1 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: On this episode of newts World. Folds of Honor began 2 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: when Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney was on a flight home 3 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: from his second tour of duty in Iraq. As his 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: flight landed, the pilot announced they were carrying the remains 5 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 1: of Corporal Brock Buckland on board. Lieutenant Colonel Rooney watched 6 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: through the window as Buckland's twin brother walked sombrely alongside 7 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: the flag covered casket to meet his family on the tarmac. 8 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: Among them was the deceased corporal's young son. Since that evening, 9 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: Dan Rooney has committed his life through the Folds of 10 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 1: Honor to provide scholarships to spouses and children of America's 11 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: fallen and disabled service members. From this inception in two 12 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: thousand and seven, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly forty 13 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: four thousand scholarships totally nearly two hundred million dollars. He's 14 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: joining me today to talk about the expansion of the 15 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: Folds of Honor scholarship program to America's first responders. So 16 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: I'm really pleased to welcome my guest, Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rudy. Dan, welcome, 17 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: and thank you for joining me again on News World. 18 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: Mister speaker, I am blessed to be with you, thanks 19 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: for your continued service fighting the good fight for our country, 20 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: and excited to chat a little bit. Tell me about 21 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,120 Speaker 1: that evening when you saw Corporal Buckland's young son on 22 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: the tarmac. What was going through your mind at that moment. Yeah. 23 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 1: I call them moments of synchronicity or chance with a purpose. 24 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: And it's this, you know, ever present force in all 25 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: of our lives. And I think the big challenge now 26 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: is everybody's just you know, so plugged in all the time, 27 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: you're not watching for these signs in your life. And 28 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: for me, you know, i'd just gotten back from my 29 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: second of three combat tours of duty in Iraq and 30 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: was struggling, as a lot of folks do coming back 31 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: from combat, and the war literally followed me home that night. 32 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: And Brock's identical twin brother, Corporal Brad Buckland, can you 33 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: imagine he was the guy bringing his brother home. And 34 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: I sat on that flight and I've certainly seen in 35 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: combat the fact that freedom is not free. I've seen 36 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: way too many people give their lives, their limbs for 37 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: our country, but I'd never seen this side of war 38 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: that intimate side of war, not on the battlefield, but 39 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,920 Speaker 1: watching the family welcoming that loved one home. And I'll 40 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: tell you nude, I've got five daughters. And it hit 41 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: me in a way that it never had over the 42 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: skies of Iraq or on the ground over there. The 43 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: reality that this young boy, Brock's son, would you know, 44 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: never get up in the morning with his dad, never 45 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: play catch, never grab an ice cream, And the finality 46 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: of the sacrifice hit me and I felt a calling. 47 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: And on top of that, that evening, despite the captain's request, 48 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,079 Speaker 1: more than half the people deborted the plane that night 49 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 1: and it was like twelve thirty at night, but there 50 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: was nowhere to go except that blanket of freedom that 51 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 1: will all sleep under courtesy a corporal brock Buckling and 52 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 1: the over one million veterans who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. 53 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: And really I felt a hand of God on my 54 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: shoulder that night. And I wasn't I was fifteen years ago, 55 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: and I'm very proud to say I wasn't the person 56 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: then that I am now. And there's a great saying. 57 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: Every saint has a past, every center has a future. 58 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: But in this crazy way, God was kind of saving 59 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: me along the path to save so many military families, 60 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: bringing light into very dark situations. And I've just been 61 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 1: opened up to this and credible irony in life that 62 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: when you reach out to help someone, you're actually the 63 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: one being helped. And Folds is this vessel of impact 64 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: that not only helps you, as you mentioned forty four 65 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: thousand military families, but it helps everybody that jumps on 66 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: board and says, you know what, I want to do 67 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 1: something for someone else. And it's become this life parable 68 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: that I get to live. And I was dropping my 69 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: daughter's off at school yesterday and we're going to get 70 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,720 Speaker 1: into talking about first responders in the evolution of our mission. 