1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,080 All across America and around the world, this is Veterans Radio. 2 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:15,680 This is Veterans Radio. 3 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:20,000 And now your host for today's program, Dale Throneberry. 4 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:24,360 Hey, and welcome to Veterans Radio. 5 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:30,200 My name is Dale Throneberry, a CW2 type helicopter pilot in Vietnam, 1969. 6 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,440 I'm getting really old here. 7 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:34,680 Anyway, welcome to today's program. 8 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:36,240 It is our benefits program. 9 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:41,560 So if you have any questions about your disability claims or what's going on at the VA, you 10 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:47,840 can give us a call a little bit later on, at 734-822-1600. 11 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:54,880 And before we get to that, though, we're going to be talking with a young woman, a clinical 12 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:55,880 psychologist. 13 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,320 Wow, this is kind of interesting to me. 14 00:00:58,320 --> 00:00:59,920 And I'm going to bring her on in just a minute. 15 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:00,920 That's Nicole French. 16 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:06,040 And she's from an organization called Veterans Bridge Home, which I just found out about. 17 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:07,680 And it sounds really awesome. 18 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:13,680 You know how here on Veterans Radio, we like to promote other veterans organizations that 19 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,480 are going on out there to help veterans. 20 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:19,600 And so we're going to be bringing them on in just a second. 21 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:24,840 And as I mentioned before, after that interview, we'll get into our benefits question and answer 22 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:26,260 period. 23 00:01:26,260 --> 00:01:30,360 Before we do that, I have to thank our sponsors because we just can't do this program without 24 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:31,360 them. 25 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,720 And, you know, it's been such an honor for these folks. 26 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,440 They've been, some of them, sponsoring for many, many years. 27 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,560 For instance, Legal Health for Veterans. 28 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:45,240 Legal Health for Veterans specializes in veterans disability claims. 29 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:51,740 You can call Legal Health for Veterans at 800-693-4800 or go to their website, Legal 30 00:01:51,740 --> 00:01:54,720 Health for Veterans dot com. 31 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:59,880 The National Veterans Business Development Council, better known as NVBDC, is the nation's 32 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:04,380 leading third party authority for certification of veteran owned businesses. 33 00:02:04,380 --> 00:02:08,280 If you want to do business and you're a veteran owned business with the federal government 34 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:13,620 or many corporations, you need to become certified that says you actually are a real veteran 35 00:02:13,620 --> 00:02:15,200 owned business. 36 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:16,840 These are the guys that can help you out. 37 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,720 That's the National Veterans Business Development Council. 38 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,080 So for more information, you can go to their website. 39 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:29,200 That's NVBDC dot org or give them a call at 888-237-8433. 40 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:33,400 The Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center here in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 41 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:38,160 For more information, go to VA dot gov slash Ann Arbor Health Care. 42 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,760 The National Vietnam Veterans of America. 43 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,320 Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another. 44 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,240 For more information, go to their website. 45 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:53,080 That's VVA dot org and locally the Erwin Prescott and American Legion Post 46 and the Charles 46 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:58,600 S. Kettles Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 310, both of Ann Arbor, Michigan. 47 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:03,560 If you'd like to support Veterans Radio, please go to our website, Veterans Radio dot org 48 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:06,880 and click on the donate button. 49 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:11,180 And a real quick plug and I'll get into this more a little bit later on. 50 00:03:11,180 --> 00:03:17,200 Coming up on Sunday, September 22nd here locally is that says save the date. 51 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:22,960 This is our annual fundraiser, Radio on the River, songs of service. 52 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:27,320 And I want to encourage you to come on out if you're in Southeast Michigan, Northwest 53 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,100 Ohio, anywhere within 100 miles, come on out. 54 00:03:31,100 --> 00:03:36,740 You need to go to our website, Veterans Radio dot org and scroll down and it's down near 55 00:03:36,740 --> 00:03:37,740 the bottom. 56 00:03:37,740 --> 00:03:39,340 It says Radio on the River. 57 00:03:39,340 --> 00:03:46,480 Our guests this year are going to include, excuse me, are going to include Doug Bradley 58 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,360 and Doug is a Vietnam veteran. 59 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,920 He's also historian about the music of Vietnam. 60 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:57,720 He's at the University of Wisconsin and he's written a book and of course we all know this 61 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:03,480 song titled We Got to Get Out of This Place and it's the soundtrack of the Vietnam War. 62 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,400 So he's going to be there with his playlist and to explain the meetings of all of those 63 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:12,240 songs so come on out and that of course we also have John Bernstein. 64 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:17,120 John is the curator of the arms and armor collection at the National Museum of the Marine 65 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,840 Corps and he's going to be there talking about Marine Corps music. 66 00:04:20,840 --> 00:04:26,160 By the way, for those of you sports fans locally, the newest director of the Michigan Marching 67 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:34,840 Band is a retired Marine Colonel who was in charge of the Marines, the Marine Bands, all 68 00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:36,200 of the Marine Bands. 69 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,080 So he said that he's going to come out too. 70 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:44,320 So we're excited to talk about the music and to tell stories and to raise funds and great 71 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:45,640 food, great fun. 72 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:52,400 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 22nd and we're going to do a live program from the 73 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,640 event at 5 p.m. 74 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,520 So come on out, stick around, I think you'll have a good time. 75 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:05,360 So that's Radio on the River, Sunday, 22nd of September, 2 to 5 p.m. locally. 76 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:13,600 Okay, so pause, take a break, breathe. 77 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:20,920 Joining me right now on the line is Dr. Nicole French and she is the clinical director at 78 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:22,280 the Veterans Bridge home. 79 00:05:22,280 --> 00:05:24,920 She is a licensed psychologist. 80 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:29,200 She's separated from the Army after nine and a half years of active duty. 81 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:30,360 She's currently in the reserve. 82 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:37,240 She's a colonel, so I've already saluted her and to make sure that everything goes well. 83 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:39,440 But she's gotten involved with this organization. 84 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:44,420 So I'm going to bring her right on to explain to us what Veterans Bridge home is. 85 00:05:44,420 --> 00:05:46,520 So Nicole, welcome to the program. 86 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,920 Thank you, Dale, so much for having me. 87 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:50,920 What a delight. 88 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:56,920 And it sounds like you have so much going on in Michigan and your veterans are lucky, 89 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:01,000 the ones who live there, to be able to engage. 90 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:06,520 So I moved to North Carolina after I separated from the military and found Veterans Bridge 91 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:08,480 home in my own transition. 