1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,600 All across America and around the world, this is Veterans Radio. 2 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:20,200 And now, your host for today's program, Dale Throneberry. 3 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:24,400 Hey, welcome to Veterans Radio. 4 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,240 My name is Dale Throneberry and I get to be the host today and we're going to be talking 5 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:34,040 about veteran suicide and we're trying to figure out, you know, what is causing it and maybe 6 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:35,040 what we can do. 7 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,240 So we've got a little group discussion going on here. 8 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:44,640 My guests include the Reverend Bob Bull, an Air Force veteran and I got Nick McBrien, 9 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,600 who's a U.S. Army medical veteran. 10 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,280 He served in OEF and OIF. 11 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:51,600 Bob was in the Air Force in Vietnam. 12 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,760 We're going to get to them in just a second. 13 00:00:54,760 --> 00:01:00,040 But the idea here is that we want you to participate. 14 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:04,920 I mean, we can have all kinds of experts on to talk about how we can prevent suicide and 15 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:06,440 so on and so forth. 16 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:11,040 But it really comes down to, you know, the grassroots, you know, the grunts and everything 17 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,520 else that we always talk about that are on the ground. 18 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:19,360 Maybe we can figure out how we can come up with maybe some suggestions or maybe you know 19 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,600 someone who's in a crisis situation. 20 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:27,600 We have some, hopefully we have some suggestions for you and we'll see how it goes. 21 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:32,880 So the number, if you'd like to give us a call, is 734-822-1600. 22 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:37,000 That's 734-822-1600. 23 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:41,480 So if you know somebody that's in crisis situation, you might want to give us a call because we've 24 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,680 got some, as I say, we've got some suggestions for you. 25 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:50,440 If you know somebody right now, get a hold of them dial 988. 26 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:52,080 That's the magic number nowadays. 27 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,320 They don't have the long, you know, suicide crisis lines that you have to go through, 28 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:00,120 all kinds of links to get to the right people. 29 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,600 Just go to 988. 30 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:04,160 They'll help you out right away. 31 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:08,760 All across the country, counselors available to you 24 hours a day. 32 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:11,400 So I encourage you to look for that. 33 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:14,480 Before we get into the program, actually, I got to, you know, we got to pay the bills 34 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,080 around here, as they say. 35 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:21,640 So I need to thank our sponsors and, you know, over the last 20 years, we've had one sponsor 36 00:02:21,640 --> 00:02:24,080 that survived the entire 20 years. 37 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,360 And that is Legal Help for Veterans. 38 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,920 Legal Help for Veterans specializes in Veterans Disability Claims. 39 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:32,160 I encourage you to give Legal Help a call. 40 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:38,520 That's 800-6934-800, or you can go to their website. 41 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,720 That's LegalHelpForVeterns.com. 42 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:46,760 The National Veterans Business Development Council, better known as NVBDC, the nation's 43 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:51,120 leading third-party authority for certification of veteran-owned businesses. 44 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,160 For more information, you can go to their website. 45 00:02:53,160 --> 00:03:00,360 That's NVBDC.org, or give them a call at 888-237-8433. 46 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:04,640 If you're a veteran-owned business and you want to do business with the federal government 47 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:10,080 and many corporations, you need to be certified as a real, live veteran-owned business. 48 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,440 These are the folks who can help you get that certification. 49 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,160 The Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center here in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 50 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,080 For more information, you can go to va.gov. 51 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:27,880 We also want to thank our local Veterans Service organizations who helped us get out 52 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:32,360 of the air in the first place back in November of 2003. 53 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,920 That would be the Irwin Prescor and American Legion post-46. 54 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:41,360 And the Charles S. Kettles Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 310, both of Ann Arbor, 55 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:42,360 Michigan. 56 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,560 All right, so that gets the business part of the program out of the way. 57 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,120 I want to introduce my guest today. 58 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:53,440 I'm going to start off with the elderly gentleman, the Reverend Bob Bull. 59 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,400 Bob, as I mentioned, was a Vietnam Air Force veteran. 60 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,480 He is a peer support specialist. 61 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,560 He's a service officer for the same VVA 310. 62 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:06,400 He's part of BCAT 9, does everything I think you think of. 63 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,400 He's a veteran's friend in our local area. 64 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,080 So Bob, welcome to Veterans Radio. 65 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:11,080 Thank you, Dale. 66 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,240 I really appreciate your having me on. 67 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:14,240 Thank you. 68 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:15,240 Thank you. 69 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,440 So let me, let's real quickly get a little bit of your background. 70 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,400 What did you do in the Air Force? 71 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:22,240 I was an air cargo specialist. 72 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:23,240 Nothing special. 73 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:24,240 Just, you know. 74 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:25,240 It's just a specialist. 75 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:27,560 Just a specialist, yeah. 76 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:32,600 And then after I think three and a half years, I decided to go into security. 77 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:34,000 Just something different. 78 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:37,200 So I put in my five years, three months and four days and got out. 79 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:38,200 Who counted? 80 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:39,200 Back in 73. 81 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,200 Okay, good for that. 82 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,080 And from there, where'd you go? 83 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:44,080 You transitioned. 84 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:51,360 Oh, I went back to work at Detroit Diesel in Redford, Michigan, where I was a mechanic. 85 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:52,720 And that's what I did. 86 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:58,760 I got to work in the training center and so I learned how to be a teacher. 87 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:06,920 And when I retired from Detroit Diesel in 97, I went to work at Wayne County Community 88 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,760 College as a teacher there for five years. 89 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:11,800 Okay, all right. 90 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:16,400 The other gentleman that's joining us today is Nick McBrien and Nick was a U.S. Army medic 91 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,240 and we have an OIF. 92 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,480 Nick, welcome to Veterans Radio. 93 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,840 Can you tell us a little bit about your background? 94 00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:23,840 Yeah, thank you, Dale. 95 00:05:23,840 --> 00:05:24,840 So my name's Nick. 96 00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:27,840 I was in the Army from 2009 to 2014. 97 00:05:27,840 --> 00:05:33,280 I served with both Second Cav and 10th Mountainism Medic. 98 00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:39,440 Before ETSing, I was awarded an ARCOM and also the Combat Medic Bad, which I will have 99 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:41,320 you till this day. 100 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:43,640 I do take my service. 101 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,680 I'm 100% retired. 102 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,280 So it was a great life and I'm glad to be out after that. 103 00:05:50,280 --> 00:05:51,280 I transitioned. 104 00:05:51,280 --> 00:05:57,080 I'm helping out with Warrior and Caregiver United and the essential patriot here at Michigan. 105 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,160 And I'm on the board for both. 106 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:03,160 And I'm just happy to be able to give back and save one more. 107 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:08,520 That's the goal here, folks, is to save as many as we can. 108 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,840 We were talking before we went on the air and trying to get some numbers out there. 