71 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: But I said, I can't believe that God picked us 72 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: to do this mission. And I would not trade my 73 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 1: job with anybody in the world because I get to 74 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: most days beat the world out of bed and just 75 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: focus on helping others. And that's the purity of this 76 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: Folds mission. But you're still an active duty Air Force officer. Yes, 77 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: I'm actually in the reserves, but yeah, still serving twenty 78 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 1: two years into it. We just talked for it came 79 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: on the air. I finished Air War College, which is 80 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: the gauntlet of the United States Air Force. I'm convinced 81 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: that's why most people get out so they don't have 82 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: to do it. But just finished Air War College and 83 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: have a new mission working for General Thomas and the 84 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: Recruiting Command, which is really interesting as an ambassador to 85 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: really tell my story on the impact the Air Force 86 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: has had on me, because without the Air Force giving 87 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 1: me the opportunity to be a fighter pilot, nothing in 88 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: my life exists as it is today, and folds of 89 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 1: honors never created. But it's amazing new that of our 90 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 1: age demographic right now, seventy five percent of the country 91 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: does not qualify to serve in the military, and the 92 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: twenty five percent that does, only one in ten express 93 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: any interest and even learning about military service as a career. 94 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:56,039 Speaker 1: And if you fast forward this runway ten years from now. 95 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 1: We're in a recruiting crisis right now, but it is 96 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: only going to get worse, and we've got to have 97 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:06,239 Speaker 1: people that step up and are willing to defend our country. 98 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: So a really cool chapter for me, kind of a 99 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,679 Speaker 1: pay it forward chapter with the Air Force to help 100 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 1: recruit young men and women to a way of life 101 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 1: that I've just loved for twenty two years and I 102 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: owe everything to the Air Force, and if we're able 103 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: to read some young folks out there and inspire them 104 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: to serve, it'll be an exciting next chapter in my 105 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:31,239 Speaker 1: Air Force career. I'm curious for a second, what disqualifies 106 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: the It's mostly physical, not meeting the physical standard, but 107 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: you see all the emotional stuff the ADHD, all the 108 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: medications that young people are on that disqualify them from 109 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: serving in the military right now, so we're fishing in 110 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: a smaller pond with a very low interest rate, not 111 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: financial but emotional interest in serving. And it's interesting to 112 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:04,040 Speaker 1: the The disconnect from our United States military and the 113 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 1: general public is a big reason for this. You rewind 114 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: back twenty years, half the country knew someone in the military, 115 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: a family member, a friend. Right now it's down to 116 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: about ten percent, and so there's no connection, very little 117 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: connection with this group of young people coming up with 118 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: actual people that serve as role models. And that's what 119 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: inspired me to serve. I met a fighter pilot when 120 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 1: I was twelve years old. I was like, I want 121 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: to be like this guy. He is awesome, and so 122 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: we got a lot of work to do. Oh, your 123 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: grandfather did serve in World War two and had a 124 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: very active career, then became director of the Illinois Air 125 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: National Guard. Did he have any impact on your attitude 126 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: towards the military. Oh, he did, right, that generates him. 127 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: He was a hero to me, not just my granddad, 128 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: but was a hero, full bird colonel. And I always 129 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: saying there's a big difference in life between success and significance. 