: experience I'll never forget. But from that point on I 195 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 4: decided that, you know, Freedom Alliance needed to turn our 196 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 4: attention to this effort, what could we do and our 197 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 4: roots because we were founded during the time of the 198 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 4: First Golf War, we already had some programs in place, 199 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 4: and we brushed them off and updated them and just 200 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 4: kind of went to work. And so for me, it's 201 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 4: been a great experience to be able to help. You know, 202 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 4: our programs have evolved over the years. When nine to 203 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 4: eleven first happened, we were sending phone cards over to 204 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 4: the desert, and you know, and then as you know, 205 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 4: once the fobs got up in internet service was available, 206 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 4: that didn't need to happen. But but we we've always 207 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 4: been able to develop programs that meet the need to 208 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 4: the veterans where they are when they are. 209 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 3: What a great introduction into how you found yourself doing 210 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,839 Speaker 3: more with this company and and where it's gone from 211 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 3: when I wrote write down these notes, like thirty million 212 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 3: dollars in scholarships since night they're twenty twenty ish, you know, 213 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 3: I mean, or twenty twenty two whatnot. And from giving 214 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 3: phone cards to troops to make phone calls, you know, 215 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 3: homes and mortgages, you've really just like escalated the up 216 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 3: into the the you know, the way the bullhorns go 217 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 3: with the company, right, That's where I learned about the 218 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 3: bull market, the bear market. So bear swiped down. So 219 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 3: in the bear when when it's the bear market, it's down, 220 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 3: bulls go up when they're gonna ram their horns. And 221 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 3: that's the way that business should be. So I'm I 222 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:02,680 Speaker 3: just have to share that for you. But uh, you know, 223 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,320 Speaker 3: that's amazing. I just really feel it, you know, And 224 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 3: you know, growing up watching the whole situation unfold on 225 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 3: TV with nine to eleven, knowing that you were in 226 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 3: an aircraft coming from Detroit, flying over the same airspace 227 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 3: that was completely you know, shut down, like you guys 228 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 3: were tracked. 229 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,319 Speaker 4: It was. It was really incredible. And then you know, 230 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 4: I remember getting off out of the airport that day 231 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 4: and uh, and there was a there was a taxi 232 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 4: near one of the convenience stores that so I was 233 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 4: I began walking to my office because it was a 234 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 4: long walk, but you had taxis and everything, and so 235 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 4: I walked past this car and the radio was carrying 236 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 4: the broadcast from NBCTV. So Tom Brokaw's voice was on 237 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 4: the radio, and that would to me as somebody who 238 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 4: had an interest in communications, that's that's not something you 239 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 4: hear unless it's something big, and that just kind of, 240 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 4: you know, suggested what a big event this was. And 241 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 4: then I got back to the office and the whole 242 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 4: way I just kept flipping back and forth on my 243 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 4: phone from my home to my office and you couldn't 244 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 4: get through. So for hours, you know, my I know, 245 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 4: my wife was was worried, and the office was worried. 246 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 4: And if I we were able to get through. 247 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 3: You just got to walking around. Good to go, But 248 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 3: no one can get a hold of you. They know 249 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 3: you're flying, yes, so this is just unknown. Yeah. Wow. 250 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 4: My sister had called my wife that day and because 251 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 4: she knew I traveled a lot, and said, hey, where's Tom. 252 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 4: And my wife hadn't had the TV on or anything yet, 253 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 4: and she said, well, he's you know, he's traveling. I 254 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 4: think he's coming back this morning. And my sister just said, well, 255 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 4: turn on the TV and let me know when you 256 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 4: hear something. And that all pales in comparison to the 257 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 4: phone calls and the knocks on the gore that military 258 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 4: families got over the next twenty years. But it's really 259 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 4: been an honor for me to be able to step 260 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 4: in and help those families in the small ways that 261 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 4: we do. But you get to know them and you 262 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 4: see the sacrifice, and you see the patriotism, and you 263 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 4: see the desire to continue serving despite the hardships that 264 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 4: have befallen them. 265 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 3: You know, who is the veteran that needs to reach 266 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 3: out to you? Who are you guys saying hey, hit 267 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 3: us up? If you're thirty percent rated? Do you have 268 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 3: to be sixty percent? Should it be an adaptive you know, 269 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 3: should you be you know missing limbs? You know, is 270 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 3: there a certain percentage or can you have just gotten 271 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 3: out and said, hey, you know, can I reach out 272 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 3: to Freedom Alliance? So what is your you know, candidate 273 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 3: typically coming to you. 274 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 4: Like, yeah, right. It depends on the program, but by 275 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 4: and large it is one hundred percent disabled or or 276 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 4: close to it. Some programs have you know, seventy eighty percent, 277 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 4: but we we try to take into account different situations. 