92 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:15,560 So Veterans Bridge home is happy to support veterans in any kind of transitions. 93 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:21,480 If anyway, we, the Carolinas are beautiful, but a beautiful place to live. 94 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:30,040 And you're making a big sales pitch for Michigan there, but Veterans Bridge home is really 95 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:36,880 was founded by a Vietnam era veteran, Tommy Norman, and he and his wife kept getting calls 96 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:45,320 from families of post 9 11 veterans asking for connections to employment, to healthcare, 97 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:50,560 to childcare, just wraparound services. 98 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:56,440 Maybe veterans who were maybe stationed at Fort Liberty or even other parts of the country 99 00:06:56,440 --> 00:07:03,720 who wanted to move to Charlotte and Patty and Tommy, you know, have like, I mean, they 100 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:09,520 are very well connected and so generous with like their many Rolodex of connections. 101 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:15,240 And so once they started actually connecting veterans, they and really using the existing 102 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,820 network, they realized these four families were not alone. 103 00:07:18,820 --> 00:07:26,480 And so Veterans Bridge home stood up to support veterans find a new mission. 104 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,360 Oftentimes that's employment. 105 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:34,060 Sometimes that's volunteering to find a new community or a unit. 106 00:07:34,060 --> 00:07:39,880 We're used to having a unit when we're in uniform and we know that we need community 107 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:41,540 to thrive. 108 00:07:41,540 --> 00:07:43,280 And then wraparound services. 109 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:56,520 So we leverage existing employment, healthcare, education, benefits, wraparound services across 110 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:04,140 really social determinants of health and community really engagement is a key piece too. 111 00:08:04,140 --> 00:08:06,120 So we have operated as a hub. 112 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:13,480 We were the second city in the nation to be a part of the America Serves pilot. 113 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,200 There were 17 in the nation. 114 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:19,160 And now, you know, the veterans space is dynamic. 115 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:24,160 We still have connections to many different hubs across the nation and are happy to connect 116 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:26,200 veterans and families. 117 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:32,600 But North Carolina is one of the, we were also the first really state to adopt a coordinated 118 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:42,640 care hub model using technology and community of practice to get veterans and families to 119 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:48,800 the right resource in the least amount of time without duplicating services. 120 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,800 So that's a little bit about Veterans Bridge home. 121 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:57,880 I mean, as a officer in uniform, I didn't really expect to need as many connections 122 00:08:57,880 --> 00:08:59,760 as I did when I transitioned. 123 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,960 I mean, I was licensed in North Carolina. 124 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:08,680 I was excited to actually live in the state near my family. 125 00:09:08,680 --> 00:09:14,580 But I really missed my military and veteran community. 126 00:09:14,580 --> 00:09:23,720 And it was through that community that I really found meaningful work and friends and also 127 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,880 just kind of the basic connections. 128 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:30,080 Where do I, you know, go to church? 129 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:31,800 Where do I work out? 130 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:33,160 Where do I get my hair cut? 131 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:37,120 All those basic things that we all need when we transition. 132 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:43,240 And so our focus is really how do we as a community, and we do a lot of training and 133 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:51,720 community, we offer a lot of events for civilians and military to work out together, to play 134 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:58,640 together, to network together, so that we can really support that integration and really 135 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:05,420 military culture competency with less than one percent of people actually in our country 136 00:10:05,420 --> 00:10:07,220 wearing the uniform. 137 00:10:07,220 --> 00:10:12,100 We think that this is actually really, really important to be around each other. 138 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:21,400 So whether that's coffees, getting to hear one another's stories, volunteering, we have, 139 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:26,720 you know, park days where we're just beautifying our community together. 140 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:34,680 But this is where we expand our social capital and have the opportunity to get to know one 141 00:10:34,680 --> 00:10:39,520 another and really honor, really serve us together. 142 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:45,120 So we have a lot of ways we do that through education and training. 143 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:46,560 But I've been talking a lot. 144 00:10:46,560 --> 00:10:49,800 I'm curious what questions you would, you have. 145 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:51,840 All right, that's OK. 146 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,280 I think it sounds like it's such a good organization. 147 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,960 The website is veteransbridgehome.org. 148 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:02,240 And you are located where in North Carolina? 149 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:06,200 So we are located really in 45 counties. 150 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:16,280 We have people in the Charlotte, Metrolina area, the Triad, Winston-Salem area, the Triangle, 151 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:21,960 Research Triangle, Raleigh-Durham, and then Fayetteville, the Sandhills area. 152 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,680 So we have staff. 153 00:11:24,680 --> 00:11:27,600 We do a lot of connection virtually. 154 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:33,120 But our events are probably focused in those urban centers. 155 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:40,520 We really, I mean, one of the joys of working for Veterans Bridge Home 2 is, I mean, and 156 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:49,840 other organizations is really taking a whole health approach to integration, but also health 157 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,420 and well-being. 158 00:11:52,420 --> 00:12:00,360 So we have people that are plugged into those partner relationships and employer relationships 159 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:06,480 and communities in 45 counties in North Carolina. 160 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,720 It sounds like a great organization. 161 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:13,120 And as you mentioned, we're talking here with Nicole French, and she's the clinical director 162 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:14,680 there. 163 00:12:14,680 --> 00:12:20,320 I was looking at your website, and I was watching some of the videos of some of the people that 164 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:21,760 have gone through the program. 165 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:28,480 And they were just so excited to spread the word of the help that you're able to provide 166 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:34,240 to these men and women as they're making this big jump. 167 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,960 Because the military is so different now, as you mentioned, the 1% and every one of 168 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,760 them is a volunteer, which is amazing to me. 169 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:48,960 And these are really, they're talented, they're well-educated, they're just, they're so beyond 170 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:53,340 what some of the things that I experienced when I was in the service. 171 00:12:53,340 --> 00:12:59,160 But I think the services that you offer for that transition is what's so important. 172 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:01,840 It's a place to go. 173 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:08,480 It sounds as though you folks are very welcoming to anybody, any question, whatever you need. 174 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:16,500 I'm looking at the website right now, and right on the front page it's got request assistance. 175 00:13:16,500 --> 00:13:20,260 And there's so many complicated rules. 176 00:13:20,260 --> 00:13:26,240 We talk about benefits and hospital care and so on, everything else on this program. 177 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:31,600 But when you get out that door the first time and you leave the uniform behind, it's like 178 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:35,280 you go out and you look around and you go, now what? 179 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,960 Where do I start? 