130 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:03,239 Speaker 1: And you know, unfortunately our country put so much value 131 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: on success, as money, as fame, and I think the 132 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: big goal for all of us is to be significant, 133 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: and the military is a ticket you can punch to 134 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: significance literally the day you graduate basic training or officer training, 135 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: and you become one of the half a percent of 136 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: the country that woke up this morning willing to defend 137 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: the other ninety nine point five percent of us. And 138 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: I always looked at him as a significant person that 139 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: people respected when he went out, watched him in his uniform, 140 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: and I was like, I want to be a person 141 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: of significance, and the military was the most logical path 142 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 1: for me to get to that place. Hi, this is nude. 143 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: We have serious decisions to make about the future of 144 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: our country. Americans must confront big government socialism, which has 145 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: taken over the modern Democratic Party, big business, news, media, entertainment, 146 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: and academia. My new bestselling book, Defeating Big Government Socialism 147 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: Saving America's Future offers strategies and insights for everyday citizens 148 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 1: to save America's future and ensure it remains the greatest 149 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: nation on Earth. Here's a special offer for my podcast listeners. 150 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: You can order an autograph copy of my new book, 151 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:30,559 Speaker 1: Defeating Big Government Socialism right now at gingwishtree sixty dot 152 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 1: com slash book and we'll ship it directly to you. 153 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: Don't miss out on this special offer. It's only available 154 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: for a limited time. Go to gingwishtree sixty dot com 155 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: slash book to order your copy now. Order it today 156 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: at gingwishtree sixty dot com slash book. So when you 157 00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: saw Corporal Buckland's young son and had this moment of 158 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: thinking about how to help them, I'm curious. The system 159 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 1: you've set up in Folds of Honor is really quite remarkable. 160 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,719 Speaker 1: How did you go about setting it up? So the 161 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: number one lesson I learned as a fighter pilot NEWT 162 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: is go before you're ready. In our business, we get 163 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: four flights. Obviously, you go through your undergraduate pilot training. 164 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:22,839 Speaker 1: Once you make it to the F sixteen, you get 165 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: four flights. The fifth flight is solo. And I remember 166 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 1: sitting in this forty five million dollar fighter jet that 167 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 1: goes twice the speed of sound, you know, can destroy 168 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: a city block, and a touch of a button and 169 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,439 Speaker 1: it hits me as like, hey, go before you're ready, 170 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: and great things happen in our lives. But so many 171 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 1: people sit there and they're so intentional about planning everything out, 172 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: and what if I fail? What if this doesn't go 173 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: the right way? And so Folds was created in that 174 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: spirit that I learned being a fighter pilot. We just 175 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: went right. I had no idea what I was doing. 176 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: We were running at above our garage and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. 177 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 1: And I'm convinced every day that when you listen to 178 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: what God puts on your heart, really good things will 179 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 1: happen in your life. And we went before We're ready. 180 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 1: We started Folds of Honor with zero money in a 181 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: mission statement which we have not wavered from, to honor 182 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: the sacrifice and educate the legacy. And initially we turned 183 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: to the game of golf. And I'm a PGA golf professional, 184 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: and I was like, well, let's get a golf tournament going. 185 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:33,679 Speaker 1: And we got a couple of golf tournaments going, got 186 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: a national event called Patriot Golf Days, which we run 187 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 1: with the PG of America and the United States Golf 188 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: Association over a Memorial Day, and we asked people to 189 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: donate a couple extra dollars when they go out and 190 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 1: tee it up and out of the gate. We raised 191 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: in our first year about a million dollars through that event, 192 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: and I guess the rest is history. We've made a 193 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: lot of mistakes, sins of omission, but we're constant learning 194 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: and refining the process. But it was always about education. 