109 00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:19,080 You know, we're all familiar with the number 22 as being the number of veterans approximately 110 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:22,240 who commit suicide on a daily basis. 111 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,520 I thought I was reading something where that number had dropped a little bit, but it looks 112 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,360 like it's going back up again. 113 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:35,080 Dale, you have to watch out for the number because we've found out that certain organizations 114 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:45,120 have some weight in deciding as to how that number is actually decided, i.e., a certain 115 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,040 veteran that just recently died at the VA. 116 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:56,760 So we can't really believe, trust, or utilize that data simply because that's what they 117 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:57,920 feed us. 118 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:04,240 I know it sounds kind of disparaging, if you will. 119 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:09,960 But all I know is that we can't trust the data at all. 120 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:17,600 So we work on the premise that one is too many and it doesn't matter whether it's 22 121 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,840 or 25 or 28 or 30. 122 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:28,440 We know that we have a lot of work cut out and that's how we attack it. 123 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:32,760 Nick, you want to comment on that? 124 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,040 Yeah, I do agree with that. 125 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,800 The number is always something that's ultimately up to the big. 126 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:42,200 We know that based off our information that we received from the Veterans Affairs is that 127 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:47,020 we saw about 6,200 per year veteran suicides. 128 00:07:47,020 --> 00:07:48,320 We don't know how accurate that is. 129 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:49,320 We don't know the report. 130 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,680 That's just the information that we have. 131 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:58,680 So we do always revert back to just save one more, let's try and reduce to zero, let's 132 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:01,160 approach zero as quickly as possible. 133 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:07,360 Let's talk about the means and mechanics and also the prevention that we can help leverage 134 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:12,320 and improve the quality of life for our veterans and also longevity too. 135 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:18,280 Yeah, I mean that would be wonderful if we could do that. 136 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:24,520 One of my questions in kind of researching what was going on is we're trying to get people 137 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:32,640 to go to the VA, go to the VA, get your medical care and so forth. 138 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:37,760 The numbers are, which you guys just pointed out, Bob you just said what, 23% of Michigan 139 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,880 veterans utilize the VA? 140 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:44,520 The 23% are getting benefits or drawing benefits from the VA. 141 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,800 That's it in Michigan. 142 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,760 How many veterans do we have in Michigan? 143 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:57,040 Roughly about 570 plus thousand. 144 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:58,040 That's crazy. 145 00:08:58,040 --> 00:08:59,040 Yep. 146 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:00,040 Yes it is. 147 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:10,040 I mean I can't say it's crazy because I didn't utilize the VA health system until 2008. 148 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:14,120 Something along those lines. 149 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:15,920 Yeah, and my story was 2010. 150 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:17,480 It was the same thing. 151 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:23,120 It was a matter of having to then because I had no choice. 152 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,880 You had mentioned that as you were getting ready to retire that you suddenly lost your 153 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,400 medical benefits. 154 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:33,040 Nice job. 155 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:36,000 So I don't know. 156 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,520 Nick, do you use the VA for your health care? 157 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,000 Yeah, I actually got really lucky. 158 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:47,560 So when I got out of the Army, first thing I did was I went to a VFW. 159 00:09:47,560 --> 00:09:51,120 And it was kind of a weird culture shock, getting out of the Army, seeing a bunch of 160 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:56,960 veterans that have been out for as long as I've been alive and longer. 161 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,600 And there was one gentleman that was there and he just said, hey, you know what you're 162 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:02,280 doing tomorrow as you're hanging out with me. 163 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:07,800 And he got me in front of one of our county veteran service officers and enrolled in benefits. 164 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:12,640 It did take about three years before I started receiving the benefits. 165 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:17,120 However, I'm just glad that that whole process is done. 166 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:21,800 I got rated at 100% and he made sure that I got on the track well. 167 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:28,480 And that's been a great blessing for my family and I, knowing that a lot of my veterans that 168 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:34,680 have gotten out, a lot of the service members that I have, former platoon accompanying personnel, 169 00:10:34,680 --> 00:10:41,720 yeah, 23 is, that's a very liberal number. 170 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:45,600 I would expect with the Vietnam veterans that we're still expecting, we're still seeing 171 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:47,560 probably close to 16%. 172 00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:52,880 OIF, OEF is a little bit better with around one in three. 173 00:10:52,880 --> 00:11:00,400 Well, you know, the problem of course is that the VA health centers are, you know, spread 174 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:04,920 out all across the country and somewhere, you know, especially in the middle of the country, 175 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:09,200 you know, the Nebraska's and Kansas and all that stuff, where it's hundreds of miles 176 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:13,360 between VA centers and it's hard to get them to go to these things. 177 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:20,720 But, you know, and I'm trying to figure out how we can get them to these centers or at 178 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:22,520 least get them to seek help. 179 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,560 You know, I mean, we're going to be talking about it all day. 180 00:11:25,560 --> 00:11:27,800 You know, go see somebody, talk to them. 181 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:31,480 You know, you mentioned that you went into a, you know, a VFW hall. 182 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:35,640 Now, that's different from the Vietnam era veterans is we couldn't even go into the VFW 183 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:36,640 hall. 184 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:40,600 They didn't give it, they wouldn't talk to us. 185 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:48,520 And I think probably the transition getting out of the service, and this is where I'm 186 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:53,080 really happy to have Nick here to talk about it on this level, is that did they give you 187 00:11:53,080 --> 00:12:00,160 any sort of transitioning training or suggestions as you were on your way out the door? 188 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:04,480 You know, that's a very interesting question. 189 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:09,160 So I was exposed to an IED my way out. 190 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:13,320 So transition was through, you know, a massive head injury. 191 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:20,760 So, you know, so I mean, we, you know, we always joke is like, Oh, well, what information 192 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:21,760 did they give you? 193 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,680 I'm surprised they got my name right. 194 00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:31,960 So I mean, we, so we're seeing, we're seeing a change in culture. 195 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,960 However, you know, the majority of it is still retention. 196 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,960 Our ETS process is just scared the heck out of a veteran. 197 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,320 So this way they reenlist. 198 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,160 The Army is always hurting for numbers and always needs more. 199 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:49,520 Never, I've never heard the Army saying we need less. 200 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:53,960 So it's always just been the same process, don't leave, stay here, you won't make it. 201 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:55,320 Oh, okay. 202 00:12:55,320 --> 00:13:01,360 So they didn't give you any encouragement at all when you got out or no classes on what 203 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,000 to do once you got out the door. 204 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,760 Department of Labor did get involved. 