180 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:39,960 Where do I begin? 181 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:44,800 Where do I get the assistance that maybe I need or whatever it might be? 182 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:49,640 And it sounds as though the Veterans Bridge Home is the place to go, especially in North 183 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:51,360 Carolina. 184 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,200 I think so. 185 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:59,720 Our TAPS classes on post are improving, but it's really hard to cover everything when 186 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:04,040 you're in your own transition out of the military. 187 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:08,120 So that where do I start is a really important question. 188 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:13,280 And I think each of us goes through an identity change also when we take that uniform off 189 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:16,480 and we think about this next chapter, what does that look like? 190 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:20,780 And it's going to be different for someone who served less than three years and then 191 00:14:20,780 --> 00:14:25,560 someone who served 20 years or more. 192 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:27,200 That is a different experience. 193 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:36,680 And we do know some of the recent research on transition stress signals that 46 to 72 194 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:46,200 percent of individuals who transition experience suicidal ideation, anxiety, depression symptoms. 195 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:47,880 And it makes sense, right? 196 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:52,680 Transition stress is one of those bodies of literature that we want to understand more. 197 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:58,680 When we take off that uniform and life changes overnight, how are we going to take care of 198 00:14:58,680 --> 00:14:59,680 ourselves? 199 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:02,000 And I think veterans are used to having all the answers. 200 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:09,200 They're used to it's easier for them to serve and to give back and to say, I want to help 201 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:13,000 you than it is to ask for help during those periods. 202 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:18,400 And so we want to be available not only to our Carolinas veterans, Veterans Bridge Home 203 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:24,520 also as a presence in South Carolina, and we were very well connected in really the 204 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:26,060 Southeast region. 205 00:15:26,060 --> 00:15:31,660 And so we want to support any veteran families in transition of any kind. 206 00:15:31,660 --> 00:15:38,320 We work with partners who have eligibility criteria, but we will serve anyone who's raised 207 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:42,440 their hand and has served even one day of service. 208 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:46,180 I mean, our job is to point you in the right direction. 209 00:15:46,180 --> 00:15:51,680 We want to make a contact if we have it and we will tell you if we have it or not. 210 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:57,440 Well, I think it's just a sounds like just a such a great organization. 211 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:58,760 And it's something that we all need. 212 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:04,760 And as I mentioned, when we're talking here with Nicole French, is that there are so many 213 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:09,880 wonderful organizations out there that are just there to help veterans. 214 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:16,600 And for us from the veteran community is to just keep talking about your organization, 215 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:20,640 our organizations, all these other things that are out there so that there's no excuse. 216 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:22,760 We don't want any veteran left behind. 217 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:28,140 As I like to say, we had your back when you were in service. 218 00:16:28,140 --> 00:16:29,920 We've got your back now. 219 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,760 And we will help you no matter what you need. 220 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:35,640 We can point you in the right direction. 221 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:41,760 Dale, if you don't mind, and to that point, a lot of wonderful, well-meaning community 222 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:47,120 members want to help and want to support and just don't know how. 223 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:52,640 So sometimes they just don't know how to relate because they didn't wear the uniform or maybe 224 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:57,680 like they're even concerned and scared about, you know, hey, what might come up and am I 225 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:04,180 able to handle whatever comes up when I am relating to a military family? 226 00:17:04,180 --> 00:17:08,360 Veterans Bridge Home and many of our partners are a part of the North Carolina Governor's 227 00:17:08,360 --> 00:17:14,160 Challenge, which is actually a national challenge to reduce suicide amongst service members, 228 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:15,160 veterans and their families. 229 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,160 September actually is Mental Health Awareness Month. 230 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:23,600 So I'd be remiss to say, hey, thank you, number one, for your service and getting the word 231 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:29,480 out there on amazing resources in community at the local level, state level, national 232 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:30,480 level. 233 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:35,240 Everyone listening to this call can actually sign up for training. 234 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:36,240 It's free. 235 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:41,120 You can sign up and say, I want to be a part of my state's Governor's Challenge. 236 00:17:41,120 --> 00:17:42,400 So Michigan has one. 237 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,120 They have a great vibrant team. 238 00:17:44,120 --> 00:17:49,480 So go to psycharmor.com and say, hey, I want to be a part of the Governor's Challenge. 239 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:53,200 There's really good free like military culture training. 240 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:59,960 There's really good suicide prevention training, including SAVE, which is like 25 minutes. 241 00:17:59,960 --> 00:18:02,480 The VA put that out. 242 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,480 Lethal means safety training, excellent training. 243 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:10,800 In fact, we've partnered with our local county Veterans Service Office that has a list of 244 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:17,320 our recommended training curriculum, Mecklenburg County Veterans Service Office. 245 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,240 It's a really easy guide, but psycharmor makes it easy too. 246 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:25,480 There are many different pathways, but the bottom line is how do we learn to be kind 247 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:31,600 of expert companions to ourselves and to those around us, and we need training. 248 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:33,640 We all do. 249 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:38,880 So I wanted to put a plug in for training and being a battle buddy to one another and 250 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:39,880 community. 251 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:40,880 I think that's important. 252 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:44,720 Could you give that website one more time where I can find the training here in Michigan? 253 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:45,720 Yes. 254 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:46,720 So psycharmor.com. 255 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:47,720 Psych armor? 256 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:48,720 Psych armor. 257 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:49,720 Yes. 258 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:50,720 PSYCH, psych armor. 259 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:59,640 And happy to send you the link, but psycharmor.com. 260 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:06,200 If you go to their website, there will be like a pop-up that says, do you want to join 261 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:08,080 the governor's challenges? 262 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:14,080 And so you can easily say, yes, I'm happy to send you that link too in the chat, but 263 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,240 then you just select your state. 264 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:21,880 And if you need any assistance getting connected to your Michigan team, I'm happy to make that 265 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:26,440 connection too, because we are part of the leadership team and I can certainly get that 266 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,100 information for you. 267 00:19:29,100 --> 00:19:30,100 Thank you very much. 268 00:19:30,100 --> 00:19:31,100 Yes. 269 00:19:31,100 --> 00:19:36,960 Please have your people send me an email with the link and all those other things. 270 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:39,520 I want to thank you so very much, Nicole. 