195 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: You've been successful enough that in the twenty twenty two 196 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 1: to twenty twenty three academic season you awarded almost nine 197 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: thousand educational scholarships totaling forty million dollars. I mean, that's 198 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: an astonishing achievement for a guy sitting out there in 199 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I know the land of common sense. Man, 200 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,439 Speaker 1: if the world came out to Oklahoma, we fix all 201 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: the problems. People still say hello and open doors for 202 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: each other. It's an amazing place, but it is, and 203 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: I just think we're gonna humble team Goddess on our side. 204 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: We've got extraordinary support. We have this volunteer army of 205 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: literally tens of thousands of people across the country that 206 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: support us new in nine thousand military families in school. 207 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: Another really cool thing about Folds is of this class 208 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 1: forty six percent or minorities, and is our country kind 209 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: of tears itself apart from the inside searching for a 210 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: quality which we desperately need. I would argue that education 211 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: is the only lasting path that gets us there. And 212 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: to be able to educate these minority families and empower 213 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:19,559 Speaker 1: them to go out and chase their dreams and get 214 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: a good job, and the other really neat thing. We 215 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: have great support from Coca Cola and they specifically helped 216 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: first generation college graduates minorities. And we've got about five 217 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: thousand first generation Black American families that someone's got that 218 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:42,439 Speaker 1: first degree and it changes everything for their family. But 219 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: I was with President Bush, this is probably a couple 220 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: of years ago. We were playing golf, President Bush forty three, 221 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 1: and he said, Dan, you got to understand you're not 222 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 1: just changing that family, you're changing our country. And I 223 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: never opened up the lens at that level. But when 224 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: you empower someone to go of the American dream. It's 225 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: totally contrarian to the other side, which is about handouts 226 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: and about entitlements. That's what makes this country great. Go 227 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: teach them how to fish and it changes their family 228 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:17,320 Speaker 1: and it also changes our country. And you've now awarded 229 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: forty four thousand scholarships, which is astonishing. Let me just 230 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: to break in for Zing to say, because this is 231 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: such a great story. If somebody listening to this podcast 232 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 1: wants to help you, where do they go on the 233 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: internet to be helpful. The our website Folds of Honor 234 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: dot org. So think about the folded flag, Folds of 235 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 1: Honor dot org. We have a squadron, as we call it. 236 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: Those are all the people that donate money to us 237 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: in time, and we'd encourage people to consider that. The 238 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: other great thing new to about this organization is we 239 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: are high speed, low drag. That's a fighter pilot term 240 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: for getting the money out the door. Ninety one cents 241 00:14:55,920 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: of every dollar we raise goes directly to scholarship program. 242 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: We have a perfect rating on Charity Navigator when the 243 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 1: top one percent of performing nonprofits in America Folds of Honor. 244 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 1: So when you give a dollar, you know that it 245 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: is making a difference for a spouse or a child 246 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: of a fallen or disabled military member. And a couple 247 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 1: days ago we announced that we're going to start helping 248 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: first responders as well. Before you, I just have to say, 249 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: an addition to serving your country helping develop folds of honor, 250 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 1: you and your wife are raising five daughters. That has 251 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: to keep you pretty busy. You think a rack is scary, 252 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: I say, you wake up in my house on a 253 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: daily basis, it is war torn. So how old are 254 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 1: the five girls? My oldest is a junior and Notre Dame, 255 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: so we are doesn't matter. But we're Catholic, proud Catholic family. 256 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: You could probably figure that one out already with five 257 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: kids running a nonprofit. And then I've got a senior 258 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: in high school, I've got a freshman, an eighth grader, 259 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: and a third grader. And my wife and I both 260 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: turned fifty this year, so we'll be on social Security 261 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: if there's any left by the time we get there, 262 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: by the time we get our last one out of 263 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: the house, Devin, that's really something. Well, you all do 264 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: an amazing job, and it's remarkable that you are able 265 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: to do all of this and be helpful in so 266 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: many