278 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 4: In other words, you know, a program that might call 279 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 4: for you know, eighty percent or one hundred percent. Sometimes 280 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 4: that vet doesn't have that rating, but they've got twelve 281 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 4: deployments and they've got you know, a test full of metals, 282 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 4: and they've got sacrifices that just didn't accumulate up to 283 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 4: or eighty or ninety one hundred percent work in the VAA. 284 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 4: So you know, we we we try and look at 285 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 4: that in a in a holistic way, but by by 286 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 4: and large, it is Iraq a Afghanistan veterans, combat wounded 287 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 4: and a VA rating in the in the upper scale. 288 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, in the uppers, yeah, yeah, And typically if they're 289 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 3: in their sixty seventy eighty percent, they can usually get 290 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 3: it to go to one hundred, you know, through the VA. 291 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 3: So keep pushing for your ratings, you know. Sorry, if 292 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 3: it has to be pushed like that, I have to 293 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 3: say that. But I watched it with my own father. 294 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,479 Speaker 3: He went from being like, you know, rated to sixty 295 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 3: percent and then to one hundred percent. It's like, well, 296 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:23,679 Speaker 3: you know, the only thing that changed was perseverance of 297 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 3: them saying hey, this is incorrect and getting denied and 298 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:30,679 Speaker 3: then having it be like that's not right, let me 299 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 3: rewrite a letter, getting it denied, or then saying oh, hey, 300 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 3: you're right, you know, and and we're happy that the 301 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 3: VA is there, you know, to help out and do 302 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 3: what they can. And you know, this is this is 303 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 3: another avenue to have some assistance through the Freedom of 304 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:49,199 Speaker 3: Alliance and so if you want to find out if 305 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 3: you would qualify, you just reach out through their social 306 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 3: media Orfreedom Alliance dot org. 307 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, Freedom Alliance dot org is the best way. 308 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 4: There's an application on there and in it it's a 309 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 4: universal application, so it's you don't have to fill a 310 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 4: different one out for each of our programs to just 311 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 4: check interested in this or this or this and and 312 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 4: then we take a look at it and try to 313 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 4: help you in whatever way we can. But you know, 314 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 4: on the on the VA rating thing too, I just 315 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 4: mentioned that we talked about we're giving these customized wheelchairs, 316 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,919 Speaker 4: all terrain wheelchairs, and a lot of times you know 317 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 4: it'll be an amputee who needs something like that. But 318 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:32,360 Speaker 4: you've probably seen just as I have, where if you're 319 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 4: a single amputee, a single way amputee, your VA rating 320 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,919 Speaker 4: might be thirty or forty percent, right, they don't consider 321 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:44,920 Speaker 4: that one hundred percent disability. Right, So in that case, 322 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 4: we're not gonna we're going to look at the facts 323 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 4: on the ground as you and not necessarily follow what 324 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 4: the VA. 325 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 3: Does because it can be like you know, I was 326 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 3: talking to somebody about doing like you know, what is 327 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 3: the outdoor rehabilitation like adaptive skiing and adaptive you know, 328 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 3: writing a snowbill, et cetera, et cetera. But why you 329 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 3: have to be sixty percent for the VA to prescribe 330 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 3: that to you or some type of a high rating 331 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 3: when you know, maybe you're ten percent and you need 332 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 3: to go out and hit the slopes and get some 333 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 3: fresh mental bearing, you know, from the snow or something. 334 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 3: You know, I would just ask for your local VA 335 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 3: representative to help you get adaptive style outdoor recreational therapy 336 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:31,160 Speaker 3: is what I'm looking for you. While you're talking about 337 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 3: you say, hey, we go out on the fish for 338 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 3: that moment you're fishing. You know what I'm saying. You're 339 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 3: out there fishing, you're not thinking nothing else but fishing, 340 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 3: and you got one, okay, but now you got one, 341 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 3: and you're like, oh, there's a whole calamity going on, 342 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:48,680 Speaker 3: the splashing of it coming up to shore, the net, 343 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 3: reaching in to try to get a buddy, trying not 344 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 3: to lose it. You know, all that is happening, and 345 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 3: for that time, it's it's so serene to be in 346 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 3: that environment. You know. So mental health is a huge 347 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:07,920 Speaker 3: you know, aspect of just outside you know, adaptive sports, 348 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 3: recreational therapy, thrills before pills, you know, and and it 349 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 3: seems like you guys are just hey, you know, this 350 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 3: happened to so and so they got raided. How do 351 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:19,919 Speaker 3: we help with a mortgage? How does that play? Like? 352 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:22,640 Speaker 3: They just fill out an application and there's hey, here's 353 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:24,439 Speaker 3: your mortgage? Or is there there's got to be so 354 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:26,400 Speaker 3: many people well in. 355 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 4: The let me just make a point on the on 356 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:31,639 Speaker 4: the fishing, because you said it's eren and peaceful. Yeah, 357 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:33,800 Speaker 4: you know, a lot of times when our vet gets 358 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 4: that big one on the line and he's pulling them in, 359 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 4: it's it's like being back in a combat zone because 360 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 4: all his buddies are making fun of him, like pull 361 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 4: it in, will you? You know, what are you're doing? 362 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:45,640 Speaker 4: Stop being assisting? 