205 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:11,440 However, just because somebody from the Department of Labor did get involved that four hour class, 206 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:15,880 what the shape of a resume is and what the shape of eight by 11 papers doesn't mean that 207 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:24,680 you're ready for the job market or transition or how to translate your MOS into civilian 208 00:13:24,680 --> 00:13:27,520 work. 209 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:35,160 I was reading somewhere where it takes about, it said about six years after you get out 210 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:41,000 of the service to kind of make that real final transition and get to work. 211 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,600 I mean, because many people get out of the service, maybe they hadn't been to college 212 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,480 before, so they got to go through college. 213 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:51,960 They got to make these decisions on, they got majors to make a decision on, am I going 214 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:53,520 to go for a grad degree? 215 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:54,520 What are my benefits? 216 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:55,520 How much can I get? 217 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:59,440 Do I have enough money to take care of this? 218 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,600 And so they figured that you're not really settled for six years. 219 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:06,720 I've been out for a lot longer than that. 220 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:09,120 I don't feel settled yet. 221 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:15,640 So I'm just thinking about how they came up with these numbers. 222 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:22,480 So let's see if we can talk a little bit about what we can do to help these veterans. 223 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:28,280 And Bob, I asked you on the program originally because I really wanted to promote the 988 224 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:29,280 number. 225 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,640 Why don't you go with that for a minute? 226 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,720 Well the 988 is becoming an initiative now. 227 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:44,080 Rather than just a number, we think it's a way, it's a pathway to getting veterans the 228 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:45,520 help that they need. 229 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:46,840 It's a simple number now. 230 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:48,280 It's only three digits. 231 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:50,720 It's not the 10 digits that it used to be. 232 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:52,600 It's easy to remember. 233 00:14:52,600 --> 00:15:01,360 But still we only have 23% of the people in this country, I'm sorry, 17% of the people 234 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:05,560 in this country that know what that number is. 235 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:12,440 I mean I was at a Yellow Ribbon event today over at one of the Armouries and even those 236 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:17,480 people that just come back from a deployment, many of them did not know what I was talking 237 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:20,640 about with that 988 initiative. 238 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:22,200 So we have a lot of work to do. 239 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:29,880 I know we're working with the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and with MISTA and with the 240 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:34,560 MDHSS, which is the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, to try and get 241 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:36,880 this information out there. 242 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:45,200 But it's amazing how this number has been around for almost two years, July of 22. 243 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:51,760 And yet so few people actually know what it is, how they can, I had one person say, 244 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:56,560 so how do I call them? 245 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:00,880 And I said well you just dialed 988, well punch 988 or push 988. 246 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:09,680 But it's scary that there's been so little that's available on this number and how important 247 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:15,240 it is to the lives of not only our veterans but also our children and our grandchildren 248 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:21,240 and great-grandchildren in my case, how important it is to them to know that there's somebody 249 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:26,000 out there that one, isn't going to know them, two, isn't going to tattle on them, and three, 250 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:31,360 he isn't going to write anything down on them so that they can be safe to talk to somebody, 251 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,000 anybody, anytime. 252 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:37,760 It's another nice thing, anytime, 24-7. 253 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:45,840 Well I know you've been working with trying to get public service vehicles to have those 254 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:50,240 numbers on the side of the thing because I got all the other numbers on there. 255 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,360 Why not put something that could actually help some people? 256 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:54,360 Yep. 257 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:55,960 How is that working? 258 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,400 Are you running into roadblocks with that? 259 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:05,600 Well so far the American Legion, the BFW, and the VBA, Vietnam veterans have all passed 260 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:12,360 the resolutions that we sent through and they're going to the state convention this summer 261 00:17:12,360 --> 00:17:18,640 and if passed by those three service organizations then the legislative bodies from those service 262 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:24,240 organizations will send that up to the state asking the state police to put it on all of 263 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:25,800 their patrol cars. 264 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:32,160 We're also working with several county sheriffs departments right now but if there's 83 counties, 265 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:36,080 84 counties in the state, we've got a lot of work ahead of us. 266 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:39,600 We're trying to get them to put it on their cars too. 267 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:47,760 Some departments don't feel that it warrants being on their cars right now. 268 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:49,400 One department I said, are you kidding me? 269 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:53,200 Do you mean you need more suicides before you put it on your car? 270 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:55,760 But when they've got what, three or four cars? 271 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,200 It's not much. 272 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,080 But that's the kind of pushback we're getting right now. 273 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:05,880 Well, and I'm wondering across the country, the 988 is a nationwide number. 274 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:06,880 Yes it is. 275 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:11,840 It's not just local for all those of you that are living, listening to us out in California 276 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:15,760 and Minnesota and even downtown Detroit. 277 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:17,920 This 988 number is really important. 278 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:18,920 Yes it is. 279 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:25,720 It's kind of the first step for many people and again, you guys can jump in here anytime 280 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:32,160 but I know that we have to figure out if somebody's contemplating suicide, depending 281 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:37,680 on who they are, I guess if they, some of them will do something right away. 282 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:40,800 And other ones will kind of think about it. 283 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:46,720 But if we can get them to punch that number in while they're thinking about it, maybe 284 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:51,000 somebody can convince them not to do it. 285 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,240 There's a lot of material out there Dale. 286 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:59,760 But basically what we try to do is we try to get the family members and the people that 287 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,680 are associated with them to be the eyes and ears. 288 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:07,360 They're the ones that notice when somebody changes, when there's a change in their demeanor, 289 00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:13,080 when there's a change in their, the way they do things today as opposed to yesterday. 290 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:17,600 If all of us, if they've been agitated for all this time and all of a sudden they're 291 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:22,360 calm that day, that usually means that they've made a decision, that they've got a plan going. 292 00:19:22,360 --> 00:19:30,220 These are the kinds of things that a family member or a close personal friend could notice 293 00:19:30,220 --> 00:19:32,800 and say, I need to get some help for this guy. 294 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:37,280 I need to get the help for help for this girl. 295 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:44,160 All of this leading to the fact that none of us is going to be able to catch all of it, 296 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,160 all of us can. 297 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:50,600 Yeah, I like that statement there. 298 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:57,000 Nick, I know that since you are the most recent head of the service and your numbers for your 299 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:02,440 generation are just outrageous. 300 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:07,800 I'm sure that you have had friends who have committed suicide. 301 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:11,200 Yeah, recently as well. 302 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:18,040 We're seeing it across the board in my age demographics in the OIF, OEF, and we are the 303 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:20,680 majority. 304 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,880 The majority of our increase is in our female population. 305 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:33,600 We have a 2.84% increase just based on VA numbers for 21 female suicides by firearms, 306 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:38,840 which is atypical of women. 