ways. But now you've made a big decision to 267 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: expand your scholarships to include the spouses and children of 268 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: fallen or disabled first responders. Why did you decide to 269 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: include the first responders? Well, first, it's a god thing, nude. 270 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: I mean, I was very prayerful over the holidays this 271 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: year on Hey God, where do we go this year? 272 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 1: I got this loud and clear, you need to help 273 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: first responders, and I'm like, okay. So I started doing 274 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 1: some research and was stunned what I found. Number One, 275 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: there are two hundred and forty million calls to nine 276 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 1: one one made every year in this country. And when 277 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: that call is made on your worst day, I just 278 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,880 Speaker 1: want to emphasize that there are two hundred and forty 279 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: million calls, and so it's like two of every three 280 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:18,399 Speaker 1: Americans they made individual calls. I mean, that's a remarkable 281 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 1: penetration of how many people are calling for help in 282 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 1: one form or another, and when you need it most. 283 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: I always I was on Fox and Friends, you were 284 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 1: on Fox Day. I was on Fox and Friends earlier 285 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,120 Speaker 1: this week, and I said, you know, nine one ones 286 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 1: kind of like your freedom. You take it for granted 287 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 1: until you need it. And so when you dial that number, 288 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: an average of four people respond first responders. So you 289 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: have literally a billion first responders running to dire situations 290 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: each year. So every second of every day, first responders 291 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: are coming to save us. And unfortunately we all know 292 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: that when that happens, hundreds a year first responders are killed, 293 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 1: thousands are critically wounded, and there is no national organization 294 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:15,400 Speaker 1: that is taking care of the families from an educational 295 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 1: standpoint for first responders. Now, I was shocked when I 296 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: discover and so here we go in the spirit that 297 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 1: we started above our garage, we are gonna start helping 298 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: first responders and excited to launch if we could switch 299 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: gears from it. Liz Breeze is one of the many 300 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: recipients of folds of hundred scholarships, and I think Lizz's online. 301 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:00,160 Speaker 1: Now are you with us, Liz? Yes? And here, good 302 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 1: morning speaker, newt HI. Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney, Hey, thank 303 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:06,640 Speaker 1: you very much for taking the time to join us 304 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: for our audience here on the podcast. Your dad was 305 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: unfortunately killed when you were three during a routine training flight. 306 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 1: Can you describe that, yes, of course, my father was 307 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 1: in the Navy, and after about eight years he went 308 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: to go get his degree in aeronautical engineering, which meant 309 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 1: one year in Naval Test pilot school at the Patuxent 310 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 1: Naval Airbase. And one day, after saying his routine advised 311 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 1: to us in the morning, a few hours later we 312 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:34,920 Speaker 1: got a knock at the door that his plane, the 313 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: T thirty eighth plane, had crashed into a tree at 314 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,399 Speaker 1: the base nearby, flipped upside down and killed both he 315 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:44,159 Speaker 1: and the pilot with him immediately upon impact. That was 316 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: when I was three years old. My sister Katie was 317 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,400 Speaker 1: four years old, and my brother Thomas was nine months old, 318 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:53,880 Speaker 1: and your mom raised the three of you after that. Yes, 319 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 1: that's correct. It was just my mom and the three 320 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:58,120 Speaker 1: of us from the time I was three years old. 321 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: I just won't extend my art felt feeling for you 322 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 1: and for your family. As I'd mentioned earlier to Colonel Rooney, 323 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:08,439 Speaker 1: that my dad had served twenty seven years in the 324 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 1: Army and including a little bit of World War Two 325 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: and Korean Vietnam. People tend to forget in the military, 326 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:18,120 Speaker 1: the whole family serves, and the whole family is at risk. 327 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 1: And I hope you'll tell your mom that I'm very 328 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: grateful for her sacrifice and for her commitment, but I'm 329 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,439 Speaker 1: curious because Folds of Honor stepped in to help you, 330 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 1: how did it help you and how to affect your 331 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 1: life well. So you can