271 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:43,160 Nicole French, she is the clinical director of Veterans Bridge Home. 272 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:48,000 It's based out of North Carolina, but evidently they're working in South Carolina and they're 273 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,960 available to all of us, really sounds like. 274 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:54,480 So the website is veteransbridgehome.org. 275 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,720 So I wanted to thank you so much for giving us some time on this Labor Day weekend. 276 00:19:58,720 --> 00:19:59,720 Of course. 277 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:00,720 Have a great weekend. 278 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:01,720 Thank you very much. 279 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:02,720 And thank you again. 280 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:03,720 Bye-bye. 281 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:04,720 Bye-bye. 282 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:05,720 All right. 283 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,720 We're going to take a real quick break and when we come back, we're going to bring on 284 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:14,600 our experts to talk a little bit about veterans disability claims and so forth. 285 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:19,280 So you're listening to Veterans Radio and we will be right back. 286 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:22,800 The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in combat given a member of the Armed 287 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:24,560 Forces of the United States. 288 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:29,040 There had been over 3,400 recipients of the nation's highest award. 289 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:30,400 This is one of them. 290 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:35,400 Captain Louis Millett was wounded by grenade fragments, but refused evacuation. 291 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,360 Details after this. 292 00:20:38,360 --> 00:20:42,140 If you have a VA claim denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals, contact Legal Help 293 00:20:42,140 --> 00:20:46,480 for Veterans at 1-800-693-4800. 294 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:50,480 They're experts in handling cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims. 295 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:54,600 Their number again, 1-800-693-4800. 296 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:59,560 While personally leading his company in an attack against a strongly held Korean position, 297 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:05,160 Millett noted that the first platoon was pinned down by small arms, automatic, and anti-tank 298 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:06,280 fire. 299 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:11,280 Millett ordered the third platoon forward, placed himself at the head of the two platoons, 300 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:15,280 and with fixed bayonet, led the assault up the fire-swept hill. 301 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:20,560 In the fierce charge, he bayoneted two enemy soldiers and boldly continued on throwing 302 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:27,360 grenades, clubbing and bayoneting the enemy while urging his men forward by shouting encouragement. 303 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:32,120 Despite vicious opposing fire, the whirlwind hand-to-hand assault carried to the crest 304 00:21:32,120 --> 00:21:33,480 of the hill. 305 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:38,240 His leadership and personal courage so inspired his men that they stormed into the hostile 306 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:43,440 position and used their bayonets with such lethal effect that the enemy fled in wild 307 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:45,040 disorder. 308 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:50,160 During this fierce onslaught, Millett was wounded by grenade fragments but refused evacuation 309 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:53,600 until the objective was taken and firmly secured. 310 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:58,080 The Medal of Honor series is a production of Veterans Radio. 311 00:21:58,080 --> 00:21:59,960 Military veterans touch everyone's life. 312 00:21:59,960 --> 00:22:05,240 I'm guessing right now you're thinking of a veteran, a close friend, relative, maybe 313 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:06,360 it's you. 314 00:22:06,360 --> 00:22:11,120 Even the toughest of us sometimes need help but don't know where to turn for support. 315 00:22:11,120 --> 00:22:13,680 You don't need special training to help a veteran in your life. 316 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,560 We can all help someone going through a difficult time. 317 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:18,920 Learn how you can be there for veterans. 318 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:25,440 Visit VeteransCrisisLine.net VeteransCrisisLine.net A message from the U.S. Department of Veterans 319 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:31,680 Affairs. 320 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:36,200 And we're back here on Veterans Radio for our monthly benefits program here on Veterans 321 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:37,480 Radio. 322 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:43,040 And joining me now on the line are our two favorite VSOs that I know. 323 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:48,200 Number one is retired Air Force Brigadier General Carol Ann Falzone from Legal Health 324 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:54,840 for Veterans and David Sames who is the Washtenaw County Veterans Service Officer here in Ann 325 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:56,600 Harbor. 326 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:58,480 So welcome to the program, folks. 327 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:01,800 Good afternoon, Dale, on this Labor Day weekend. 328 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:02,800 Hi, Dave. 329 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:03,800 Hello. 330 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:05,280 Good to be here. 331 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:07,600 It's great to have you both here. 332 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:15,600 So the question of the day is, is there anything that we need to know recently in the disability 333 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,960 claim part of the VA? 334 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,240 Anything new in the world? 335 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:27,440 Well, I don't know if it's new, but maybe this is a little advice. 336 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:33,960 I've been seeing, and we've had a run on this, our veterans get appointments. 337 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:41,440 And if, you know, we apply for a disability and the VA says, yes, I need to examine that 338 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:47,080 individual, they get a call and they get an appointment. 339 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:56,000 I would really urge our veterans to make sure the appointment they get meets their schedule 340 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:02,720 and they agree to the time and the place and they know what's going on. 341 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:04,480 They don't go in the wrong direction. 342 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,480 They don't go on the wrong day. 343 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:11,560 So jot that down because here's what's happening. 344 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,520 Our veterans, we've had a run on it. 345 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:17,240 We're unable to go to their appointment. 346 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:26,200 And so in the past, we'd always just call and the agency, the VA, regional office and 347 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,960 ask them please to reschedule. 348 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:37,120 Now we have to submit the reason why they missed the appointment. 349 00:24:37,120 --> 00:24:45,080 And then VA will look at that and make a decision if they're going to reschedule. 350 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:50,320 So yes, I see your face Dale. 351 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:57,000 And this is really alarming to me because if we're not submitting the reason why you 352 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:02,480 didn't attend your appointment, obviously your claim is denied and then we've got to 353 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,720 reapply and go through the whole process. 354 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:07,840 And there's such a delay in that. 355 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:18,920 So we've been granted, we've submitted I guess some really good explanations for why the 356 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:21,520 veteran could not keep their appointment. 357 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:27,960 But I'm just telling you, if veteran can't make their appointment, please if you're with 358 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:34,220 the county counselors, the VSO, Legal Help for Veterans, please let us know immediately 359 00:25:34,220 --> 00:25:39,840 so we could call in and tell them that you're unable to come. 360 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:47,720 Oh, yeah, my facial expression was of awe and shock. 