307 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:42,360 We're seeing people take more serious matters. 308 00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:49,520 We know that most like one in three suicides are two weeks after a financial emergency 309 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:53,520 that we can mitigate a lot of the financial emergencies. 310 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:57,120 Every state has trust funds for veterans. 311 00:20:57,120 --> 00:21:02,840 Everyone is entitled to a VA compensation hearing claim and making sure that they get connected 312 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:07,160 with the county VSOs, the veterans service officers to make sure they get that process 313 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:08,160 started. 314 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,480 It doesn't take three years like you used to. 315 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:13,720 It's months, three, four months. 316 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,040 We can find temporary housing for people. 317 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:22,840 We are getting a lot better at this and we're seeing a lot more small initiatives get involved. 318 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:28,360 For example, we're in the process of standing a small 501c3 up here in Ottawa County. 319 00:21:28,360 --> 00:21:31,240 Brad Dorland is really taking the front on that. 320 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,640 Make sure if you can get involved. 321 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:37,640 But he's looking for transitional housing for those emergencies where the veteran makes 322 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:44,480 too much money but is in an awkward stance where he can't return home and needs housing. 323 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:46,800 Where the bureaucracies are falling short and that's fine. 324 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,240 The bureaucracies have their importance. 325 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:53,400 We're just filling in the gaps as we go to plug as many as we can. 326 00:21:53,400 --> 00:22:01,400 So if we can limit that $1,000 emergency, that two-week period where after that disruptive 327 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:07,160 event that we can prevent one-third of suicide, that's approximately 2,000 veterans saved 328 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:08,520 a year. 329 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:12,480 So just making sure just getting them into the VA for those claims through the Veterans 330 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:16,760 County Office, we could save a lot of lives there. 331 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:22,880 I know that the local county service officer here in Washtenaw County in Michigan has an 332 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,680 emergency funds that they can help with. 333 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:32,760 And I know that the Michigan trust has, you know, you have to qualify for it, but, you 334 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:34,520 know, has funding that they can do. 335 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:40,520 And Bob, you were involved in trying to get transitional housing built in a local community 336 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,960 and ran into a few roadblocks with that. 337 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:44,960 Didn't you? 338 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:50,920 Well, one of the problems is, of course, you know, it doesn't fit. 339 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:52,800 Whatever we're trying to put together doesn't fit. 340 00:22:52,800 --> 00:23:02,040 I just found out today that one of the organization's fallen and wounded soldiers fund that they 341 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:08,280 were told that they had to move because the community didn't want them there anymore. 342 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:14,940 And they were in, I think, Canton or in, I can't remember exactly where they were. 343 00:23:14,940 --> 00:23:20,800 But they're moving to Ann Arbor because they, the community, they didn't want them there. 344 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:29,240 I guess there was an incident in one of the homes and so they had to move. 345 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:38,720 But regardless of that, the transitional housing is an important part, especially the 60 and 346 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:39,720 90 days. 347 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:45,440 If we can get a veteran into something short-term, then chances are we can get them into a HUD 348 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:52,240 VASH or we can get them into one of the other VA programs that will help them. 349 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:58,400 The thing is that some of those programs take, I think, it was, well, I can't remember exactly 350 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:04,520 who said it, but up to 30 to 90 days is usually what it takes, depending on the program, to 351 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:05,760 get them in the system. 352 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:07,960 So if we can find some place for them. 353 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:14,000 They're actively looking, the VA, I just talked to a lady over at the VA and they're working 354 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:15,640 on things like that. 355 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:20,240 I told them if I could get an extra five to six million dollars, I could probably buy 356 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:21,240 a motel. 357 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:22,240 No, serious. 358 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:27,520 There's a motel that's available, I think, for five and a half million dollars that we 359 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:31,040 could house 30 or 40 veterans. 360 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,440 And it could, it's something like that. 361 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:35,200 I know that's a lot of money. 362 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:40,680 But when you think that the building is already there, the apartments are already there, everything's 363 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:45,280 there, if we'd looked at something like that, we could definitely take a dent out of that 364 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:46,280 kind of problem. 365 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:50,040 Plus, they're in a good transportable area. 366 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:52,600 They're usually on a highway or a main thoroughfare. 367 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:57,120 So transportation, which has always been an issue for veterans, could be lessened. 368 00:24:57,120 --> 00:25:01,360 And usually they're within a municipality area where they can get to groceries and they 369 00:25:01,360 --> 00:25:05,640 can get to banking and all those other things that makes their lives much easier. 370 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:11,040 Yeah, it's just, you just mentioned something and I was looking at it this morning. 371 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,040 It's called, where did it go? 372 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:18,920 The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grants. 373 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:25,640 And it's that Congress has authorized 174 million dollars to be, hold it, I got to move 374 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:29,720 my screen here just a second here. 375 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:35,080 Here they carry out the community-based grant program that provide resources to community 376 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:40,720 organizations serving certain veterans and their families across the country. 377 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:47,720 Organizations can apply for grants up to $750,000, not too shabby. 378 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:53,440 This was, this is on the VA website. 379 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:57,080 And I know we're getting kind of off track here. 380 00:25:57,080 --> 00:26:02,600 But the idea of, we're trying to figure out how we can get these men and women to reach 381 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:04,200 out for help. 382 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:06,080 And what can we do as civilians? 383 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:11,480 I was looking again on the VA website, they've got a thing called save training. 384 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:13,160 Have you heard of that? 385 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:14,960 I've been to that course. 386 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:15,960 Yeah. 387 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:16,960 Good. 388 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:17,960 You can fill it in. 389 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:22,200 I don't remember, I don't remember a lot about it. 390 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:27,640 I had to take it as a kind of a presumptive for my job. 391 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:32,600 Ideally, and I can't even remember the acronym for it anymore. 392 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:34,280 I got it right here for you. 393 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:35,280 Okay. 394 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:36,280 Okay. 395 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:41,000 So save is know the signs that the indicated veteran might be thinking about suicide. 396 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:42,000 And both of you mentioned this. 397 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:45,880 That was a sense of hopelessness, feeling that there's no way out. 398 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:46,880 Yeah. 399 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:50,920 Anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, mood swings, feeling like there's no reason to live, rage 400 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:56,360 or anger, engaging in risky activities without thinking. 401 00:26:56,360 --> 00:27:00,240 Sounds like a lot of people I knew 50 years ago. 402 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:04,920 Increased alcohol or drug use and withdrawing from friends and family. 403 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:10,840 The second that the A in the save was how do we ask that most important question? 404 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:12,760 Are you thinking of killing yourself? 