imagine, with my mother being 332 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: the single mother of three young children, that we faced 333 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:39,360 Speaker 1: some financial difficulties as I grew up, and when it 334 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,919 Speaker 1: came time for my older sister Katie to apply to 335 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,879 Speaker 1: college in twenty thirteen, and my mom didn't know what 336 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:46,719 Speaker 1: she was going to do and where those funds were 337 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,879 Speaker 1: going to come from. And then around Christmas time of 338 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:53,160 Speaker 1: twenty thirteen, perfect Christmas gift, we discovered Folds of Honor, 339 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: and with their help, I graduated from Mount Saint Mary's 340 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:59,679 Speaker 1: University in twenty nineteen with my Bachelor of Science and 341 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: billy and Biochemistry. My sister Katie graduated from the College 342 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,159 Speaker 1: of Charleston the year prior with her degree in marketing 343 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: and Communications, and my brother Thomas is currently attending school 344 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: with the help of Folds of Honor. And when I graduated, 345 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: I had not a single penny of student loans because 346 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:18,920 Speaker 1: of the financial help of Folds of Honor, so they 347 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 1: really changed your life completely. I mean, that is an 348 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 1: easy way to put it, but there are really no 349 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 1: words to describe how Folds has impacted my life, and 350 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 1: they continue to do so every single day. Because with 351 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: that financial help, I not only was able to graduate 352 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: without student loans and go on to earn my Master 353 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,959 Speaker 1: of Education and teach at an under resource school, but 354 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 1: also to volunteer and spend time shadowing and doing research 355 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,240 Speaker 1: in pediatric and fetal therapy during college because I didn't 356 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 1: have to worry about those student loans hanging over my head. 357 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: I'm curious about your own decisions. You have a Bachelor 358 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 1: of Science and biochemistry and biology. You could have done 359 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: many things, but you then went and taught high school 360 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles for two years. What led you to 361 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 1: do that? Well? I tutored during college, and I always 362 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,159 Speaker 1: had this desire to become a doctor. I love working 363 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: with children and wanted to work with pregnant women and 364 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: sick babies. But there was this desire and need to 365 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: also teach because I had tutored in college and knew 366 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 1: that I loved science and wanted to share that love 367 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: of science with others. And I also remember how challenging 368 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 1: high school was. So both of those desires to work 369 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 1: with high schoolers and to teach drove me to earn 370 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 1: my Master of Education through a teaching program. And this 371 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: program placed me at a school in LA for two 372 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:37,399 Speaker 1: years to teach while I lived in a community. You 373 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 1: now work as a medical scribe and you speak for 374 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:44,879 Speaker 1: falls war. What is a medical scribe? That's a great question. 375 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: So a medical scribe takes notes for doctors, nurse practitioners 376 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 1: and physicians, assistants and anyone else in healthcare who needs it. 377 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: So in my current position, I work virtually from home 378 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:58,200 Speaker 1: and my provider, she's a women's health nurse practitioner. She 379 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 1: sees her patients in person, calls me on the phone 380 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:03,439 Speaker 1: and I listen in as she's meeting with her patients, 381 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:05,400 Speaker 1: and I fill out the patient charts for her. So 382 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:07,640 Speaker 1: it helps her to be more efficient and I learn 383 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,400 Speaker 1: a lot of medical terminology through it. And I understand 384 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 1: you're applying to medical school through an Air Force program. Yes, 385 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 1: that's correct. So this scholarship is called the HPSP Scholarship, 386 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:22,880 Speaker 1: and it pays for all four years of medical education 387 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 1: wherever I would like to go, and then I will 388 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: do my residency in the Air Force and then do 389 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,200 Speaker 1: at least four years of service in the Air Force 390 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: as a physician. I think it's fascinating. One of the 391 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 1: folks who works with us married a woman who had 392 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: gotten her nursing degree through an Air Force program and 393 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 1: was in fact serving in the Air Force when they met, 394 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 1: and he ended up, much to his surprise, spending several 395 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 1: years in Frankfort, Germany. Sort of the trailing spouse to 396 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 1: use the State Department term. But they have a great relationship. 