363 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 3: Get it in the boat, you know, use your other hand. Yeah, yeah, 364 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 3: come on, oh you know. Oh yeah, he's like, yeah, well, 365 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 3: why don't you stand up and tell me that. It's like, 366 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:03,919 Speaker 3: oh fine, you know, and I hope that's how it is, 367 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:05,880 Speaker 3: and I hope, you know, I had I have folks 368 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:08,160 Speaker 3: that work for me who have had lost both their limbs, 369 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 3: their lower limbs. And you know, I do war games. 370 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 3: I do airsoft war games where we go out and 371 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 3: just basically do a lot of war games in all 372 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 3: the gear with airsoft guns. And I have a shoot 373 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 3: house here in Utah. And I've had folks that work 374 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 3: for me through all different Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine corps. 375 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:28,239 Speaker 3: I'm waiting for a Space Force guy to work for me. 376 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 3: But still, like a Pokemon card, I kind of collect 377 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:32,880 Speaker 3: them all. And I mean, you know, he'll be down 378 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 3: in his hands, just moving around with his pistol pop 379 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:36,879 Speaker 3: pop down on his hands, pop pop pop, you know, 380 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:41,160 Speaker 3: knee pads on his leg on the bottom of his legs. 381 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,639 Speaker 4: You know, in all seriousness, I mean, and we've got 382 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 4: videos of this kind of thing where so we've got 383 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 4: amputees who go out and they do catch, they do 384 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 4: get that big fish on the line. And if you're 385 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 4: even a single amputee, but certainly if you're double amputee, 386 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 4: legs uh there. We've got videos of of the teammates 387 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:10,159 Speaker 4: holding the fishermen by the vest because you can't because 388 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:14,160 Speaker 4: he can't get the the leverage in the traction through 389 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,159 Speaker 4: the prosthetics that you can with your natural legs. And 390 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 4: so all that teamwork comes back where you know, somebody 391 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,119 Speaker 4: might step in and take the rod for a little while, 392 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 4: or uh, you know, adjustin is gear or whatever is needed, 393 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 4: you know, pour the water over. 394 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 3: The lieutenant Dan, you know. 395 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 4: Is he's trying to get this thing in the boat. 396 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 4: It's a beautiful thing to see because the like that, 397 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 4: the teamwork comes back and the camaraderie is there, and 398 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 4: and everybody takes joy in getting that fish on the boat, 399 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:52,159 Speaker 4: and then they all lie about it afterwards. You know, Yeah, 400 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:53,159 Speaker 4: I didn't need that. 401 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 3: Belt to hold you down, bro, I was gonna get 402 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 3: pulled in like bait. No, I was not shut up, 403 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 3: you're the bait. Let's look. 404 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 4: But I mean on the mortgages, so we have a mortgage. 405 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 4: All the all the accomplishments that I've mentioned cannot be 406 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 4: done without great partners that we work with and very 407 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 4: supportive Americans who are very generous to us. And with 408 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:20,280 Speaker 4: the homes and the vehicles that we give away. The 409 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 4: partner that really helps us with that is US Bank, 410 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 4: and they really just provide so much support for us 411 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 4: to be able to give these big gifts. Now again, 412 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 4: it's an application process and word of mouth with what 413 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 4: we're working with vets across the spectrum, and we have 414 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 4: an idea of where many of them are in their 415 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 4: rehabilitation process or where they are in there's their life scenarios. 416 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:53,440 Speaker 4: And when word comes to us that they might need 417 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 4: a home or need a car, in those cases, we 418 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 4: may be able to go to our partner and say, okay, 419 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,479 Speaker 4: we've got one here or there. In other cases, our 420 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,360 Speaker 4: partners coming to us and saying, you know, you've got 421 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 4: X number of vehicles to give away for the year 422 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 4: or x number of homes to give away, and they'll 423 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 4: be in these communities. And then we go out and 424 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:14,919 Speaker 4: find the vets that that need that help. And and 425 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 4: it's a it is an application. So we're going to 426 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:22,640 Speaker 4: check your your disability paperwork, your d D two fourteens, 427 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 4: your story. Make sure you know we don't God forbid, 428 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 4: we never want to run into a stolen valor kind 429 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 4: of a situation there and so and so we just 430 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 4: go through that process and we get to know them 431 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 4: and get and and come become close with them and 432 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:41,919 Speaker 4: in some respects and then we we put them in 433 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 4: the home. And so, uh, the way we do it 434 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:52,440 Speaker 4: rad is we we look for those who who need 435 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:55,679 Speaker 4: a home, need a helping hand, are going to be 436 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:57,679 Speaker 4: good neighbors, are going to take care of it, who 437 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:02,200 Speaker 4: are going to use it as their primary residents. And 438 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 4: so we require that they Freedom Alliance will own the 439 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:10,879 Speaker 4: home and we will lease it to them for a 440 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 4: period of two years. We charge them a whopping one 441 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 4: dollar per month during the lease period, and that for 442 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,400 Speaker 4: us is sort of an extension of the approval process. 