405 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:13,760 Yep. 406 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:14,760 Yep. 407 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:15,760 Or doing harm. 408 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:21,880 Do ask the question if you've identified any of those warning signs. 409 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:27,320 It says, do ask the question in such a way that's natural and flows into the conversation. 410 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:31,000 Don't ask the question as though you're looking for a no. 411 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:34,240 You're thinking of killing yourself, are you? 412 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:38,320 Don't wait for the to ask the question until they're halfway out the door. 413 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:39,320 Yeah. 414 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:43,200 The V is to validate the veteran's experience. 415 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,320 Look openly about this suicide potential. 416 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:47,320 Be willing to listen. 417 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:52,920 Allow the veteran to express their feelings and make supportive, encouraging comments. 418 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:56,920 Recognize the situation is serious and don't pass judgment. 419 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:57,920 Right. 420 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:00,000 These are hard for some of us to do. 421 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:01,000 I know that. 422 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:02,000 Yes, sir. 423 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:03,000 Yes, sir. 424 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:06,360 The other thing is for encouraged treatment and expedite getting help. 425 00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:07,360 Don't keep this. 426 00:28:07,360 --> 00:28:08,360 Don't yet. 427 00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:13,120 So if you have a friend that says, don't keep the veteran suicidal behavior a secret. 428 00:28:13,120 --> 00:28:15,640 Don't leave them alone. 429 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:21,000 Try to get him to call 988-911, whatever it takes. 430 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:27,040 That's the message that we're trying to convey to our listeners today here on Veterans Radio. 431 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:33,120 We are talking with Bob Bull and Nick McRion. 432 00:28:33,120 --> 00:28:37,040 Just to try and let the, you know, I mean, whoever's out there listening today, wherever 433 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,280 you are. 434 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:44,240 If you know somebody that you think is in a crisis mode, see if you can get them to get 435 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:46,480 some help. 436 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:47,760 Ask them some questions. 437 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:55,160 See, you know, if you can see the change in behavior, don't be afraid to, don't be afraid. 438 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:58,840 I think that's the term I'm trying to use because, you know, don't be afraid. 439 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:00,400 Oh, I might upset him. 440 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:04,800 Well, obviously he or she is already upset about something. 441 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:10,880 And if you see these signs going there, you need to take action. 442 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:16,520 We have constantly talked about, you know, when we were on active duty that we had each 443 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:18,080 other's backs. 444 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:23,960 And I think it's, you know, we have to take the lead in this battle that we're in again 445 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:30,080 to have the backs of all of our fellow veterans that are out there suffering from whatever 446 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:31,080 it might be. 447 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:36,400 You know, sometimes, you know, we don't take them seriously enough. 448 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:38,680 Do most important things, Dale, okay? 449 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:43,000 One that we're willing to listen and one that we show that we care. 450 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,920 If we can do those two things, then we create an avenue. 451 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:47,640 We create a guidepost. 452 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:55,840 We create a place where somebody can come to us and talk to us, can come to you and 453 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:59,600 talk to you or to Nick or anybody like that. 454 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:04,640 That they just show that they're willing to talk and that they care. 455 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:07,320 You know, they're willing to listen and care. 456 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:10,040 That starts the conversation. 457 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:13,680 Nick, how do you feel? 458 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:14,680 What can we do? 459 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:20,800 What we can do is start getting involved again, especially this COVID lifestyle. 460 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:27,800 I know a lot of us have reduced our, you know, our in-person interactions. 461 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,120 We need to start getting back out there and seeing each other face to face. 462 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:37,640 A phone call doesn't suffice for recognizing when people are going through a hard time. 463 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,800 Body language is most of our communication. 464 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:44,200 And we need to be able to see how they're behaving, how people are behaving. 465 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:47,440 These are your friends and family, your brother and sisters in arms. 466 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:49,760 You need to be in person with them. 467 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:50,760 You can't sit back. 468 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:54,040 You can't take a back seat to your relationships. 469 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:57,760 Not only are they, not only are you their safety net, they're your safety net. 470 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:02,840 You're more like, statistically speaking, as a veteran, you're more likely to die from 471 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:05,000 suicide than to a stroke. 472 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:09,240 And if you take your health seriously and you're exercising every day, then you need 473 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:11,200 to have a good safety net too. 474 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:15,800 So I mean, if you're taking stroke medications, then you need to be in person with people 475 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:19,400 too because just like with a stroke, you don't see your face slouch. 476 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,680 You don't see the changes in your behavior. 477 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:27,600 You just end up having a suicidal ideation or a stroke and they're about equal for our 478 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:28,600 demographic. 479 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:36,040 And we need to take this as seriously as we take medications for stroke and heart disease. 480 00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:41,520 One of the things that I started, and Dale's very familiar with it, is a mobile unit. 481 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:44,320 It's been on the road almost two years now. 482 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:46,840 And we get to go out to different places. 483 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:54,880 We get to go to them, to gun shows and car shows and the U of M home games and any place 484 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:58,160 where we can go where we can set up and we can talk. 485 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:05,880 And in that way, they control the beginning of the conversation because they come to us 486 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:13,720 at these events and they start the conversation or at least they get some point where they 487 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:15,960 ask for help and we can direct them. 488 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:21,120 I find myself more as a switchboard operator than anything else in that I can direct them 489 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:26,600 to some place that's safe, somebody that's going to listen, someone who cares, somebody 490 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:32,200 has the resources, maybe it's somebody who has the time. 491 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:33,200 So. 492 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:34,400 Well, I agree. 493 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:40,840 And I know Bob that you're doing a great job at seeing that van all over the place, which 494 00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:48,680 is I'm trying to think of, you know, because I see these veterans on a corner somewhere 495 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:54,160 with a sign saying, you know, disabled veteran, you know, which of course, and I don't like 496 00:32:54,160 --> 00:33:00,440 to be skeptical, but you know, what are you doing on the corner kind of thing? 497 00:33:00,440 --> 00:33:05,320 If you're disabled and you're, you know, one guy's had 100% disabled, I'm going, what, 498 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:09,440 you know, you've got a little bit of money coming in every month. 499 00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:11,200 What are you doing out here? 500 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:15,800 But you know, maybe we need, you know, to address those people. 501 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:20,760 And I think the idea of Bob of what you're saying is to just be there at events that, 502 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:26,360 you know, maybe veterans will be, that doesn't necessarily have to be a, you know, a veteran 503 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:32,320 planned event, but like a, like a car show, or, you know, and I know you go around and 504 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,920 do all kinds of things like that where there's maybe there's just some veterans say, Hey, 505 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:37,960 you need to talk. 506 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:38,960 Here's a car here. 507 00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:44,640 Call this, call this person or, or the, or these are this group and see what you do. 508 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:49,360 And I wanted to get back to Nick real quickly because I wanted to let him do a little promotion 509 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:52,920 here for, for Waco, for, uh, Warriors and caregivers. 