397 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:53,640 Speaker 1: They just had a baby and things are going really well, 398 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: and she's now getting i think her master's degree at 399 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 1: either Duke or North Carolina. So these things can really 400 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: work out well, and these scholarship programs can be enormously helpful. 401 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 1: When you think about it, as you talk to potential 402 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 1: donors and potential supporters, what would you say to them 403 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 1: about how Folds of Honor Scholarship changed your life. Like 404 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: I said, it's hard to put into words what FOLDS 405 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 1: has done for me because they have impacted my life 406 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: in so many different ways. But I always want the 407 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 1: donors to know that when they're giving to Folds, they're 408 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 1: giving to a family, they're giving to a student because 409 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 1: this money goes directly to us. It's going to us 410 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:34,120 Speaker 1: to be able to achieve our dreams. And Folds gave 411 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 1: me that opportunity to pursue my dreams when we had 412 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: faced this tragedy of losing my dad. They came into 413 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 1: my family in a time of a lot of grief, 414 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:45,360 Speaker 1: a lot of loss, and gave us that hope to 415 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: be able to pursue those dreams, to be able to 416 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 1: do good in the world like our dad had done. 417 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:53,440 Speaker 1: You're still closely tied to the military, not only in 418 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:57,119 Speaker 1: your own application, but as I understand it, your husband 419 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 1: was an Afghanistan last August, helping to evacuate from Kabbel 420 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 1: Airport and was only about one hundred meters from the 421 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: explosion that killed thirteen military members. So your family is 422 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:11,399 Speaker 1: still serving the country. Yes, that's correct, and very proud 423 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 1: to be married to a marine. He is crazy, a 424 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 1: lot of fun, but I'm also very proud of him 425 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:18,800 Speaker 1: because I get to see him every day give his 426 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: life for this country. And just today he left to 427 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:24,400 Speaker 1: go sleep in the desert for a couple days of training. 428 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 1: And yes, last year in August he was deployed for 429 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:29,359 Speaker 1: six months last year, and in the last couple of 430 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,920 Speaker 1: months of deployment, he and some of his Marines were 431 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: brought over to evacuate the citizens from the Kabbel Airport, 432 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 1: to bring them to safety from the Taliban. And I 433 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 1: remember the day of August twenty six so vividly because 434 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,199 Speaker 1: that was the day that a suicide bomber set off 435 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:46,160 Speaker 1: an explosion, and I thought that Tyler and my husband 436 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:48,640 Speaker 1: had been killed. I truly thought that he was dead 437 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 1: because they hadn't heard from him. And then I did 438 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:54,879 Speaker 1: learn that he was alive, but came home with no 439 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 1: physical wounds, but a lot of difficulty overcoming what he 440 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: had seen, being just a hundred leaders from the explosion. 441 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 1: Everyone I talked to who served in Afghanistan has a 442 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:10,320 Speaker 1: deep sense of frustration and disappointment and in some ways 443 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: guilt that America pulled out the way it did, and 444 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: that all of the people who risk their lives and 445 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 1: were severely wounded or killed in a twenty year period 446 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,640 Speaker 1: at an end the way it did last year. And 447 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 1: I'm grateful to your husband for serving in the Marines 448 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:28,680 Speaker 1: and being willing literally to risk his life for America, 449 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: which is I think what we sometimes forget. This is 450 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:37,160 Speaker 1: really vital, just as with first responders who routinely risk 451 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 1: their lives, whether it's the fireman who goes into a 452 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,439 Speaker 1: burning building or it is the policeman who walks up 453 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: to a car which may or may not have somebody 454 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 1: in it who's dangerous, and I think we've forgotten. I 455 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:50,439 Speaker 1: think what Folds of Honor is doing is reminding the 456 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: rest of us that there are casualties of the effort 457 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 1: to maintain civilization that include the children, and include the family, 458 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 1: and though what those of us who are fortunate enough 459 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 1: to be free can do is help through Folds of 460 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 1: Honor so that those families know that people actually care 461 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 1: about to sacrifice their families made and people actually care 462 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:17,119 Speaker 1: about them as individuals. I want to thank you for 463 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 1: sharing with us, because I think that it's really important 464 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: for people to hear from somebody who has personally benefited. 