443 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 4: We want to make sure they're taking care of it, 444 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:28,399 Speaker 4: they're doing all the things, a series of protocols that 445 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 4: we ask them to abide by, and then we ask 446 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 4: them once we give them the deed after two years, 447 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 4: we ask them not to sell it for at least 448 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 4: three years, and we hold a covenant on it to 449 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 4: say you can't sell it without our permission. But once 450 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 4: they clear that five years, then it's theirs to do 451 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 4: with what they want. 452 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:52,879 Speaker 3: Wow. 453 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,200 Speaker 4: And so that's the way we run it. And we've 454 00:25:56,240 --> 00:26:00,439 Speaker 4: been able to give away help about twenty three, twenty two, 455 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 4: twenty three families so far. And that program just began 456 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:05,440 Speaker 4: a few years ago. 457 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 3: You and Jimmy Carter bro she was still going by 458 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 3: the way. Okay, yeah, I'll. 459 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:16,679 Speaker 4: Tell you what I was on a flight with Jimmy 460 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:20,119 Speaker 4: Carter one time years ago. And if you ever want, 461 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 4: you know, to be cleared for takeoff and get to 462 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:29,439 Speaker 4: your destination, fly with the former president for that's legit. 463 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 3: That's great. Yeah, he was what I say, I was 464 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,880 Speaker 3: born in seventy seven, so he was the president at 465 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 3: the time I think when I was coming to this earth, 466 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 3: my friend. 467 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 4: So he was a Naval Academy grant, that's. 468 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:45,679 Speaker 3: Right, that's right. And I mean so many homes that 469 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:48,239 Speaker 3: he was a part of for you know, people that 470 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,159 Speaker 3: were in need and just putting himself out there with 471 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 3: his project that he did. I mean, talk about selfless service. Okay, 472 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:56,119 Speaker 3: right are percent? 473 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:01,480 Speaker 4: Isn't it interesting that that former President Carter, who was 474 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:03,919 Speaker 4: in office during a kind of a tumultuous time in 475 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 4: our history, he's probably better known by everybody for his 476 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 4: work with Habitat than anything he did in office. 477 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:16,439 Speaker 3: I mean really, I mean I was born. That's a 478 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:21,040 Speaker 3: good thing right there, baby, Thank you, President Carter. Jimmy 479 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:23,439 Speaker 3: Carter doing the right thing for the people right here 480 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:29,280 Speaker 3: by bringing me around. What's up, dude, that's awesome. So 481 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:34,200 Speaker 3: so now with the horseback riding and the outdoor sports. 482 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 3: What what is it? Is it like you guys are 483 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:39,720 Speaker 3: able to provide them with an experience or is this 484 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 3: a camp that you guys have under your you know, 485 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:44,120 Speaker 3: under Freedom Alliance. 486 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 4: So and yeah, and with the horses and equine therapy 487 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:52,600 Speaker 4: and some of the other things we do this these 488 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:56,480 Speaker 4: would all fall under what we call retreats. And we're 489 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 4: doing these with horses. We're doing we've got a great 490 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 4: one in on the Roague River in Oregon, in Montana, Wyoming, 491 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:07,200 Speaker 4: down in Costa Rica. 492 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:08,200 Speaker 3: Uh. 493 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 4: So we've we've got a variety of them. Some of 494 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:16,240 Speaker 4: them are exclusively for the veteran themselves, some of them 495 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 4: are designed for the married couples. And in each case 496 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:25,919 Speaker 4: it's it's rehab and it's trying to deal with the 497 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 4: emotional injuries. And so we have that experience, that fun experience, 498 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 4: whether it's fishing, snowboarding, doing something fun. But but when 499 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 4: you get back to the cabin or the base, it 500 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 4: is we're going to have conversation. Sometimes it's a prayer group. 501 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:54,160 Speaker 4: Sometimes it's we'll give you questions or themes in advance, 502 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 4: you know, we want to talk about this and uh, 503 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 4: and that's what we do. And it's you know, a 504 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 4: lot of it is is uh. They just need to 505 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 4: be able to get it out. Oftentimes they're veterans uh 506 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 4: who are emotionally wounded or carrying feelings of sin and 507 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 4: guilt and remorse and survivors guilt and and a number 508 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:27,600 Speaker 4: of these things that they need to talk about it, 509 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:29,600 Speaker 4: and they need to talk about it in a trusted 510 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 4: environment and and with people who've been there, done that, 511 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 4: who get it, who understand what they're talking about. And 512 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 4: so our team they're they're really great at at facilitating 513 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 4: those kinds of conversations, of making everybody feel welcome, of 514 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 4: providing that that circle of trust, if you will, And 515 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 4: and that's really a that's a big part of what 516 00:29:54,920 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 4: we do RAD is you know, the veteran community, they 517 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 4: don't give their trust easily. You've got her, and you've 518 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:08,200 Speaker 4: got to keep it. And and there's there's a number 519 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:11,120 Speaker 4: of ways you can you can do that, but you 520 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 4: don't just put an ad in the paper and say, hey, 521 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 4: we're having this retreat and we want you to tell 522 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:19,680 Speaker 4: us your you know, deepest darkest fears and sins and 523 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 4: all that. That doesn't work like that. You've so over 524 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 4: the years we've I think that we've been able to 525 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:33,800 Speaker 4: develop a little bit of a reputation that says, hey, 526 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 4: these guys do it well. Uh not perfect, but they 527 00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 4: do it well. And and so many of the vets 528 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 4: that are coming to us are coming through referral from 529 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 4: other vets or military families because they've had a positive experience. 