510 00:33:52,920 --> 00:34:00,560 I mean, it just because it's not just a veteran that's going through some of these, you know, 511 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:04,120 issues, you know, the whole family is affected by these things. 512 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:05,120 Right. 513 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:06,120 Yeah. 514 00:34:06,120 --> 00:34:10,360 I mean, um, you know, we, our slogan is save one more. 515 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:15,560 You know, we talk about, you know, suicide doesn't actually impact the person that committed 516 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:16,560 suicide. 517 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:19,280 It commits, it impacts the people that survive more. 518 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:22,160 Um, that's the reality of it. 519 00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:23,600 We don't want you going. 520 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:24,680 We need you on our team. 521 00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:25,840 We need you here. 522 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:28,880 So whoever needs to hear that, I'm glad you got to hear it. 523 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:34,960 But as we're in caregiver United, um, we're incredibly blessed to have John Kingsinger 524 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:39,400 and Stephanie Hall as great leaders and we're looking to, we're in the process of expanding 525 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:41,040 statewide. 526 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:47,160 Just like in our name, um, the name of the game is caregiver and veteran warriors united. 527 00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:50,000 And it's not just the VA certified caregivers. 528 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:55,040 It's everyone, everyone that fills that need and that gap of that safety net. 529 00:34:55,040 --> 00:35:00,800 So it could be a brother, a sister, a good neighbor, a guy down the street, you know, 530 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:01,800 whomever it is. 531 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:06,600 And, you know, traditionally the American Legion, the VFW, they are a great fit for 532 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:09,240 us veterans, veterans and veterans alone. 533 00:35:09,240 --> 00:35:10,240 Right. 534 00:35:10,240 --> 00:35:14,440 Um, we're trying to plug that gap and I love both of those organizations. 535 00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:16,000 They've done so much for me. 536 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:20,800 This just allows us to create that circle and get it a lot tighter and bring them into the 537 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:22,880 auxiliaries as well. 538 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:27,840 So we're in the process of making sure that we can connect the family and the community 539 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:29,560 back to the veteran. 540 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:34,160 Retransitioning back into service from service back into civilian life. 541 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:35,640 I, it's hard. 542 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:40,040 You know, everyone's always trying to do the empathy portion of like, what would it be like 543 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:41,040 to go to war? 544 00:35:41,040 --> 00:35:42,360 And I try to explain it to them. 545 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:46,160 Like, I couldn't imagine the stress of going to college right out of, right out of high 546 00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:47,160 school. 547 00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:51,080 I needed to go to war force first before I could reacclimate myself to an educational 548 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:55,360 system and that always gets a good, good position from them. 549 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:59,720 You know, I couldn't imagine have the stress of just going rate to college. 550 00:35:59,720 --> 00:36:08,840 Good thinking, not quite the same, but pretty close as far as anxiety is concerned. 551 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:09,840 Yeah. 552 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:13,480 And you know, it's just, it's just a different way of looking at it. 553 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:16,280 And we're as care, we're in caregiver united. 554 00:36:16,280 --> 00:36:20,080 We're looking to just fully encompass everyone, pull them in together and make sure that we 555 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:23,360 get the change to save one more. 556 00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:27,080 You know, Dale, I know that this is, this is veteran radio, but I also want to touch 557 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:30,800 base on the other demographic that's so, so important to us. 558 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:31,800 Okay. 559 00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:33,480 And that's our children. 560 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:39,480 We see a suicide rate and I, we don't know all the numbers yet, but we know that, that 561 00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:43,520 there are children as young as six years old that are taking their own lives. 562 00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:46,680 And a lot of it we believe has to do with social media. 563 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:50,240 And we're hoping that we can do something with that. 564 00:36:50,240 --> 00:36:54,560 Samson, some other organizations have ideas and programs. 565 00:36:54,560 --> 00:37:00,440 And we're going to be working with a few organizations to try to put together some, some public service 566 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:05,760 announcements that can be run on social media over and over and over again, where most of 567 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:08,040 the young people are. 568 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:14,400 And so again, going to them with whatever we can do to tell them about the 988, to tell 569 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:20,320 them about where they can get help at the VA, to tell them about where they can go to locally, 570 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:24,400 to, to get some help right now. 571 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:26,400 They don't have to wait. 572 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,240 So those, these are some of the other things. 573 00:37:28,240 --> 00:37:35,400 But yeah, I, I understand wholeheartedly the, the suicide, I lost a granddaughter to suicide. 574 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:37,600 So I understand that very well. 575 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:42,400 And so we, we have to be cognizant of our families too. 576 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:47,800 I think, you know, we've touched upon a lot of, a lot of issues today. 577 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:51,240 And then I know we haven't solved all the problems at all. 578 00:37:51,240 --> 00:37:57,760 I just, we just want to remind our audiences to, you know, to keep an eye out on your friends, 579 00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:01,320 your family, if you, if you know, if you're a veteran, your fellow veterans, as Nick pointed 580 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:05,200 out, you know, we got to get out there and talk to them again in person, you know, one 581 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:11,520 on one, it doesn't, you know, making phone calls saying, you know, hi, how are you? 582 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:13,880 Isn't necessarily going to work. 583 00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:19,280 And I would encourage you to go to the VA website and look up suicide prevention. 584 00:38:19,280 --> 00:38:21,400 You can do, anybody out there can do this. 585 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:25,160 You don't have to be a veteran to go to the, to va.gov. 586 00:38:25,160 --> 00:38:29,520 And they have a little questionnaire, you know, a little microscope type the thing up 587 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:34,360 at the top and you just type in suicide prevention and all this information that I've talked about 588 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:38,520 and that we've talked about today is available to you and what the signs are that you could 589 00:38:38,520 --> 00:38:43,760 use, what you can, you know, what you want to look out for in your veteran or in your 590 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:44,760 friends. 591 00:38:44,760 --> 00:38:48,800 If you see these things, how to act, and that's that 988 number again. 592 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:56,480 If you see something, do something, don't, you know, don't let them, you know, poo poo 593 00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:58,480 it away and say, well, no, it's nothing. 594 00:38:58,480 --> 00:38:59,480 No, I'm fine. 595 00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:00,480 It's serious. 596 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:03,960 You know, I mean, while they're, you know, abusing their body with, you know, you know, 597 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:10,720 alcohol or drugs or, or hermits, you know, they live in the basement all day. 598 00:39:10,720 --> 00:39:13,600 You know, we've got to figure out how to help these men and women. 599 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:18,600 So I would encourage you that that is was one of the websites that I found that was really 600 00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:21,160 actually had some really great information in there. 601 00:39:21,160 --> 00:39:26,960 It also defines some of the issues that some of these men and women are dealing with. 602 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:32,880 Is it possible that you could put my email on your website? 603 00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:33,880 Sure. 604 00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:34,880 Okay. 605 00:39:34,880 --> 00:39:39,840 If, if anybody who's listening would go to the website for veteran radio and if they 606 00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:45,640 want a 988, if they want a copy of the 988 shield, a digital copy, if they send me an 607 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:49,520 email, I will send them the digital and they can put it in their car. 608 00:39:49,520 --> 00:39:52,520 They can take it to the doctors and dentist's office. 609 00:39:52,520 --> 00:39:53,800 They can get it into the schools. 