361 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:51,640 For those of you that are listening out there, if you want, you can give us a call here on 362 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:52,640 Veterans Radio. 363 00:25:52,640 --> 00:26:02,080 The number locally is 7340-226-100 mainly because some of these appointments are far 364 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:03,080 away. 365 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:09,840 You know, they're not just down the block, which is really annoying, especially I would 366 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:11,640 think to older veterans. 367 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,360 You're exactly right, Dale. 368 00:26:14,360 --> 00:26:20,100 So that's why communication is real important because we've been able and I'm sure David 369 00:26:20,100 --> 00:26:26,240 does it too for his veterans, we're able to call in right away after you get the appointment 370 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:30,000 and you find it's an hour away or an hour and a half away. 371 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:36,080 And we might have some influence to say, why are they going that far? 372 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:44,000 It's stress on them to get relocated to another location very close to their home. 373 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,280 So I think the idea of communication is critical. 374 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:53,080 I bring this up because, you know, we watch for patterns and things that are happening 375 00:26:53,080 --> 00:27:00,560 and this has been happening quite frequently and it was like a shock and awe when it's 376 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,360 like put in the reason why, put in the reason why. 377 00:27:04,360 --> 00:27:07,400 And so that was a little alarming to us. 378 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,480 So I would like to share that with our audience. 379 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:12,920 Well, I think they would appreciate it. 380 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:18,600 Yeah, and also making sure when you talk to your vets or the dependents that they have 381 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:20,720 their schedule open. 382 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:26,880 You know, we can file an intent so then that has a year because we'll run up into the area 383 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:32,080 where okay, I got a vacation in August or I'm going to Europe or I'm going here. 384 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:38,320 So having a good rapport with the vet and your service officer about, okay, are you 385 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:42,080 doing anything in the next, you know, two, three months? 386 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:48,000 And snowbirds are okay too because if they go down to Florida, then when they call say, 387 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:53,560 okay, so I'm down here and this is the zip code and I want my C&P exam down there. 388 00:27:53,560 --> 00:28:00,400 So it's just really educating the veterans saying, you know, if that time doesn't work 389 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:06,200 or that place doesn't work and you tell them or if you have ride challenges, so you got 390 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:07,520 to communicate that. 391 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:10,000 I mean, just don't take whatever they say. 392 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:11,960 You have to have a conversation with them. 393 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:16,760 Okay, I hadn't thought about it that way because, you know, sometimes I get carried away with 394 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:22,000 being a rule follower and, you know, I get the letter and says, okay, your appointment's 395 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:25,520 on this day at this time and I'm, I can't do that. 396 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:27,120 Now what do I do? 397 00:28:27,120 --> 00:28:32,080 So I'll just call the number on the sheet, right? 398 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:35,360 Not the way I can fix that. 399 00:28:35,360 --> 00:28:39,720 That's a good way to start to call them or call your representative. 400 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:46,100 Like I said, if it's VSO, county counselor who is assisting you with your claim, Legal 401 00:28:46,100 --> 00:28:51,840 Help for Veterans and let us know you called in, we could do something on hopefully on 402 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:58,560 the back end, you know, that the reason is and sometimes they do, they don't call you 403 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:00,720 and they'll just send the piece of paper. 404 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:01,800 You're right, Dale. 405 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:06,760 And that's like a shock because, oh, it's tomorrow. 406 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:12,280 With mail delays, we've gotten some of those too and we were able to help. 407 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:16,600 So I think the communication is really important. 408 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:17,680 We're out there. 409 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:24,720 If you do, like Dave said, have the opportunity to speak to whoever is scheduling, let them 410 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:31,280 know where you're going to be, what's going on with you. 411 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:32,280 I think so. 412 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:35,240 I think that sounds like a great idea. 413 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:41,920 It's very interesting because, you know, even though we've been doing this benefits program 414 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:48,600 for a number of years now, there are still people out there that just don't know what's 415 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:55,520 available to them and they don't know how to get into the system. 416 00:29:55,520 --> 00:30:01,200 And I keep telling them, you know, sign up with the VA. 417 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:07,040 Can they sign up online with the VA or do they have to go there? 418 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:10,800 You can, VA.gov, you can do everything on there. 419 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:18,520 They have links to My HealtheVet and also the claim process and it's a portal for the 420 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:24,800 claimant to get in there and they can see their ratings and their awards in there and 421 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:27,080 it's a one-stop shop. 422 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:33,920 Now, it's sometimes challenging to get in there because you have to know all your financial 423 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:39,080 questions but once you get in there, it tells a lot of information. 424 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:41,320 It doesn't tell you all the information. 425 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:46,560 That's why you would want to have a VSO or Legal Health for Veterans so then they can 426 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:47,980 see. 427 00:30:47,980 --> 00:30:53,200 We can see a bit more than they can see but at least they can say, oh, well, they're waiting 428 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:59,000 for some medical documents or they're waiting for this and some can say, okay, it's nothing 429 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:07,240 on your end but it's the VA reaching out to, you know, either NPRC to get some records 430 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:11,800 or the medical center to get records. 431 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:17,880 But then they can be more into their claims so they can see more. 432 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:23,400 Well, I just want to make sure that our audience knows that there are ways to get into the 433 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:27,240 VA system without having to go to your local VA hospital. 434 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:33,880 I mean, I'm sure you can go into any of these CBOTs that are around and probably sign up. 435 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:38,040 It's not that you're, you know, you may not even use the VA. 436 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:39,760 This is another thing that I keep telling people. 437 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:43,840 You may not even use the benefits that are available to you but at least you can get 438 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:50,920 into the system and maybe someday you're going to want to use it or maybe you're going to, 439 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:57,800 you know, get your drugs and stuff through the VA because it certainly is a lot less 440 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,600 expensive than it is out in the civilian world. 441 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:02,960 Oh, yeah, definitely. 442 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:09,080 And like I talked about that, my health event, you can see if you're enrolled at either the 443 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:16,240 Ann Arbor VA or any VA, you can also go in there if you need more medication. 444 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:20,240 You can go to your prescriptions. 445 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:21,240 You can manage them there. 446 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:27,040 You can talk to your, you can send a note to your doctor. 447 00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:29,320 It's really helpful, my health event. 