530 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:52,720 Speaker 4: And that's something that means a lot to me because 531 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 4: it speaks to what a great team we have and 532 00:30:57,120 --> 00:31:01,160 Speaker 4: how you know, we're we're we're trying not to put 533 00:31:01,240 --> 00:31:05,280 Speaker 4: anybody up on display or you know, be sure you 534 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:09,080 Speaker 4: say this, or you know, let's let's pose you like 535 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:13,520 Speaker 4: this for the camera. It's authentic, it's genuine. It's you know, talk, 536 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:19,320 Speaker 4: don't talk, but we wanted we want to advance or 537 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 4: rehabilitation and sometimes just listening is is doing that even 538 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:27,520 Speaker 4: though you don't know it in a moment. But but 539 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 4: our team is really good at that, and I'm proud 540 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:30,120 Speaker 4: of them for that. 541 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 3: Seems like you guys celebrate Veterans Day not just once 542 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 3: a year, but every day of the year. You kind 543 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 3: of recognize that sacrifice that they make to raise their 544 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 3: hand and say I'll go, you can send me, I'll 545 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:45,600 Speaker 3: do my best whatever the task is asked of me, 546 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 3: and then they go and do that, and then they 547 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:50,280 Speaker 3: need the support of knowing that they went and did 548 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 3: that because we supported him to go do Oh. Yeah, 549 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:54,600 Speaker 3: we're so proud of you, Johnny. Go see you later. 550 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 3: We'll see when you get home. So let's see him 551 00:31:56,720 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 3: when he gets home. 552 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 4: Yeah. And and you know, that's that's a part that 553 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:06,560 Speaker 4: we've begun to begun to incorporate over the last several years, 554 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 4: is you know, putting some of our supporters in those situations, 555 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:18,040 Speaker 4: not a lot, but helping them to hear directly from 556 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 4: the veterans of what they are experiencing and addressing that 557 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:25,840 Speaker 4: very point that you made, which is, hey, you know 558 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 4: we didn't serve, but you know, Rob rof or you helping. 559 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:38,480 Speaker 4: How do I say this to try to explain that 560 00:32:39,640 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 4: in our society, we as civilians sent you off to 561 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 4: war because the military answers to civilian authority, and that 562 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 4: civilian authority answers to we the people. And so to 563 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:57,040 Speaker 4: an extent, you know, we're signing off on that, whether 564 00:32:57,120 --> 00:33:03,800 Speaker 4: it's cheerleading forward on team or not protesting it, or 565 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:08,720 Speaker 4: not requiring a stronger Act of Congress or something like that. 566 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:12,280 Speaker 4: And so you know, we're we're a part of it too, 567 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 4: and we have to understand that we can't understand the 568 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:24,400 Speaker 4: sights and the smells and the fears of combat, but 569 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:28,840 Speaker 4: we can do our best too. And and so people 570 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:31,680 Speaker 4: who are really invested in us, we try and get 571 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 4: them into those situations so they can hear directly what 572 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:37,320 Speaker 4: the vets are telling us. 573 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:39,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I see, it would be best to not to 574 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 3: have to have wars. Yeah, but then you have to 575 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:46,800 Speaker 3: go and win if you're in the war, because you 576 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:49,400 Speaker 3: don't want to lose your war per se, as long 577 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:53,120 Speaker 3: as it's they're all just for the side of the guy. 578 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 3: There's so many veterans, both sides, equal combat veterans. Whatever 579 00:33:57,400 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 3: country is fighting each other. Those those two guys are 580 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:02,840 Speaker 3: fighting for whatever their cause is, and whatever their cause is, 581 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:08,399 Speaker 3: you know, to the death or to the you know. Yeah, man, 582 00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 3: it's it's tough, you know. So hopefully we don't have 583 00:34:10,640 --> 00:34:12,920 Speaker 3: to have war, but if we do, we gotta we 584 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:16,120 Speaker 3: got to be winning them inevitably, you know. So you're 585 00:34:16,160 --> 00:34:19,600 Speaker 3: here to support the veteran on either side of that aisle, 586 00:34:19,640 --> 00:34:22,319 Speaker 3: it seems like. But if they get disabled, that's even 587 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:25,720 Speaker 3: more so with America's or excuse me, with a Freedom 588 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:28,279 Speaker 3: Alliance dot org where they would be able to reach 589 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 3: out to you and get some assistance because it's tough 590 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:34,040 Speaker 3: to navigate, you know, and you know, especially if you 591 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:37,839 Speaker 3: might be by yourself and listening to my podcast right 592 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:40,239 Speaker 3: now and you're just like, geez, you know, I'm so 593 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:43,280 Speaker 3: glad that these two have become friends and started talking 594 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:47,040 Speaker 3: and I'm going to reach out to Freedom Alliance dot org. 595 00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:50,760 Speaker 3: Thanks Rad, you know, and thanks Tom for talking about 596 00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:53,360 Speaker 3: this and explaining that I have someone out there that 597 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:55,920 Speaker 3: wants to help me. I mean, that's if we help 598 00:34:55,960 --> 00:34:58,399 Speaker 3: one person, If somebody can reach out and they get 599 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:01,719 Speaker 3: helped through this, that's that's what's up. We're just trying 600 00:35:01,719 --> 00:35:03,959 Speaker 3: to say, hey, Freedom Alliance dot Org is out there 601 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:06,840 Speaker 3: for you to reach out to to see if you 602 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:10,320 Speaker 3: qualify to have them help you. Yeah. 603 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:12,879 Speaker 4: And you know, the other thing that we've been trying 604 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:17,040 Speaker 4: to do in more recent years is there's this, uh, 605 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:22,440 Speaker 4: there's this saying or this this theme that when you 606 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:25,640 Speaker 4: get out of the military, we need to return you 607 00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:29,680 Speaker 4: to civilian life, We need to transition you to being 608 00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:35,040 Speaker 4: back to a civilian again. We reject that we say, no, 609 00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 4: that's not the case. So what we say to veterans 610 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:41,880 Speaker 4: is you're a warrior and you're always going to be 611 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 4: a warrior. The fact that you are no longer in 612 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:50,879 Speaker 4: the military doesn't change that. Now your warrior status might 613 00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:55,000 Speaker 4: change a little bit, but you can't undo the training, 614 00:35:55,680 --> 00:36:00,480 Speaker 4: the experiences that you had in the military, Harry and 615 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:04,880 Speaker 4: in combat, So don't try to put them aside. Instead, 616 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:09,680 Speaker 4: you should embrace them and become what we refer to 617 00:36:09,719 --> 00:36:17,120 Speaker 4: as an elder warrior who has wisdom and experiences that 618 00:36:17,239 --> 00:36:21,880 Speaker 4: can help the civilian community, that can help policymakers, that 619 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:25,880 Speaker 4: can help all of us understand what they've been through 620 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:29,879 Speaker 4: and how they now have to navigate it being out 621 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:33,400 Speaker 4: of the military. And so that's as it's just a 622 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:37,319 Speaker 4: theme that we hit on more and more as we 623 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:40,200 Speaker 4: as veterans go through our programs. 