465 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: This isn't just some abstract idea. There are real human 466 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,639 Speaker 1: beings out there who are really being helped in a 467 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 1: dramatic way. And when folks who are listening to this 468 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 1: and have a chance to go to Folds of Honor 469 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:39,399 Speaker 1: dot org and see that they have the opportunity to 470 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:43,400 Speaker 1: participate and to help and when they realize that literally 471 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 1: there are forty four thousand people who have been helped 472 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:51,879 Speaker 1: in their lives in some way, helping hopefully make up 473 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: for the terrible losses that their families have suffered. I 474 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 1: think that Folds of Honor is an astonishing program, and 475 00:27:59,119 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: I'm going to think both you and Dan for joining me. 476 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:05,119 Speaker 1: And Dan, I want you to know that the work 477 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: you and the Folds of Honor are doing providing scholarships 478 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:12,119 Speaker 1: to military veterans, their families and now first responders, is 479 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:14,679 Speaker 1: really having a big impact on the country. And I 480 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 1: thank you for your service and your continued patriotism. And Liz, 481 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 1: I am delighted that you're going to go ahead and 482 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:22,879 Speaker 1: be a doctor. And I can assure you if I 483 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:24,400 Speaker 1: ever get to a point where I need a doctor, 484 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:25,959 Speaker 1: I want to keep your name in the back of 485 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 1: my head and potentially try to come and be helpful. Dan, 486 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 1: would you just one more time, because it is so cool, 487 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 1: would you give a plug for how people can donate 488 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 1: to the new first Responder program? Yeah? And Liz, we're 489 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 1: so proud of you. You know that keep on doing 490 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 1: what you do, and that's the heroic part of the 491 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: families that we are helping new these military families and 492 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:52,920 Speaker 1: now first responder families, they're extraordinary and we're just giving 493 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 1: them an opportunity to go chase their dreams. And they 494 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: have such an impact, and we talk about scholarships, but 495 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:02,400 Speaker 1: the real ROI is what they go out in our 496 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:06,360 Speaker 1: country and do. And if you're interested in fueling the 497 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:10,040 Speaker 1: dreams of a military family or first responder family who's 498 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 1: had someone killed or disabled defending our freedoms, coming to 499 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 1: our rescue, they can visit Folds of Honor dot org 500 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 1: and join our squadron make a monthly donation. We asked 501 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 1: for thirteen dollars a month, which ties back to the 502 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 1: thirteen folds that bring that flag to that iconic triangle 503 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:31,080 Speaker 1: shape of freedom, and we will pay that forward to 504 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 1: these heroic families. And you know, I'm a huge fan 505 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 1: of yours and just feel so blessed that you would 506 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 1: have us on and share our story of Folds of 507 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 1: Honor and more importantly, the stories of all of these 508 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 1: military families and first responder families who have given so much, 509 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 1: and this is our opportunity to say thank you by 510 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:58,880 Speaker 1: educating the legacy of these families. Thank you to my 511 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 1: guest to Lieutenant ca Dan Rooney and Elizabeth Breese. You 512 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 1: can learn more about the Folds of Honors scholarship program 513 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:09,720 Speaker 1: on our show page at newtsworld dot com. NEWT World 514 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: is produced by Gingwich three sixty and iHeartMedia. Our executive 515 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:18,160 Speaker 1: producer is Garnsey Sloan, our producer is Rebecca Howe, and 516 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: our researcher is Rachel Peterson. The artwork for the show 517 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 1: was created by Steve Pendley. Special thanks to the team 518 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 1: at Gingwich three sixty. If you've been enjoying Newtsworld, I 519 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 1: hope you'll go to Apple Podcast and both rate us 520 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 1: with five stars and give us a review so others 521 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 1: can learn what it's all about. Right now, listeners of 522 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 1: news World can sign up from my three free weekly 523 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 1: columns at gingwis three sixty dot com slash newsletter. I 524 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 1: I'm newt Gingrich. This is Newtsworld.