448 00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:30,320 I use it all the time. 449 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:36,400 I found it to be very helpful because one of my prescriptions was down to one tablet 450 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:39,760 and so I was able to call. 451 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:44,640 I mean, I sent a message to my primary care and the next thing I know I got a call from 452 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:50,080 the pharmacist because my primary care, somebody there had contacted them and I was able to 453 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:56,480 go in and pick up a week's supply of this particular medication. 454 00:32:56,480 --> 00:33:01,560 And I think it's important that we continue to remind people to do that. 455 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:10,520 I was also thinking after we were talking with Nicole about this transitioning out and, 456 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:15,080 you know, I don't remember transitioning. 457 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:17,800 Oh, I remember transitioning, but we didn't call it that. 458 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,640 We just went from in the service to out. 459 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:28,800 In today's world, there are lots of opportunities to get help in transitioning. 460 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:36,800 And I know that I'm thinking, I wish that Brian was here today, but the idea of making 461 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:43,360 that initial contact, would either of you like to come, you know, jump on that and say, 462 00:33:43,360 --> 00:33:47,720 okay, from all you people that are just getting out of the service, let's make that initial 463 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:48,720 contact. 464 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:49,720 Do it. 465 00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:51,680 Oh, yeah, definitely. 466 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:58,440 I mean, we're seeing some people, they have a program now where you get out, especially 467 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:08,160 the Air Force, you can, when you're transitioning to get out, you can be home six months earlier 468 00:34:08,160 --> 00:34:16,760 and then they'll have, it's almost like an internship with a job that you're interested 469 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:19,800 in, so you work for them, but you get paid by the Air Force. 470 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:23,080 And then during that time, you see a service officer. 471 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:28,960 And so if you were ever injured, you go ahead and file your claim, your BDD claim before 472 00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:29,960 that. 473 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:37,600 And then I don't think you can enroll before you get out. 474 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:44,360 So you'd have to wait until you, even though you have a DD form 214, but it's not until 475 00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:45,920 six months. 476 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:54,200 So you can't enroll until then, but you can get your claim started beforehand. 477 00:34:54,200 --> 00:34:59,160 And they're supposed to try and have everything done by your ETS date, but it's looking a 478 00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:00,480 little slow on that. 479 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:02,720 They're a little bit backed up. 480 00:35:02,720 --> 00:35:07,000 But if you can get it started, that's very helpful. 481 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:10,280 We are seeing, Dave, that's outstanding. 482 00:35:10,280 --> 00:35:15,120 We are seeing an increase in those individuals as you spoke about. 483 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:17,400 We'll get some calls from the Army. 484 00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:20,040 We got a call a couple of weeks ago. 485 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:28,760 He was overseas and coming home and he wanted to make sure that his process has started, 486 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:35,960 but they're not allowed to enroll in the VA until their separation with DOD. 487 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:43,400 And even those that go to the Wounded Warrior Program were not allowed to enroll in the 488 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:44,400 VA. 489 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:51,480 They have a transition period and the exam will pass over, but they really need, if it's 490 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:58,720 medically disqualifying, they need to make sure that's number one on their DD 214 and 491 00:35:58,720 --> 00:36:06,280 then also make sure they get that rating or whatever from DOD because a lot of people 492 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:10,380 think DOD and VA is all one and it's not. 493 00:36:10,380 --> 00:36:16,360 You have to cross the street and get into the VA once you're discharged from DOD. 494 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:20,360 But we're seeing more of that as a transition. 495 00:36:20,360 --> 00:36:28,600 And the program I was listening in sounds wonderful because when we were leaving, Dale, 496 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:29,600 you're right. 497 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:33,280 There was none of these programs out there. 498 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:38,920 And we sort of did it ourselves, reached out for whatever the need was. 499 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:44,760 So a program like this, they started many years ago in the National Guard, at least 500 00:36:44,760 --> 00:36:51,160 Michigan, the Buddy to Buddy program where you could go in and get a buddy and that could 501 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:53,560 help you with your transition. 502 00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:57,880 But they sound really complete in all aspects. 503 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:02,440 So I think that's a wonderful service to have. 504 00:37:02,440 --> 00:37:09,280 I think it would have been such a great idea what Nicole French, what she was talking about 505 00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:18,480 from that organization is that they get you just as you come out of the gate almost and 506 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:23,600 sit down and talk with you and help you figure out where did you want to go to school? 507 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:25,640 What did you want to do when you get out? 508 00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:26,640 Are you married? 509 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:31,560 And one of the videos that they had talked about this guy was saying, he says, I didn't 510 00:37:31,560 --> 00:37:38,200 even know where I was supposed to get a toothbrush, because it had all been provided. 511 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:40,000 Everything was provided to us. 512 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:45,120 And you walk outside the gate and suddenly you're responsible for everything. 513 00:37:45,120 --> 00:37:51,560 And that's what I really was interested in, in finding out more about the Veterans Bridge 514 00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:57,640 home is the steps that you took. 515 00:37:57,640 --> 00:38:04,640 Once you contact them, they're going to help you find everything that you need. 516 00:38:04,640 --> 00:38:06,280 I didn't get into all of it with her. 517 00:38:06,280 --> 00:38:13,680 Maybe I should have, but about housing and school and jobs and the Air Force. 518 00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:14,680 I didn't know the Air Force. 519 00:38:14,680 --> 00:38:17,080 She figured it would be the Air Force. 520 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:20,000 You get six months to figure out what to do before you get out. 521 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:21,800 That was just one person. 522 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:24,320 So I actually had a couple. 523 00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:30,760 And he was a drone operator and in over just a little bit west side, there was a company 524 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:32,320 that made the drone. 525 00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:35,240 So it was a great transition. 526 00:38:35,240 --> 00:38:38,120 So yeah, been in six months with them. 527 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:41,160 And then he'd be out and then go further on. 528 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:42,160 Right. 529 00:38:42,160 --> 00:38:46,160 So I think it's great that all of these programs are out there. 530 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:49,800 And I've definitely got to see what I can find out about what's going on in Michigan 531 00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:53,520 with this government's, the governor's program. 532 00:38:53,520 --> 00:38:56,000 I think it's really cool. 533 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:57,000 I did get it. 534 00:38:57,000 --> 00:39:05,480 I got an email from a woman, not a particular issue, except I know we've talked about this 535 00:39:05,480 --> 00:39:11,960 before is to try and release some stress in your family with letting your spouse or family 536 00:39:11,960 --> 00:39:16,200 know what benefits that you do have. 537 00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:20,400 Because many times the spouses just don't know. 538 00:39:20,400 --> 00:39:26,880 And so if the veteran dies, they're stuck. 539 00:39:26,880 --> 00:39:34,160 And so she was talking about example that she gave that I thought was interesting. 540 00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:38,400 It says a veteran had not told his spouse about his monthly benefits. 541 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:40,440 The veteran died suddenly. 