624 00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:45,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think you're just kind of like cool. I 625 00:36:45,640 --> 00:36:48,239 Speaker 3: think you're cool, bro. I think you're doing a good job, 626 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:51,520 Speaker 3: and you know, I'd be hard pressed to say otherwise. 627 00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:53,480 Speaker 3: And when you look at the website, you know, it's 628 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:56,200 Speaker 3: easy to go and check out at Freedom Alliance dot org. 629 00:36:56,239 --> 00:36:59,840 Speaker 3: I just have a link here that Jack sent me earlier, 630 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:01,839 Speaker 3: and it just goes right to it. I mean, you've 631 00:37:01,840 --> 00:37:03,680 Speaker 3: got a picture of a dude that's operator or gal 632 00:37:03,719 --> 00:37:05,680 Speaker 3: whoever that is on the front. They got the American 633 00:37:05,719 --> 00:37:07,880 Speaker 3: flag draped over him. Now let's kind of give it 634 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:09,680 Speaker 3: a little bit of a like a show off. I 635 00:37:09,719 --> 00:37:11,799 Speaker 3: just straight up went to the you know, the app 636 00:37:11,800 --> 00:37:15,920 Speaker 3: while we're talking. It says learn more, and it says, uh, 637 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:22,760 Speaker 3: our mission to advance the American heritage of freedom by honoring, 638 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:26,359 Speaker 3: encouraging military service, defending the sovereignty of the United States, 639 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:29,960 Speaker 3: and promoting a strong national defense. Our vision a national 640 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:33,479 Speaker 3: security strategy which deters wars that are avoidable, wins wars 641 00:37:33,480 --> 00:37:36,239 Speaker 3: that are inevitable, and never forgets those who go to 642 00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:40,040 Speaker 3: war on our nation's behalf. So you guys have you know, 643 00:37:40,360 --> 00:37:44,160 Speaker 3: solid mission, statement, core values. The whole history there, you guys, 644 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:47,400 Speaker 3: anybody can look into this and see it's just right here, 645 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:52,120 Speaker 3: you know, how convenient and yeah, the founder was founded 646 00:37:52,160 --> 00:37:57,120 Speaker 3: by the Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North. Okay, how funny. See, 647 00:37:57,239 --> 00:37:58,919 Speaker 3: you know we all know him from being the United 648 00:37:58,920 --> 00:38:04,520 Speaker 3: States Marine colonel Naval Academy graduate, a slew a board 649 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:08,440 Speaker 3: of directors. So go check out Freedom Alliance and see 650 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:12,520 Speaker 3: if there is purpose for you to visit with them. 651 00:38:13,560 --> 00:38:14,360 Speaker 3: It's true. 652 00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:18,799 Speaker 4: Yeah, absolutely visit the website Freedom Aliance dot org. Check 653 00:38:18,800 --> 00:38:21,920 Speaker 4: out check us out on Facebook. That's Facebook is where 654 00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:27,960 Speaker 4: we put our most recent accomplishment, So things that we're 655 00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:32,880 Speaker 4: doing and what do we got. So this week we 656 00:38:32,920 --> 00:38:34,839 Speaker 4: have a big event coming up because it's the Army 657 00:38:34,920 --> 00:38:38,920 Speaker 4: Navy Game and and so we bring our supporters in 658 00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:43,080 Speaker 4: and have some great speakers and events, and then we 659 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:44,719 Speaker 4: go to the Army Navy Game and that's a lot 660 00:38:44,760 --> 00:38:47,480 Speaker 4: of fun. If you go to our Facebook page, you'll 661 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:51,200 Speaker 4: see some of our recent accomplishments. We're down in Tampa, Florida, 662 00:38:51,280 --> 00:38:54,200 Speaker 4: what was about two weeks ago, and gave a new 663 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:59,600 Speaker 4: vehicle to a wounded female marine who it was in 664 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 4: the Milton Police and man checkpoints and man the customs 665 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:08,200 Speaker 4: desk and did some some pretty extraordinary things for twenty 666 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:11,080 Speaker 4: one twenty two years old she was at the time. 667 00:39:11,960 --> 00:39:15,280 Speaker 4: And a few weeks before that, we gave a mortgage 668 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:19,520 Speaker 4: free home to a marine who was in the Second 669 00:39:19,520 --> 00:39:25,560 Speaker 4: Battle of Fallujah. That home was in Dayton, Ohio and 670 00:39:25,680 --> 00:39:30,840 Speaker 4: just a great guy, been through an awful lot. And 671 00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:33,320 Speaker 4: and we've had a number of events will be given away, 672 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:37,000 Speaker 4: some of our alterrain wheelchairs coming up. And and this 673 00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:41,160 Speaker 4: week as we speak, we've got a group of of 674 00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:44,680 Speaker 4: service members down in Costa Rica where we have an 675 00:39:44,719 --> 00:39:48,960 Speaker 4: operation to get them out deep sea fishing and do 676 00:39:49,040 --> 00:39:51,080 Speaker 4: all the things that we were just talking about, and 677 00:39:51,120 --> 00:39:54,800 Speaker 4: you just you know, have a very really meaningful conversations 678 00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:58,319 Speaker 4: about where they are. And and rather the other thing 679 00:39:58,320 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 4: I would mention is, you know, obviously, so we're in 680 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:04,960 Speaker 4: we're in the season of advent and and Christmas is 681 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:09,080 Speaker 4: coming up, and it's a time and year where sometimes 682 00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:12,239 Speaker 4: you know, for us as Christians, it's a joyous time 683 00:40:12,239 --> 00:40:14,719 Speaker 4: of year. It's a time of anticipation for the birth 684 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:19,600 Speaker 4: of our Lord and and and and so it's fun. 685 00:40:20,040 --> 00:40:24,320 Speaker 4: But many people don't have that same experience. They get depressed, 686 00:40:24,360 --> 00:40:28,279 Speaker 4: they get anxious, and and I would just encourage you 687 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:32,200 Speaker 4: to to reach out to a friend. Uh, use the 688 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:35,239 Speaker 4: nine eight eight number if you need it. Reach out 689 00:40:35,239 --> 00:40:37,719 Speaker 4: to an organization like Freedom Alliance or some of the 690 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:41,719 Speaker 4: other great military support organizations out there if you need 691 00:40:41,719 --> 00:40:45,200 Speaker 4: somebody to talk to. And what I have seen, I 692 00:40:45,239 --> 00:40:53,279 Speaker 4: think the the absolute most heartwarming and effective things is 693 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:57,640 Speaker 4: when one vet reachs out, reaches out to another. You've 694 00:40:57,640 --> 00:40:59,759 Speaker 4: probably seen this rap a lot more than I have. 695 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:04,680 Speaker 4: I have literally seen