610 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:58,600 They can take it to their church, whatever the more visibility, the better because we've 611 00:39:58,600 --> 00:40:01,960 had a better chance of reaching people if we can do that. 612 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:04,640 And I will be more than happy to send that digital to anybody. 613 00:40:04,640 --> 00:40:06,880 Can you give your email right now? 614 00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:07,880 Because I can do that. 615 00:40:07,880 --> 00:40:09,360 Listen, I can do that. 616 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:10,360 All right. 617 00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:16,360 So it's the arc that is T-H-E-A-R-K dot Ypsilanti. 618 00:40:16,360 --> 00:40:23,360 For those of you that can't spell Ypsilanti, it's Y-P-S-I-L-A-N-T-I at gmail.com. 619 00:40:23,360 --> 00:40:25,360 All right. 620 00:40:25,360 --> 00:40:31,000 We will add that to our, we will add that to our website later this evening. 621 00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:33,760 So it's on there and I encourage people to do that. 622 00:40:33,760 --> 00:40:41,480 So we've got to have a link to the Warriors and Caregivers united on our website. 623 00:40:41,480 --> 00:40:44,800 So there's all kinds of things that we're trying to do to help and we encourage all 624 00:40:44,800 --> 00:40:47,480 of you out there to do the best that you can. 625 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:50,320 I unfortunately have another segment I need to go through. 626 00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:55,080 So I want to, I want to thank Bob and Nick for being on the program. 627 00:40:55,080 --> 00:41:00,800 And I think something we need to talk about more, obviously. 628 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:04,920 So thanks guys for being on the program today and we'll be in touch quickly. 629 00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:05,920 Thank you, Dale. 630 00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:06,920 Thank you very much. 631 00:41:06,920 --> 00:41:07,920 Thank you. 632 00:41:07,920 --> 00:41:08,920 Have a great one. 633 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:09,920 God bless you all. 634 00:41:09,920 --> 00:41:10,920 God bless you all. 635 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:11,920 Thank you. 636 00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:12,920 All right. 637 00:41:12,920 --> 00:41:13,920 We're going to take a real quick break here for our Medal of Honor segment. 638 00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:22,200 When we come back, we're going to be going into our NBBDC veteran of the veteran business 639 00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:23,200 of the month. 640 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:24,880 So you're listening to Veterans Radio. 641 00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:27,280 We'll be back after the interview. 642 00:41:27,280 --> 00:41:32,960 The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in combat given a member of the Armed 643 00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:34,760 Forces of the United States. 644 00:41:34,760 --> 00:41:39,640 There have been over 3,400 recipients of the nation's highest award. 645 00:41:39,640 --> 00:41:41,240 This is one of them. 646 00:41:41,240 --> 00:41:46,320 PFC Raymond Clausson, a helicopter mechanic, volunteered to participate in a rescue mission. 647 00:41:46,320 --> 00:41:48,920 Details after this. 648 00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:52,800 If you have a VA claim denied by the Board of Veterans Appeals, contact legal help for 649 00:41:52,800 --> 00:41:57,000 veterans at 1-800-693-4800. 650 00:41:57,000 --> 00:42:01,040 There are experts in handling cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. 651 00:42:01,040 --> 00:42:05,120 Their number again, 1-800-693-4800. 652 00:42:05,120 --> 00:42:08,840 The Marine platoon had been trapped in a minefield outside of Dunn-Airing. 653 00:42:08,840 --> 00:42:11,000 One Marine was already dead and 11 wounded. 654 00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:16,000 It was Clausson's helicopter that had inserted the Marines and the crew felt responsible 655 00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:17,240 for getting them out. 656 00:42:17,240 --> 00:42:21,400 He leaned out the side door to determine where mines had already exploded to help the chopper's 657 00:42:21,400 --> 00:42:22,400 land. 658 00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:25,040 Then he jumped out and moved toward one of the wounded. 659 00:42:25,040 --> 00:42:29,400 His enemy fired bracket at him, he picked up the man, carried him to the helicopter, 660 00:42:29,400 --> 00:42:32,240 and returned for a second Marine. 661 00:42:32,240 --> 00:42:36,640 Clausson made six trips into the minefield, saving 18 Marines. 662 00:42:36,640 --> 00:42:40,520 Only when he was sure that all were safely aboard did he signal the pilot to lift off 663 00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:42,560 and leave the combat zone. 664 00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:47,800 President Nixon presented him the Medal of Honor on June 15, 1971, shaking his hand and 665 00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:50,960 saying, well done, Marine. 666 00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:55,280 The Medal of Honor series is a production of Veterans Radio. 667 00:42:55,280 --> 00:42:57,560 Military veterans touch everyone's life. 668 00:42:57,560 --> 00:43:02,520 I'm guessing right now you're thinking of a veteran, a close friend, relative? 669 00:43:02,520 --> 00:43:03,840 Maybe it's you. 670 00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:09,160 Even the toughest among us sometimes need help, but don't know where to turn for support. 671 00:43:09,160 --> 00:43:12,200 You don't need special training to help a veteran in your life. 672 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:15,440 If you know a veteran in crisis, don't wait, reach out. 673 00:43:15,440 --> 00:43:19,600 Call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, then press 1. 674 00:43:19,600 --> 00:43:24,600 A message from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 675 00:43:24,600 --> 00:43:25,600 Welcome. 676 00:43:25,600 --> 00:43:44,840 I am Jim Fossone, and this is a Veterans Radio spotlight on the National Veteran Business 677 00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:50,120 Development Council, best known as NVBDC.org. 678 00:43:50,120 --> 00:43:55,840 Veterans Radio America, a nonprofit, has a partnership with NVBDC, which is the nation's 679 00:43:55,840 --> 00:44:01,280 leading third party authority for certification of veteran-owned businesses of all size. 680 00:44:01,280 --> 00:44:06,720 It is also a 501C3 nonprofit established in 2013. 681 00:44:06,720 --> 00:44:12,080 It addresses the growing need to identify and certify both service disabled and veteran-owned 682 00:44:12,080 --> 00:44:17,600 businesses for the commercial or corporate marketplace and for the government. 683 00:44:17,600 --> 00:44:22,640 It administers a rigorous certification process designed to withstand the scrutiny of corporate 684 00:44:22,640 --> 00:44:26,760 entities seeking to utilize veteran-owned businesses. 685 00:44:26,760 --> 00:44:31,160 We want to welcome one of those businesses here to Veterans Radio. 686 00:44:31,160 --> 00:44:36,520 So we're speaking with Julie Dwyer, who is the president of Express Yourself Promotional 687 00:44:36,520 --> 00:44:42,120 Products down in beautiful North Carolina, and a Navy veteran. 688 00:44:42,120 --> 00:44:43,680 Julie, welcome to Veterans Radio. 689 00:44:43,680 --> 00:44:44,680 Thank you, Jim. 690 00:44:44,680 --> 00:44:45,680 Good to be here. 691 00:44:45,680 --> 00:44:49,040 Well, you spent 20 years in the Navy. 692 00:44:49,040 --> 00:44:53,640 How did a nice girl like you get talked into a naval career? 693 00:44:53,640 --> 00:44:57,440 Well, 21 plus years. 694 00:44:57,440 --> 00:45:03,320 I served in the Navy for 21 plus years and just had the time of my life. 695 00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:09,200 I went from Detroit, Michigan into the Navy after high school. 696 00:45:09,200 --> 00:45:13,440 And talk to us a little bit about some of the assignments that you had over that long 697 00:45:13,440 --> 00:45:14,440 career. 698 00:45:14,440 --> 00:45:22,760 Well, first I retired as a sea and chief aviation warfare, surface warfare, Mjolnan. 699 00:45:22,760 --> 00:45:27,760 Mike, here's the sea duty out of the 21. 700 00:45:27,760 --> 00:45:34,240 I was on five ships, three of the aircraft carriers. 701 00:45:34,240 --> 00:45:36,840 I traveled around the entire world. 702 00:45:36,840 --> 00:45:45,000 I was part of the repair team for the attack on the USS Stark back in 1987. 703 00:45:45,000 --> 00:45:47,800 So that was pretty significant. 704 00:45:47,800 --> 00:45:52,640 Was one of the first women to go on into a combat zone within the Navy to repair that 705 00:45:52,640 --> 00:45:54,800 ship. 706 00:45:54,800 --> 00:46:04,800 I served primarily on the West Coast and primarily on shore duty with flagstaffs. 707 00:46:04,800 --> 00:46:09,760 And then when I was on shipboard within the captain's office. 708 00:46:09,760 --> 00:46:19,120 So I got to know pretty much majority of the crew and be able to help them out in the services 709 00:46:19,120 --> 00:46:22,160 that we did provide from the admin department. 710 00:46:22,160 --> 00:46:27,840 Well, you lived the slogan, join the Navy, see the world. 711 00:46:27,840 --> 00:46:32,240 You got a chance to do that over such a long career. 712 00:46:32,240 --> 00:46:39,520 You got out, though, and interestingly, settled in North Carolina and started a business career. 713 00:46:39,520 --> 00:46:47,920 I should mention along the way, after getting out of the Metro Detroit area, you picked 714 00:46:47,920 --> 00:46:53,000 up your associates of arts degree from the University of Alaska in Anchorage and your 715 00:46:53,000 --> 00:46:58,240 bachelor's of arts degree from the National University in San Diego, California. 716 00:46:58,240 --> 00:47:04,000 But why a business career after you got out of the Navy? 717 00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:10,400 Well, I really, I had no intention of really retiring when I did. 718 00:47:10,400 --> 00:47:15,360 I had to come home to take care of my mother who became paralyzed from a back surgery. 719 00:47:15,360 --> 00:47:22,640 So I was on my way to Brussels and then so I had to make the difficult decision to retire 720 00:47:22,640 --> 00:47:25,080 instead. 721 00:47:25,080 --> 00:47:31,440 As far as my business, there at 1998 before I left the service, I was stationed in San 722 00:47:31,440 --> 00:47:36,120 Diego, went to an entrepreneur expo in Del Mar. 723 00:47:36,120 --> 00:47:41,200 And there they were showcasing numerous businesses that you could have. 724 00:47:41,200 --> 00:47:44,560 And one of them was the promotional products business. 725 00:47:44,560 --> 00:47:47,480 And so I came, I was pretty interested in that. 726 00:47:47,480 --> 00:47:51,160 I bought into it while I was still in the Navy. 727 00:47:51,160 --> 00:47:56,680 And as a matter of fact, my first customers were on the aircraft carrier Nimitz. 728 00:47:56,680 --> 00:48:04,520 I would sell the squadrons, their t-shirts, wall caps, pins, challenge coins, you know, 729 00:48:04,520 --> 00:48:07,680 all their re-enlistment memorabilia. 