542 00:39:40,440 --> 00:39:45,120 His spouse grieves and plans a funeral, which she pays out of pocket. 543 00:39:45,120 --> 00:39:50,680 The $2,500 tax free payment from the VA for her husband's disability compensation has 544 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:52,960 stopped. 545 00:39:52,960 --> 00:39:57,840 Now she struggles to meet her expenses and is afraid she'll have to sell her home. 546 00:39:57,840 --> 00:40:04,520 What advice can we give out there to our veteran community, especially to the families? 547 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:12,680 Well, with that, so there might be an opportunity for if he passed away of a service connected 548 00:40:12,680 --> 00:40:14,760 condition. 549 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:16,400 He was receiving money. 550 00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:24,840 So at least you have the non-service connected burial amount and that's good for two years. 551 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:25,840 Right. 552 00:40:25,840 --> 00:40:29,300 So you have to apply within that timeframe. 553 00:40:29,300 --> 00:40:36,480 So and then if it's in the, if you're in Michigan, then there is a state law of $300, but there 554 00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:39,840 is an asset limitation of 40,000. 555 00:40:39,840 --> 00:40:46,120 But again, you would want to go to your county counselor to see about that information. 556 00:40:46,120 --> 00:40:52,980 I know my office, when a veteran passes away in Washtenaw County, we sent out a letter 557 00:40:52,980 --> 00:40:59,600 to the informant on the death certificate because the death certificate will say if 558 00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:04,040 they were in the armed forces and we get all that from our county clerk and we sent out 559 00:41:04,040 --> 00:41:06,480 a letter saying there might be benefits. 560 00:41:06,480 --> 00:41:14,400 Please contact our office and that's where we get some of the, you know, the dependents 561 00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:20,720 or even sons or, you know, daughters or a relative that had to pay for the funeral out 562 00:41:20,720 --> 00:41:22,920 of pocket. 563 00:41:22,920 --> 00:41:30,160 So then in Washtenaw County, we can help and we raised that $300 limit to a thousand. 564 00:41:30,160 --> 00:41:35,320 So we give a thousand and then the asset limitation, we went up to 90,000. 565 00:41:35,320 --> 00:41:36,800 But that's just in Washtenaw County. 566 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:42,140 There's some other counties that have raised it, but the state law is still $300 and that's 567 00:41:42,140 --> 00:41:46,440 only for war time and Washtenaw County expanded to peacetime too. 568 00:41:46,440 --> 00:41:49,440 It's a good place to live. 569 00:41:49,440 --> 00:42:01,040 Dale, I think what I'm troubled with is the way the individual wrote the email. 570 00:42:01,040 --> 00:42:07,560 If the veteran doesn't communicate in the family, I don't see that too often where, 571 00:42:07,560 --> 00:42:13,800 and we try to educate those that are coming in, the spouse, we make sure that they're 572 00:42:13,800 --> 00:42:18,480 aware, you know, to contact us if something happens. 573 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:24,720 And so I feel really bad that that happened, but that's why we do this program. 574 00:42:24,720 --> 00:42:32,040 I mean, if somebody, somebody, and you know, we get many calls, I'm sure all the county 575 00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:37,920 counselors do, hey, I've got a relative, you know, can you help my mother? 576 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:40,000 Could you help my sister? 577 00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:42,020 Are there benefits for me? 578 00:42:42,020 --> 00:42:49,040 And as Dave said, if it's service connected and the spouse might be able to get DIC, which 579 00:42:49,040 --> 00:42:51,780 is the deft indemnity. 580 00:42:51,780 --> 00:42:55,880 And so you know, you just need to reach out. 581 00:42:55,880 --> 00:43:04,800 And even if you don't know, if you are a spouse of a veteran, pick up the phone and make a 582 00:43:04,800 --> 00:43:05,800 call. 583 00:43:05,800 --> 00:43:10,480 I mean, call your county counselor, call a VSO. 584 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:17,660 And like Dave said, I think it's really important if you get that letter as a spouse, read it 585 00:43:17,660 --> 00:43:20,500 and see and call the number at the bottom. 586 00:43:20,500 --> 00:43:26,840 We also do that as soon as we are notified and we find out that one of our veterans have 587 00:43:26,840 --> 00:43:27,980 passed. 588 00:43:27,980 --> 00:43:36,600 We also notify if there is a spouse right away or dependent so that they could get, 589 00:43:36,600 --> 00:43:40,800 they have a year, but we want to make it and get things going. 590 00:43:40,800 --> 00:43:48,520 If they're entitled to burial benefits, we did, I did one the other day, burial benefits 591 00:43:48,520 --> 00:43:56,600 lying for DIC and just helping them during their process of grieving to know that there's 592 00:43:56,600 --> 00:43:57,920 something out there. 593 00:43:57,920 --> 00:44:05,440 I just, as you pointed this out, is that we do this program just so people know that there 594 00:44:05,440 --> 00:44:09,560 are people out there looking out for them. 595 00:44:09,560 --> 00:44:16,600 And I think that's really the important message that I keep making sure that we spread the 596 00:44:16,600 --> 00:44:25,280 word and that there's no, can't say there's no excuse, but there really is no good reason 597 00:44:25,280 --> 00:44:33,960 for any veteran not to know what they are entitled to or what or where to go to ask 598 00:44:33,960 --> 00:44:35,700 the question. 599 00:44:35,700 --> 00:44:42,040 And even if, whether they're getting out of the service at 22 years old or 93 years old 600 00:44:42,040 --> 00:44:47,040 and they suddenly say, you know, I still got this piece of shrapnel in my shoulder from 601 00:44:47,040 --> 00:44:52,880 D-Day and it's really starting to bother, you know, starting to bother me. 602 00:44:52,880 --> 00:44:58,760 Well, that guy's eligible probably for something just as though, you know, the poor kid that 603 00:44:58,760 --> 00:45:03,880 was in Iraq or Afghanistan with the burn pits is entitled to something. 604 00:45:03,880 --> 00:45:12,360 And so we have to keep, we just have to keep on keeping on with getting the word out. 605 00:45:12,360 --> 00:45:15,440 Yeah, that's the key. 606 00:45:15,440 --> 00:45:18,720 And then that's why we're doing outreach. 607 00:45:18,720 --> 00:45:22,200 We have the VetFest, there's other VetFests around here. 608 00:45:22,200 --> 00:45:33,040 And then also if they just call the VA, I've had many VA employees reach out to our office, 609 00:45:33,040 --> 00:45:36,360 especially if they're Washington County and they don't know where to go. 610 00:45:36,360 --> 00:45:41,400 So they'll do a three-way call and call my front desk and say, okay, they're looking 611 00:45:41,400 --> 00:45:48,600 for help or even with me being accredited, they can, I have five different accreditations. 612 00:45:48,600 --> 00:45:53,480 And if they look up those accreditations, they'll get my phone number because they've 613 00:45:53,480 --> 00:45:57,600 personally called me because they looked it up. 614 00:45:57,600 --> 00:46:02,680 Speaking of outreach, Dave, you just hit the nail on the head. 615 00:46:02,680 --> 00:46:09,080 I'd like to say that we're going to have, there's going to be the 14th Annual Veterans 616 00:46:09,080 --> 00:46:14,280 Summit sponsored by Canton Foundation Legal Hub for Veterans. 617 00:46:14,280 --> 00:46:20,360 And it's going to be at Westland on September 18th. 618 00:46:20,360 --> 00:46:23,040 And I believe it starts at 12 o'clock. 619 00:46:23,040 --> 00:46:28,120 You need to register, go to the Canton Foundation site. 620 00:46:28,120 --> 00:46:35,600 And it's Veterans Summit and it's all free and they will provide a lunch. 621 00:46:35,600 --> 00:46:37,080 And so please come on in. 622 00:46:37,080 --> 00:46:40,520 It's about an hour and a half. 623 00:46:40,520 --> 00:46:43,720 Christina Darrow from Legal Hub for Veterans will be there. 624 00:46:43,720 --> 00:46:48,880 I will be there answering some questions, a couple other individuals. 625 00:46:48,880 --> 00:46:51,960 And so please, it's free. 626 00:46:51,960 --> 00:46:53,160 Just sign up. 627 00:46:53,160 --> 00:46:59,640 And it's the 14th year we have done Veterans Summit. 628 00:46:59,640 --> 00:47:03,240 So please come out because it's all outreach. 629 00:47:03,240 --> 00:47:05,360 You could ask any questions. 630 00:47:05,360 --> 00:47:09,800 If you have, you know, am I eligible? 631 00:47:09,800 --> 00:47:11,680 Bring your DD214. 632 00:47:11,680 --> 00:47:18,600 Bring some of your paperwork and we could address your issue on the spot. 633 00:47:18,600 --> 00:47:22,560 I want to remind our audiences that don't listen to this program in the Ann Arbor area 634 00:47:22,560 --> 00:47:26,000 that we're talking about Canton, Michigan right now. 635 00:47:26,000 --> 00:47:27,500 And that's local. 636 00:47:27,500 --> 00:47:34,480 So don't come running around looking for something on the 22nd of September. 637 00:47:34,480 --> 00:47:35,480 The 18th. 638 00:47:35,480 --> 00:47:36,480 I'm sorry. 639 00:47:36,480 --> 00:47:38,000 Our fundraiser is on the 22nd. 640 00:47:38,000 --> 00:47:39,640 Yours is on the 18th. 641 00:47:39,640 --> 00:47:41,360 And where did you say it was? 642 00:47:41,360 --> 00:47:43,360 It's at Westland. 643 00:47:43,360 --> 00:47:44,360 Yeah. 644 00:47:44,360 --> 00:47:47,080 Westland where? 645 00:47:47,080 --> 00:47:48,080 Westland, Michigan. 646 00:47:48,080 --> 00:47:55,360 Oh, at the, I'm sorry, at the, I would say at the center. 647 00:47:55,360 --> 00:47:56,360 We'll post it. 648 00:47:56,360 --> 00:47:58,240 I'll get you the directions. 649 00:47:58,240 --> 00:48:01,240 Yeah, the information and I'll get that out. 650 00:48:01,240 --> 00:48:06,000 While I'm talking to you, maybe I'll try to see if I can multitask and look it up. 651 00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:07,000 Yeah. 652 00:48:07,000 --> 00:48:08,440 And it needs all these vet vets. 653 00:48:08,440 --> 00:48:11,680 I was looking at the VA website. 