a veteran combat veteran take a 696 00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:08,680 Speaker 4: phone call from a friend, a buddy who on the 697 00:41:08,719 --> 00:41:10,759 Speaker 4: other end of the phone he's saying, hey, man, I'm 698 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:14,839 Speaker 4: having a tough time. It's it's getting dark, it's it's 699 00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:17,879 Speaker 4: it's hard. And the veteran who's on the receiving end 700 00:41:17,880 --> 00:41:21,799 Speaker 4: of that phone call says, I got you. I'll be 701 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:25,080 Speaker 4: there in a few hours, and he throws a sleeping 702 00:41:25,160 --> 00:41:27,240 Speaker 4: bag and a cooler in the back of the truck 703 00:41:27,640 --> 00:41:31,960 Speaker 4: and drives, you know, five eight ten hours to wherever 704 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:34,200 Speaker 4: he needs to be and spends the next two days 705 00:41:34,280 --> 00:41:38,959 Speaker 4: or two weeks with that person until they get through 706 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:43,640 Speaker 4: that dark time. And that is it's unfortunate that it 707 00:41:43,719 --> 00:41:47,160 Speaker 4: has to happen, but it's a beautiful thing that's take 708 00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:48,680 Speaker 4: care of one another in that way. 709 00:41:49,719 --> 00:41:52,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, and it is nice. And you know, I'm not 710 00:41:52,080 --> 00:41:54,360 Speaker 3: trying to just say this, but like, you know, I 711 00:41:54,400 --> 00:41:56,800 Speaker 3: have had folks reach out to me through social media's 712 00:41:56,880 --> 00:41:59,239 Speaker 3: and you know, I've had personal friends come up to 713 00:41:59,239 --> 00:42:02,520 Speaker 3: me with you know, hardcore Like I looked at him 714 00:42:02,520 --> 00:42:03,680 Speaker 3: in the eyes and I was like, I hope you 715 00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:06,080 Speaker 3: didn't try to do what I think you did. You know, 716 00:42:06,160 --> 00:42:08,120 Speaker 3: don't and if you if you ever think that way, 717 00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:10,640 Speaker 3: And then he's like, rad I did try earlier this year, 718 00:42:10,640 --> 00:42:12,319 Speaker 3: and now I'm in therapy and all this stuff. And 719 00:42:12,360 --> 00:42:15,240 Speaker 3: I could just see this, like under his eyes right here, 720 00:42:15,640 --> 00:42:18,080 Speaker 3: that he was just going through a hard time. And 721 00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:21,680 Speaker 3: so I told him that I loved him, and he 722 00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:23,360 Speaker 3: hugged me. And it had been a minute since we 723 00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:25,480 Speaker 3: had seen each other, and I said, well, now you're 724 00:42:25,520 --> 00:42:28,600 Speaker 3: here and I'm always around, and now I can be 725 00:42:28,680 --> 00:42:30,680 Speaker 3: helping you with your therapy. So if you need to 726 00:42:30,680 --> 00:42:34,360 Speaker 3: be in a good place, just be around me, because like, 727 00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:38,640 Speaker 3: and he's you know, he's welcome to be anytime if 728 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:40,359 Speaker 3: he has to call me, hit me up whatever, you know. 729 00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:42,440 Speaker 3: And now that he's back in Utah, it's great to 730 00:42:42,440 --> 00:42:43,200 Speaker 3: have him around. 731 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:47,560 Speaker 4: And whose spirits wouldn't be lifted by hanging around you 732 00:42:47,640 --> 00:42:50,239 Speaker 4: with that great Christmas hat and big smile. 733 00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:52,759 Speaker 3: It's true. And so he was so happy, you know, 734 00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:54,959 Speaker 3: and you know, and I'm six foot five, he's about 735 00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:58,399 Speaker 3: five foot six, So a hug is really like, come here, 736 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:02,160 Speaker 3: my man, you need to full big bear hug from RAD. 737 00:43:02,680 --> 00:43:04,200 Speaker 4: Right, we don't need anymore. 738 00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:09,799 Speaker 3: Right, let me know. My service is available. I can 739 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:12,680 Speaker 3: get Okay, you just let me know Freedom, Alliance and 740 00:43:12,760 --> 00:43:15,440 Speaker 3: RAD we've just collapsed. Okay, all right, we need a 741 00:43:15,480 --> 00:43:17,520 Speaker 3: shirt that shows that or something. Somebody out there make 742 00:43:17,560 --> 00:43:18,040 Speaker 3: it happen. 743 00:43:19,239 --> 00:43:20,280 Speaker 4: You're gonna hug it out. 744 00:43:21,040 --> 00:43:23,920 Speaker 3: Sometimes sometimes someone that can just take some of your pain. 745 00:43:24,280 --> 00:43:26,319 Speaker 3: You know, my mom was so good at doing that. 746 00:43:26,800 --> 00:43:29,120 Speaker 3: I would be like, how come you never like, Oh, 747 00:43:29,120 --> 00:43:30,839 Speaker 3: She's like I always do need a hug, And I'm 748 00:43:30,880 --> 00:43:32,400 Speaker 3: like here, you know, because she would always be the 749 00:43:32,440 --> 00:43:35,839 Speaker 3: ones that we'd go to, So be like. 750 00:43:35,840 --> 00:43:42,799 Speaker 4: Mom, Absolutely, it's yeah, it's just a great thing to see. 751 00:43:42,840 --> 00:43:44,240 Speaker 4: And I've seen it a lot. 752 00:43:44,080 --> 00:43:46,960 Speaker 3: And and we don't want We can tell you that 753 00:43:47,000 --> 00:43:48,839 Speaker 3: we love you. We can tell you that you mean 754 00:43:48,880 --> 00:43:51,400 Speaker 3: something to us, and hopefully that helps helps you and 755 00:43:51,440 --> 00:43:54,240 Speaker 3: your decisions to make your choices. I'm a big believer 756 00:43:54,680 --> 00:43:57,000 Speaker 3: in freedom of choice. There's only so much I can do. 757 00:43:57,040 --> 00:44:00,319 Speaker 3: There's only so much we can do for somebody until 758 00:44:00,360 --> 00:44:03,960 Speaker 3: they they have to do it themselves. To show up 759 00:44:04,000 --> 00:44:05,600 Speaker 3: and go to the gym, you have to take your 760 00:44:05,640 --> 00:44:07,960 Speaker 3: pills at night, you have to fill out that paperwork 761 00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:09,880 Speaker 3: and get it submitted on time. You have to do 762 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:12,560 Speaker 3: those things. It's up to you to follow through. So 763 00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:14,600 Speaker 3: you know, I can just let you know that I 764 00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:17,440 Speaker 3: encourage you to be supportive. I want you to be successful, 765 00:44:17,560 --> 00:44:20,720 Speaker 3: and I love you and care about you. You should 766 00:44:20,760 --> 00:44:22,239 Speaker 3: know that. And if that helps you get you through 767 00:44:22,239 --> 00:44:23,680 Speaker 3: your next day so that you can go through the 768 00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:34,160 Speaker 3: same things. Hey, hang around me. That's my work hanging. Okay. Now, 769 00:44:34,560 --> 00:44:37,520 Speaker 3: all you hardcore pipe hitters out there that are listening 770 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:40,719 Speaker 3: to this that are smiling because you are too, and 771 00:44:40,760 --> 00:44:42,560 Speaker 3: you had to go perform a job and a duty 772 00:44:43,280 --> 00:44:46,480 Speaker 3: above yourself, you know, reach out to Freedom Alliance dot 773 00:44:46,560 --> 00:44:48,040 Speaker 3: org and see again if you can get some help 774 00:44:48,080 --> 00:44:52,120 Speaker 3: from them. And you know I've had I've had Tom's time. 775 00:44:52,160 --> 00:44:53,920 Speaker 3: You know, we've had We've listened to if we talk 776 00:44:53,960 --> 00:44:56,200 Speaker 3: for about an hour about this, and you guys should 777 00:44:56,280 --> 00:44:58,160 Speaker 3: hear that. It's just really you have to reach out 778 00:44:58,160 --> 00:45:01,120 Speaker 3: and you have to follow through, and you have to 779 00:45:01,200 --> 00:45:03,759 Speaker 3: take care of you because no one loves you more 780 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:07,759 Speaker 3: than you. It's you. So you got to take care 781 00:45:07,800 --> 00:45:09,520 Speaker 3: of you. And so you have to reach out if 782 00:45:09,520 --> 00:45:11,080 Speaker 3: you have some questions or you want to reach out 783 00:45:11,120 --> 00:45:14,600 Speaker 3: to me, I'm on Instagram rad Rockin' r A D 784 00:45:14,840 --> 00:45:16,920 Speaker 3: R O c K I N send me a message. 