730 00:48:07,680 --> 00:48:11,600 So that was pretty fun. 731 00:48:11,600 --> 00:48:15,240 I was a nervous wreck doing it because, you know, of course, you know, trying to run the 732 00:48:15,240 --> 00:48:22,400 ship the opposite same time, you know, working on providing promotional products from abroad. 733 00:48:22,400 --> 00:48:25,080 But that's where I got my feet wet in this business. 734 00:48:25,080 --> 00:48:28,000 And that's, there's an important lesson right there, right? 735 00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:29,600 Start small, see if you like it. 736 00:48:29,600 --> 00:48:35,040 Hey, if it works, maybe it'll grow and you know what, maybe it'll hang around for a while. 737 00:48:35,040 --> 00:48:39,240 And this is hung around for another 22 years or plus. 738 00:48:39,240 --> 00:48:42,720 So it really, it really did grow into something. 739 00:48:42,720 --> 00:48:48,080 But tell us why along the way you decided, hey, you know, I think it makes sense for 740 00:48:48,080 --> 00:48:53,800 me to become a certified veteran owned business and why you turned to NVBDC. 741 00:48:53,800 --> 00:49:00,440 Well, you know, as you know, probably as a veteran that while you're in uniform, your 742 00:49:00,440 --> 00:49:06,600 uniform reflects on your, your trust level, you know, your capabilities, what sets you 743 00:49:06,600 --> 00:49:12,360 apart from, you know, the other people in the military, because you wear your ribbons 744 00:49:12,360 --> 00:49:17,000 and everything else and people kind of get a, get a window into your, you know, who you, 745 00:49:17,000 --> 00:49:22,440 who you are, you know, integrity wise and such. 746 00:49:22,440 --> 00:49:29,440 So when I retired from the Navy, I just assumed everybody, they knew I was a veteran. 747 00:49:29,440 --> 00:49:38,040 They'd provide me contract opportunities as a veteran and I'm knowing how important the 748 00:49:38,040 --> 00:49:42,640 actual certification process was. 749 00:49:42,640 --> 00:49:45,600 The assumption kind of hurt me for a while for a few years. 750 00:49:45,600 --> 00:49:53,280 And then I met up with a woman named Annette who pretty much I shadowed her and she pretty 751 00:49:53,280 --> 00:50:03,560 much showed me the importance of certifications and the NVBDC certification was, has been 752 00:50:03,560 --> 00:50:08,760 extremely important and valuable to us ever since we did receive it. 753 00:50:08,760 --> 00:50:14,800 We picked up quite a few corporate clients and, but the thing is the certification doesn't 754 00:50:14,800 --> 00:50:15,800 stand on its own. 755 00:50:15,800 --> 00:50:20,040 You obviously have to be who you say you are. 756 00:50:20,040 --> 00:50:24,360 We definitely be able to deliver and deliver right the first time every time like we did 757 00:50:24,360 --> 00:50:25,800 back in the military. 758 00:50:25,800 --> 00:50:31,640 So a lot of those skill sets transferred over and that's it only made sense to really pursue 759 00:50:31,640 --> 00:50:35,280 this certification with the NVBDC. 760 00:50:35,280 --> 00:50:42,440 And they try to go out of their way, I think, to help companies big and small, get corporate 761 00:50:42,440 --> 00:50:45,880 opportunities, get networking opportunities. 762 00:50:45,880 --> 00:50:50,480 Did you consider yourself a big company or a little company? 763 00:50:50,480 --> 00:50:54,760 I'm a small business that has been very successful. 764 00:50:54,760 --> 00:51:00,200 At one time someone in morning just say, you know, if you, if this really takes off and 765 00:51:00,200 --> 00:51:05,440 you're, you know, because through the procurement events, the meet and greets and, you know, 766 00:51:05,440 --> 00:51:10,440 just getting yourself in front of these, these corporate buyers and these government buyers, 767 00:51:10,440 --> 00:51:15,000 there's going to be a time where it's going to be like you're drinking from a fire hose. 768 00:51:15,000 --> 00:51:17,200 And that's really, that's really happening. 769 00:51:17,200 --> 00:51:20,200 It happened quite rapidly. 770 00:51:20,200 --> 00:51:29,520 And so I was just, I just can't help but be very grateful for the skill set that I acquired 771 00:51:29,520 --> 00:51:33,720 while in the military that I transferred over into my small business. 772 00:51:33,720 --> 00:51:34,720 Yeah. 773 00:51:34,720 --> 00:51:39,680 I think we all learn how to drink out of a fire hose in the military. 774 00:51:39,680 --> 00:51:40,680 Yes. 775 00:51:40,680 --> 00:51:41,680 Yes. 776 00:51:41,680 --> 00:51:48,120 I wouldn't, it's just, it just, it comes fast, you know, and it is, it's so very important 777 00:51:48,120 --> 00:51:54,160 to get these certifications, whatever, whatever category that you could qualify for. 778 00:51:54,160 --> 00:52:02,520 But the veteran on the SDVOSP certification, like I said, has been paramount to quite a 779 00:52:02,520 --> 00:52:05,600 few corporate accounts that we have. 780 00:52:05,600 --> 00:52:12,440 So, are very, very excited about working with the veteran on business. 781 00:52:12,440 --> 00:52:19,800 That was Jim Fausone talking with our veteran businesswoman of the month for MBVDC. 782 00:52:19,800 --> 00:52:22,160 You can see how this all works. 783 00:52:22,160 --> 00:52:26,200 It's a great opportunity for you if you are a veteran to contact MBVDC. 784 00:52:26,200 --> 00:52:28,480 I think you'll find that they're very helpful. 785 00:52:28,480 --> 00:52:32,160 They've got all kinds of programs that can help you get your business going or keep it 786 00:52:32,160 --> 00:52:33,840 going or helping it grow. 787 00:52:33,840 --> 00:52:39,080 Joining me on the line right now, as I mentioned earlier in today's program, I had the opportunity 788 00:52:39,080 --> 00:52:43,720 last night to go to a fundraiser for Fisher House Michigan. 789 00:52:43,720 --> 00:52:48,480 And joining me on the line right now is the executive director of Fisher House Michigan, 790 00:52:48,480 --> 00:52:49,480 and that is Kate Melcher. 791 00:52:49,480 --> 00:52:51,520 Kate, welcome back to Veterans Radio. 792 00:52:51,520 --> 00:52:54,160 Thanks so much, Dale. 793 00:52:54,160 --> 00:52:57,440 It's great to be here, and it was wonderful to see you at the event last night. 794 00:52:57,440 --> 00:52:58,960 Thank you for coming. 795 00:52:58,960 --> 00:52:59,960 Thank you. 796 00:52:59,960 --> 00:53:05,960 So, can you kind of tell us, I mean, most of us all know what Fisher House is all about, 797 00:53:05,960 --> 00:53:11,160 but this was your big fundraiser for the year, wasn't it? 798 00:53:11,160 --> 00:53:12,160 That's right. 799 00:53:12,160 --> 00:53:15,880 We had folks from all over the state of Michigan and beyond that joined us. 800 00:53:15,880 --> 00:53:21,640 Folks are just so excited about having a second Fisher House here in the state because you 801 00:53:21,640 --> 00:53:24,960 may not know how busy the Ann Arbor Fisher House has been. 802 00:53:24,960 --> 00:53:29,960 That Fisher House has hosted nearly 10,000 individuals since it opened only in June of 803 00:53:29,960 --> 00:53:35,160 2020, so our state really, really is ready for another Fisher House. 804 00:53:35,160 --> 00:53:38,480 Right, and that one's going to be in Detroit. 805 00:53:38,480 --> 00:53:39,480 Correct. 806 00:53:39,480 --> 00:53:43,920 It's on Woodward, just a couple blocks north of the Boulevard, and ironically it's near 807 00:53:43,920 --> 00:53:48,800 the Fisher Building, different Fisher family, but we'll now have two Fisher Buildings, 808 00:53:48,800 --> 00:53:52,360 a Fisher Building and a Fisher House, right in the same neighborhood in Detroit. 809 00:53:52,360 --> 00:53:55,360 So when is that one planned to be open? 810 00:53:55,360 --> 00:54:01,320 Well, it's under construction presently, and weather gets a vote, but I think a conservative 811 00:54:01,320 --> 00:54:06,480 estimate would be that construction would complete around September timeframe, and I 812 00:54:06,480 --> 00:54:10,920 hope the VA would be able to welcome their first guest by about Christmas time. 813 00:54:10,920 --> 00:54:11,920 That would be terrific. 814 00:54:11,920 --> 00:54:22,160 I know you had some great people at last night's soiree, at the War Memorial, and which 815 00:54:22,160 --> 00:54:25,120 shores was that? 816 00:54:25,120 --> 00:54:30,480 We were in Gross Point, and the War Memorial is just a stunning building, a stunning venue, 817 00:54:30,480 --> 00:54:35,080 and steeped in history, and I encourage you to visit there for an event or just for a 818 00:54:35,080 --> 00:54:37,080 tour. 819 00:54:37,080 --> 00:54:40,080 But we really had a star stud at evening. 820 00:54:40,080 --> 00:54:44,960 The woman who sang the national anthem is a retired Air Force technical sergeant, and 821 00:54:44,960 --> 00:54:46,640 she just blew the doors off the building. 822 00:54:46,640 --> 00:54:49,400 It was incredible. 823 00:54:49,400 --> 00:54:53,720 And really, the feature of the night is we had Medal of Honor recipient, Dr. McLuhan, 824 00:54:53,720 --> 00:54:55,600 with us last night. 825 00:54:55,600 --> 00:55:02,440 And as a medic in Vietnam, he was able to really tie the mission together. 826 00:55:02,440 --> 00:55:07,880 He was able to save dozens of men, and we get to save thousands every year with your 827 00:55:07,880 --> 00:55:08,880 help. 828 00:55:08,880 --> 00:55:09,880 I appreciate it. 829 00:55:09,880 --> 00:55:10,880 That's right. 830 00:55:10,880 --> 00:55:13,480 And so this is kind of a pitch to our listening audience right now. 831 00:55:13,480 --> 00:55:16,720 If you want to help out the Fisher House and make a donation, how would they go about 832 00:55:16,720 --> 00:55:18,720 doing that? 833 00:55:18,720 --> 00:55:23,560 Visit us at fisherhousemichigan.org and follow us on socials to stay in touch. 834 00:55:23,560 --> 00:55:24,560 There you go. 835 00:55:24,560 --> 00:55:25,560 See? 836 00:55:25,560 --> 00:55:26,560 I learned my lesson last night. 837 00:55:26,560 --> 00:55:29,720 I never saw so many bids on things in my whole life. 838 00:55:29,720 --> 00:55:34,040 It was quite an adventure for me. 839 00:55:34,040 --> 00:55:36,520 So Kate, thank you very much for taking time out. 840 00:55:36,520 --> 00:55:41,800 I need to rest today, I'm sure, and we'll be talking to you soon. 841 00:55:41,800 --> 00:55:42,800 So thanks very much. 842 00:55:42,800 --> 00:55:46,760 Kate Meltzer from the Fisher House, Michigan, and they were very successful last night. 843 00:55:46,760 --> 00:55:47,760 I don't know how much they raised. 844 00:55:47,760 --> 00:55:48,760 I'm not going to ask. 845 00:55:48,760 --> 00:55:51,920 I just know it was a lot, which is cool. 846 00:55:51,920 --> 00:55:53,480 So all right. 847 00:55:53,480 --> 00:55:58,960 So next week, coming up on Veterans Radio, we're going to be having Rebecca Grant will 848 00:55:58,960 --> 00:55:59,960 be on. 849 00:55:59,960 --> 00:56:03,680 Rebecca Grant, as you know, is our foreign affairs expert extraordinaire, and she's 850 00:56:03,680 --> 00:56:09,400 going to be talking with us about what's going on in the Middle East, in Russia, in 851 00:56:09,400 --> 00:56:12,560 Ukraine, in China, and every place else. 852 00:56:12,560 --> 00:56:15,560 So I encourage you to tune in for that program. 853 00:56:15,560 --> 00:56:19,280 We're excited always when we get a chance to talk to Dr. Grant. 854 00:56:19,280 --> 00:56:23,600 The other thing, of course, is we'd like to thank you for your support of Veterans Radio 855 00:56:23,600 --> 00:56:28,760 and that if you'd like to help us out, just need to go to our website, veteransradio.org, 856 00:56:28,760 --> 00:56:34,160 click on the donate button, and we can keep this program going for a lot longer. 857 00:56:34,160 --> 00:56:37,840 So until next week, this is Dale Thromary for all of us here at Veterans Radio. 858 00:56:37,840 --> 00:56:40,800 I'm going to stretch it out for three seconds. 859 00:56:40,800 --> 00:56:45,800 You are dismissed.