654 00:48:11,680 --> 00:48:17,280 And again, for those of you that like this kind of stuff, you can go to the VA website 655 00:48:17,280 --> 00:48:25,080 and ask for current news and they will upgrade you or inform you of what is going on at the 656 00:48:25,080 --> 00:48:26,800 VA. 657 00:48:26,800 --> 00:48:32,800 One of the things was that the PACDAC date either passed or is coming up very shortly. 658 00:48:32,800 --> 00:48:35,840 Am I correct on that? 659 00:48:35,840 --> 00:48:36,920 It passed. 660 00:48:36,920 --> 00:48:37,920 It passed. 661 00:48:37,920 --> 00:48:38,920 Yeah. 662 00:48:38,920 --> 00:48:39,920 Okay. 663 00:48:39,920 --> 00:48:43,840 But that doesn't mean if you have one of those conditions you can't apply for. 664 00:48:43,840 --> 00:48:44,840 Okay. 665 00:48:44,840 --> 00:48:47,520 But that's an important message. 666 00:48:47,520 --> 00:48:48,520 It is. 667 00:48:48,520 --> 00:48:53,960 I think to make sure, you know, if you missed the deadline, quote unquote, and you, you 668 00:48:53,960 --> 00:48:58,640 know, you have a disability as a result of all of the things that are listed there, you 669 00:48:58,640 --> 00:49:00,120 can still apply. 670 00:49:00,120 --> 00:49:02,600 Yes, definitely. 671 00:49:02,600 --> 00:49:07,320 Or you come down, you get diagnosed in a couple of years, right? 672 00:49:07,320 --> 00:49:09,680 So those are still covered. 673 00:49:09,680 --> 00:49:15,720 It just won't go back to the date, but once you get diagnosed, that's when you'd want 674 00:49:15,720 --> 00:49:24,040 to bring that into your counselor or the VSO to go ahead and apply for those. 675 00:49:24,040 --> 00:49:25,320 Okay. 676 00:49:25,320 --> 00:49:26,320 That explains it to me. 677 00:49:26,320 --> 00:49:32,520 So the PACDAC was I would take everybody back to 2023 or something. 678 00:49:32,520 --> 00:49:34,880 Whenever you filed your claim, that would be your start date. 679 00:49:34,880 --> 00:49:35,880 Yeah. 680 00:49:35,880 --> 00:49:38,240 Now it would just be when you filed. 681 00:49:38,240 --> 00:49:42,920 If you have an intent from last year, then it would go back to last year. 682 00:49:42,920 --> 00:49:46,240 It just won't go back to the signing of the law. 683 00:49:46,240 --> 00:49:47,240 Okay. 684 00:49:47,240 --> 00:49:52,080 And it looks like the summit is in at Westland City Hall. 685 00:49:52,080 --> 00:49:53,080 Yes. 686 00:49:53,080 --> 00:49:57,160 At 36300 Warren Road. 687 00:49:57,160 --> 00:49:58,160 Thank you, Dave. 688 00:49:58,160 --> 00:50:00,520 I was just looking up the address too. 689 00:50:00,520 --> 00:50:01,640 Gotcha. 690 00:50:01,640 --> 00:50:02,980 Okay. 691 00:50:02,980 --> 00:50:05,240 So that's Westland City Hall. 692 00:50:05,240 --> 00:50:06,240 Yes. 693 00:50:06,240 --> 00:50:07,240 All right. 694 00:50:07,240 --> 00:50:12,160 Please register. 695 00:50:12,160 --> 00:50:19,280 Go to the Canton Foundation where it's listed and free lunch and come on down. 696 00:50:19,280 --> 00:50:20,760 Is that CantonFoundation.org? 697 00:50:20,760 --> 00:50:21,760 Yes. 698 00:50:21,760 --> 00:50:22,760 Okay. 699 00:50:22,760 --> 00:50:25,320 So there you go. 700 00:50:25,320 --> 00:50:27,360 People again in Southeast Michigan. 701 00:50:27,360 --> 00:50:36,560 It's an opportunity to get help, to get your questions answered, get some free food and 702 00:50:36,560 --> 00:50:44,120 get to meet the infamous General Carol Ann Falzone. 703 00:50:44,120 --> 00:50:48,120 I think that's really important. 704 00:50:48,120 --> 00:50:49,120 Thank you, Dale. 705 00:50:49,120 --> 00:50:51,120 To my resident experts. 706 00:50:51,120 --> 00:50:55,640 I appreciate your time when you do all these things for us and tell us and keep us all 707 00:50:55,640 --> 00:50:58,880 informed as to what is really happening out there. 708 00:50:58,880 --> 00:51:01,560 It can just get so confusing. 709 00:51:01,560 --> 00:51:03,720 Well, you know what? 710 00:51:03,720 --> 00:51:06,440 I'm so glad my buddy's on. 711 00:51:06,440 --> 00:51:13,360 I'll tell you, we go back since we've been doing this and there's been a county counselor 712 00:51:13,360 --> 00:51:16,240 from Washtenaw and I will give them a pitch. 713 00:51:16,240 --> 00:51:18,680 I think they're one of the best. 714 00:51:18,680 --> 00:51:26,160 And Dave knows when I'm calling him going, hey, I got somebody on the line, you know, 715 00:51:26,160 --> 00:51:29,240 and he's a great buddy to have. 716 00:51:29,240 --> 00:51:34,720 And I think you pull out all your resources when you're trying to help these veterans. 717 00:51:34,720 --> 00:51:37,720 And that's what I think is most important. 718 00:51:37,720 --> 00:51:39,320 We're all out there to help. 719 00:51:39,320 --> 00:51:40,320 I think so. 720 00:51:40,320 --> 00:51:42,600 We don't want to see people fall through the crack, right? 721 00:51:42,600 --> 00:51:43,600 No. 722 00:51:43,600 --> 00:51:48,320 You know, you'll have the veteran with the hat on and you go up to them and are you aware 723 00:51:48,320 --> 00:51:49,920 about your benefits? 724 00:51:49,920 --> 00:51:54,880 And my family laughs at me if I go into a restaurant and they're like, you're going 725 00:51:54,880 --> 00:51:55,880 to go talk to them, aren't you? 726 00:51:55,880 --> 00:51:57,780 I'm like, no, not going to. 727 00:51:57,780 --> 00:52:00,320 But then I might say a couple words. 728 00:52:00,320 --> 00:52:06,880 But it's just, you know, it's a passion when you do it and you can change people's lives 729 00:52:06,880 --> 00:52:11,640 and get benefits for, you know, the veteran or dependent and that's what's rewarding. 730 00:52:11,640 --> 00:52:19,960 I think that's the magic word, Dave, is that passion and the passion to help your fellow 731 00:52:19,960 --> 00:52:20,960 veteran. 732 00:52:20,960 --> 00:52:26,880 You know, when I was talking to Nicole off the line, I think I mentioned you, I said, 733 00:52:26,880 --> 00:52:30,680 you know, we all had, we were all taught to have each other's back when we were in the 734 00:52:30,680 --> 00:52:35,680 service and now we have your back now as well. 735 00:52:35,680 --> 00:52:40,600 And I think that's what's important for people to know that the VA there is really, even 736 00:52:40,600 --> 00:52:45,280 though you may have been frustrated and you've run into roadblocks here or there, the VA 737 00:52:45,280 --> 00:52:47,080 is there to help you. 738 00:52:47,080 --> 00:52:53,260 And especially if you can get somebody like Carol Ann or Dave Sames with a county office 739 00:52:53,260 --> 00:52:55,560 here to help you. 740 00:52:55,560 --> 00:53:02,240 So the question is, if you have a question, don't try to do it on your own. 741 00:53:02,240 --> 00:53:03,240 Look for help. 742 00:53:03,240 --> 00:53:06,200 There are so many people out there that want to help you. 743 00:53:06,200 --> 00:53:07,200 Definitely. 744 00:53:07,200 --> 00:53:12,920 If we don't know the answer, I mean, I don't know all the answers and that's why we've 745 00:53:12,920 --> 00:53:14,960 got great resources. 746 00:53:14,960 --> 00:53:16,360 We've got individuals. 747 00:53:16,360 --> 00:53:21,160 I pick up the phone and bounce ideas off of. 748 00:53:21,160 --> 00:53:30,720 And so I love that, you know, that we could be there and the VA system, like some others, 749 00:53:30,720 --> 00:53:37,200 it's not easy to navigate and you don't want to send in paperwork and then find out you 750 00:53:37,200 --> 00:53:41,600 didn't fill it out correctly or you didn't fill out the right form and you've been waiting 751 00:53:41,600 --> 00:53:48,520 eight months and now you reach out and we have to give you the news that nothing has 752 00:53:48,520 --> 00:53:49,520 happened. 753 00:53:49,520 --> 00:53:51,680 So please reach out. 754 00:53:51,680 --> 00:53:57,680 Yeah, I want to make sure I want to thank you both very, very much for being on our 755 00:53:57,680 --> 00:54:01,720 Veterans Radio benefits program as usual. 756 00:54:01,720 --> 00:54:08,480 That's a retired Air Force Brigadier General Carol Ann Faustone from Legal Help for Veterans 757 00:54:08,480 --> 00:54:14,360 and David Sames, who is the director of the Washtenaw County Veterans Service Office. 758 00:54:14,360 --> 00:54:18,480 And I know that you've got veterans service offices all over the country. 759 00:54:18,480 --> 00:54:19,480 Use them. 760 00:54:19,480 --> 00:54:20,480 They're there for. 761 00:54:20,480 --> 00:54:23,720 So I want to thank you both very much for being on the program. 762 00:54:23,720 --> 00:54:24,720 Thank you, Dale. 763 00:54:24,720 --> 00:54:25,720 Thank you. 764 00:54:25,720 --> 00:54:26,720 Happy Labor Day. 765 00:54:26,720 --> 00:54:27,720 Happy Labor Day to you. 766 00:54:27,720 --> 00:54:32,600 OK, I got about a minute to go, so I'm going to do one last plug here for Radio on the 767 00:54:32,600 --> 00:54:33,720 River. 768 00:54:33,720 --> 00:54:39,380 So I want you to go to our website, veteransradio.org, scroll on down and there you can buy tickets 769 00:54:39,380 --> 00:54:42,240 or you can make a donation and come on out. 770 00:54:42,240 --> 00:54:43,360 It's always a fun time. 771 00:54:43,360 --> 00:54:46,000 We've got great gifts for the auction. 772 00:54:46,000 --> 00:54:47,260 We've got music. 773 00:54:47,260 --> 00:54:48,700 We've got food. 774 00:54:48,700 --> 00:54:50,260 We've got everything for you. 775 00:54:50,260 --> 00:54:56,080 So Radio on the River, Sunday, September 22nd. 776 00:54:56,080 --> 00:55:00,760 Save the date, as they say, and go on down, as I say, at the bottom of the thing and get 777 00:55:00,760 --> 00:55:01,760 your tickets. 778 00:55:01,760 --> 00:55:02,760 I think you're going to enjoy it. 779 00:55:02,760 --> 00:55:03,760 It's fun. 780 00:55:03,760 --> 00:55:08,580 And we're going to do a live program after the fundraiser. 781 00:55:08,580 --> 00:55:13,520 So that's always an adventure, especially when we're outdoors doing those things. 782 00:55:13,520 --> 00:55:16,240 So I want to thank everybody for listening today. 783 00:55:16,240 --> 00:55:18,920 Come on back next week, Jim Fasones, the host. 784 00:55:18,920 --> 00:55:22,080 I will be getting ready to say goodbye. 785 00:55:22,080 --> 00:55:26,280 So until next time, you are dismissed. 786 00:55:26,280 --> 00:55:36,840 God bless America, land that I love. 787 00:55:36,840 --> 00:55:49,680 Stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above. 788 00:55:49,680 --> 00:56:03,440 From the mountains, through the prairies, to the oceans, white with foam. 789 00:56:03,440 --> 00:56:16,640 God bless America, my home sweet home. 790 00:56:16,640 --> 00:56:36,120 God bless America, my home sweet home.