785 00:45:17,480 --> 00:45:19,560 Speaker 3: I've gotten them. My wife's like, who are you talking 786 00:45:19,600 --> 00:45:22,920 Speaker 3: to about this? And I'm like, I don't know, babe, 787 00:45:23,520 --> 00:45:25,440 Speaker 3: I'm just laying to bed. But I think they just 788 00:45:25,440 --> 00:45:27,080 Speaker 3: need someone to talk to, and I'm just gonna go 789 00:45:27,120 --> 00:45:28,879 Speaker 3: with it. It doesn't seem like he's asking for twenty 790 00:45:28,880 --> 00:45:32,120 Speaker 3: million dollars to Nigeria, so I'm gonna like kind of 791 00:45:32,160 --> 00:45:35,680 Speaker 3: like play the cards here that this person has reached out. 792 00:45:36,520 --> 00:45:40,480 Speaker 3: So there you go, simple as that, Yes, and go 793 00:45:40,520 --> 00:45:43,279 Speaker 3: buy my merch. Don't forget soft reap dot com forward 794 00:45:43,280 --> 00:45:46,879 Speaker 3: slash merch, Merch, Merch, Merch, merch, merch. Okay, it keeps 795 00:45:46,880 --> 00:45:50,560 Speaker 3: the fireplace going. And shout out to my dad, who's 796 00:45:50,760 --> 00:45:54,080 Speaker 3: who was one hundred percent disabled until he's no longer here. 797 00:45:54,120 --> 00:45:57,080 Speaker 3: And I was able to have access to the school 798 00:45:57,680 --> 00:46:02,120 Speaker 3: benefits as a young nineteen years old. And you know, 799 00:46:02,239 --> 00:46:05,279 Speaker 3: I would encourage anybody whose father or mother has put 800 00:46:05,280 --> 00:46:07,399 Speaker 3: themselves in that position to get them one hundred percent 801 00:46:07,480 --> 00:46:10,520 Speaker 3: rating to follow through with the schooling. Don't take it 802 00:46:10,520 --> 00:46:14,759 Speaker 3: for granted, but take it for granted. Okay, use it 803 00:46:14,760 --> 00:46:18,560 Speaker 3: it's there and you're able to if you are for 804 00:46:18,680 --> 00:46:21,440 Speaker 3: like twenty four, you can get like your degree as 805 00:46:21,440 --> 00:46:23,720 Speaker 3: long as you're living at home. Man, you got school, 806 00:46:24,080 --> 00:46:26,640 Speaker 3: get on it. You know this. He's not an agree, 807 00:46:26,640 --> 00:46:28,680 Speaker 3: it's he's like, yep, it's true. And don't just sit 808 00:46:28,719 --> 00:46:32,040 Speaker 3: in the parking lot. Going to college doesn't mean you 809 00:46:32,040 --> 00:46:33,840 Speaker 3: just sit in the parking lot. Because you went to college. 810 00:46:33,840 --> 00:46:36,600 Speaker 3: You got to get out and walk to class. Okay, 811 00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:38,520 Speaker 3: you got to go do it. You got to get 812 00:46:38,520 --> 00:46:40,840 Speaker 3: a C. You got to get a C or higher. 813 00:46:41,040 --> 00:46:43,680 Speaker 3: They want their money back. Okay, so make sure you 814 00:46:43,680 --> 00:46:46,840 Speaker 3: get your c's because c's get those degrees. All right. 815 00:46:47,280 --> 00:46:51,879 Speaker 3: Now that said more time rant over. 816 00:46:53,440 --> 00:46:55,520 Speaker 4: I mean what you know, what you're saying is real, 817 00:46:55,640 --> 00:46:58,640 Speaker 4: rad It's it is the message. Because a lot of 818 00:46:58,640 --> 00:47:02,239 Speaker 4: people say, well you knowledge these days, it's this, it's that. 819 00:47:02,480 --> 00:47:05,279 Speaker 4: It's you get a lot of complaints about it. But 820 00:47:05,880 --> 00:47:08,600 Speaker 4: if you look back and you say, it's personal responsibility. 821 00:47:08,640 --> 00:47:10,400 Speaker 4: I'm going to go and I'm going to study what 822 00:47:10,480 --> 00:47:12,239 Speaker 4: I want to study. I'm going to take the good 823 00:47:12,280 --> 00:47:15,080 Speaker 4: subjects and I'm going to you know, putting the time 824 00:47:15,120 --> 00:47:18,319 Speaker 4: and effort. Then you're going to get something out of it. 825 00:47:18,400 --> 00:47:22,080 Speaker 4: If you're going to go there and sit in class 826 00:47:22,120 --> 00:47:25,440 Speaker 4: and be led astray or in directions that you don't 827 00:47:25,480 --> 00:47:30,560 Speaker 4: want to go, that's on you. But you know, there's 828 00:47:31,040 --> 00:47:33,400 Speaker 4: there's a lot of these kids whose parents sacrifice for 829 00:47:33,480 --> 00:47:36,759 Speaker 4: this country, who have hopes and dreams and aspirations of 830 00:47:36,800 --> 00:47:42,440 Speaker 4: their own, and we're just really just really fortunate to 831 00:47:42,480 --> 00:47:46,839 Speaker 4: be able to help them achieve them. And it's fun 832 00:47:46,880 --> 00:47:50,560 Speaker 4: to see. You know, I'm in a situation now where 833 00:47:52,400 --> 00:47:56,160 Speaker 4: students who we helped go to school, you know, fifteen 834 00:47:56,239 --> 00:47:59,360 Speaker 4: twenty years ago, now they're getting married and they're inviting 835 00:47:59,400 --> 00:48:02,360 Speaker 4: me to their ways and things like that, and it's 836 00:48:02,960 --> 00:48:05,080 Speaker 4: it's just it's a beautiful thing to know that you've 837 00:48:06,200 --> 00:48:09,160 Speaker 4: impacted them enough that they think of you in that way. 838 00:48:09,280 --> 00:48:10,120 Speaker 4: It's great. 839 00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:15,200 Speaker 3: I mean, thirty homes, thirty million dollars worth of scholarships, 840 00:48:15,239 --> 00:48:19,760 Speaker 3: so many you know, retreats and fish caught and stories 841 00:48:19,800 --> 00:48:22,000 Speaker 3: to be told and prayers to have been had, and 842 00:48:22,200 --> 00:48:24,240 Speaker 3: you know, you've been doing this for a minute around 843 00:48:24,280 --> 00:48:28,600 Speaker 3: the sun, so circling, you know, with I feel selfless spirit. 844 00:48:28,719 --> 00:48:33,720 Speaker 3: So keep keep it up. Keep it up. Yes, losing 845 00:48:33,800 --> 00:48:36,600 Speaker 3: your team and to your producers and to the people 846 00:48:36,719 --> 00:48:39,040 Speaker 3: behind the scenes that help you get lit up and 847 00:48:39,080 --> 00:48:41,200 Speaker 3: making you look good and get your sound going. Big 848 00:48:41,200 --> 00:48:42,719 Speaker 3: shout out to them too for being a part of 849 00:48:42,719 --> 00:48:45,560 Speaker 3: your team. Right. So, and to jam who linked us 850 00:48:45,640 --> 00:48:48,319 Speaker 3: up to say, hey, let's get let's get Tom on 851 00:48:48,400 --> 00:48:50,840 Speaker 3: with rad. You'll see they'll match. And I'm going to 852 00:48:50,880 --> 00:48:53,200 Speaker 3: talk to Callum, my producer, and see if we can 853 00:48:53,200 --> 00:48:55,080 Speaker 3: get this up before Christmas, because I got the hat 854 00:48:55,120 --> 00:49:02,640 Speaker 3: on to see. Okay, every jolly yeah. 855 00:49:01,800 --> 00:49:05,480 Speaker 4: Well, you know Christmas is a season, so it runs 856 00:49:05,480 --> 00:49:06,760 Speaker 4: well into January. 857 00:49:06,840 --> 00:49:10,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, my pumpkins on my ports are still there from 858 00:49:10,680 --> 00:49:15,279 Speaker 3: October because November was harvest and you know, now it's 859 00:49:15,320 --> 00:49:17,120 Speaker 3: time I got to take them up to the mountains 860 00:49:17,120 --> 00:49:18,480 Speaker 3: and drop them off for snowboarding. 861 00:49:18,640 --> 00:49:21,440 Speaker 4: Feed the movie since since you mentioned I'm looking at 862 00:49:21,440 --> 00:49:23,720 Speaker 4: your fireplace and it looks like you've got a pumpkin 863 00:49:23,800 --> 00:49:25,320 Speaker 4: in there the way it Oh. 864 00:49:25,200 --> 00:49:29,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, I can see. Yeah, No, I here in Utah. 865 00:49:29,440 --> 00:49:31,719 Speaker 3: You know, we just got some snow last night. I'm 866 00:49:31,719 --> 00:49:35,359 Speaker 3: going to go enjoy it tomorrow morning. So yeah, you're great. 867 00:49:35,400 --> 00:49:37,800 Speaker 3: You're great. And and to my listener that's been listening 868 00:49:37,800 --> 00:49:41,480 Speaker 3: with us for the last hour of laughing and going on, 869 00:49:41,560 --> 00:49:44,120 Speaker 3: are these two talking about we're talking about Freedom Alliance 870 00:49:44,160 --> 00:49:47,160 Speaker 3: dot org and how you can reach out to them 871 00:49:47,239 --> 00:49:50,279 Speaker 3: if you are in a high rated you know, disability 872 00:49:50,280 --> 00:49:52,960 Speaker 3: with your veteran status through the VA reach out and 873 00:49:53,120 --> 00:49:55,799 Speaker 3: even if you have a disability or something from the 874 00:49:55,840 --> 00:49:57,400 Speaker 3: you know, military, reach out and see if they can 875 00:49:57,440 --> 00:49:58,719 Speaker 3: still help you. They might be able to point you 876 00:49:58,719 --> 00:50:00,920 Speaker 3: in the right direction or say hey, they'll look at 877 00:50:00,920 --> 00:50:03,120 Speaker 3: the facts versus what the VA rated you asked. So 878 00:50:03,520 --> 00:50:06,880 Speaker 3: Freedom Alliance listen to the president. Tom killed Gannon and 879 00:50:06,960 --> 00:50:09,120 Speaker 3: I have had the pleasure to talk with and now 880 00:50:09,160 --> 00:50:11,480 Speaker 3: become acquaintances and friends with. And you know, if you're 881 00:50:11,480 --> 00:50:14,160 Speaker 3: ever in Utah and you want to check out the slopes, 882 00:50:14,320 --> 00:50:17,640 Speaker 3: just hit me up. We'll do It's that simple. And 883 00:50:18,400 --> 00:50:21,600 Speaker 3: again please check out our book club. 'tis the season 884 00:50:21,960 --> 00:50:24,520 Speaker 3: and like he said, the season goes on. Let's just 885 00:50:24,560 --> 00:50:27,600 Speaker 3: make it all year of kindness because it's contagious, so 886 00:50:27,880 --> 00:50:30,560 Speaker 3: let's keep it up. And my name is rad On 887 00:50:30,640 --> 00:50:34,200 Speaker 3: behalf of my guest Tom kill Gannon with Freedom Alliance 888 00:50:34,239 --> 00:50:40,239 Speaker 3: dot org and Soft Rep. I say peace. Thanks anytime. 889 00:50:55,480 --> 00:50:57,480 Speaker 2: You listening to self Rep. 890 00:50:57,640 --> 00:50:58,799 Speaker 4: Lady