May 25, 2026

Not Just a Long Weekend: Vietnam, Memory, and the Cost of War

Not Just a Long Weekend: Vietnam, Memory, and the Cost of War
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconSpreaker podcast player iconiHeartRadio podcast player iconAmazon Music podcast player iconCastbox podcast player iconPandora podcast player iconDeezer podcast player iconPodcast Addict podcast player iconPodchaser podcast player iconYoutube Music podcast player iconCastamatic podcast player iconCastro podcast player iconFountain podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player iconGoodpods podcast player iconOvercast podcast player iconPocketCasts podcast player iconPodurama podcast player iconPodverse podcast player iconPodyssey podcast player icon
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconSpreaker podcast player iconiHeartRadio podcast player iconAmazon Music podcast player iconCastbox podcast player iconPandora podcast player iconDeezer podcast player iconPodcast Addict podcast player iconPodchaser podcast player iconYoutube Music podcast player iconCastamatic podcast player iconCastro podcast player iconFountain podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player iconGoodpods podcast player iconOvercast podcast player iconPocketCasts podcast player iconPodurama podcast player iconPodverse podcast player iconPodyssey podcast player icon
Season 1

Memorial Day is more than a three-day weekend. Behind the flags and folded chairs are names, faces, and stories we rarely hear in full. In this episode, we sit down with a Vietnam veteran who takes us from the moment he left home, to the first breath of humid air in Vietnam, to the long shadow the war cast on his life after he came home. He talks about the fear, the absurdity, the dark humor, and the fierce bonds that kept people going. the quiet battles that followed in his own mind and heart.

ASharpe Outlook is broadcast live Mondays at 8AM PT on K4HD Radio - Hollywood Talk Radio (www.k4hd.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). ASharpe Outlook TV Show is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).

ASharpe Outlook Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/asharpe-outlook--6643730/support.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:04.639
This program is designed to provide general information with regards

2
00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:07.679
to the subject matters covered. This information is given with

3
00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:12.080
the understanding that neither the hosts, guests, sponsors, or station

4
00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:17.480
are engaged in rendering any specific and personal medical, financial,

5
00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:22.800
legal counseling, professional service, or any advice. You should seek

6
00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:26.920
the services of competent professionals before applying or trying any

7
00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:29.640
suggested ideas.

8
00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:34.679
Hello and thank you for tuning in to a Sharp

9
00:00:34.759 --> 00:00:39.000
Outlook on pay for HD radio and talk or TV.

10
00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:43.880
I am Angela Sharp, your host. Our arm chair discussions

11
00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:47.479
with industry experts will give you the steps, tools and

12
00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:51.560
information to be successful in business and to prepare you

13
00:00:51.719 --> 00:00:53.399
to be your best self.

14
00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:58.560
Hello and welcome to a Sharp Outlook. I'm Angela Sharp.

15
00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:04.400
Here at a Sharp out Look. We talk honestly about

16
00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:08.480
topics and encourage and challenge you. And today is Memorial

17
00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:13.359
Day and I want to talk to you about Memorial Day.

18
00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:16.840
It's more than just a three day weekend. Behind the

19
00:01:16.840 --> 00:01:21.079
flags and the folded chairs, our names and faces and

20
00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:26.200
stories we rarely hear in full. But today I want

21
00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:30.680
to sit down with you and talk to you about

22
00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:34.840
what some of the military goes through as they are

23
00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:39.079
going out to war so that we have the benefits

24
00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:46.439
that we have today, freedoms, liberties, opportunities that we have,

25
00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:49.359
and they are there to make sure we continue to

26
00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:55.239
have those benefits. But when we talk about we hear

27
00:01:55.560 --> 00:01:57.760
on the media they talk about all the time about

28
00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:00.719
the cost of war. A plane was hit, it costs

29
00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:04.319
this much. The boat was hit, it costs this much.

30
00:02:04.680 --> 00:02:09.080
They use this much machinery, it costs this much. But

31
00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:13.639
I don't often hear anyone talk about the cost of

32
00:02:13.719 --> 00:02:18.120
war how it's related to the lives that are involved

33
00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:24.599
in actually fighting for our country and fighting for our

34
00:02:24.680 --> 00:02:29.080
liberties and fighting for the things that we sometimes even

35
00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:33.319
take advantage of. And I think I would, you know,

36
00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:36.479
I would like us to really be serious about Memorial Day.

37
00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:43.520
I have my stars and stripes with me, and I

38
00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:48.439
wanted to say I appreciate all of you veterans who

39
00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:56.599
have gone to war and that have sacrificed the utmost

40
00:02:56.960 --> 00:03:00.759
for our liberties and for our opportun unities here in

41
00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:05.840
this nation. You are appreciated, you are loved, and we

42
00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:09.639
thank you from the bud of our hearts that you

43
00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:14.919
have taken that step and made that sacrifice just for

44
00:03:15.159 --> 00:03:19.599
our nation. Thank you, God bless your family, and God

45
00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:25.280
love you. One of the things I wanted to talk about,

46
00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:29.360
like I said, is the ultimate sacrifice that is has

47
00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:33.439
been paid for our liberty. Memorial Day is a time

48
00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:36.680
of recognizing and remembering those that have gone to war

49
00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:42.039
and they didn't come home and their lives are changed,

50
00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:47.280
their families' lives are changed forever. But one of the

51
00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:52.280
things is that I want to say is besides the

52
00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:55.360
cost of all of the equipment and all of those things,

53
00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:59.240
the cost that our men and women have put on

54
00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:02.759
the line. Some of them, they did come home, but

55
00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:07.159
they still left something behind. Some of them were injured,

56
00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.520
and they left limbs, they left emotions, they left peace,

57
00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:17.839
they left their health behind in a foreign land. And

58
00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:21.920
they've come home and they're not theirselves. And I'm wondering,

59
00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:25.399
and I want you to think about how did they

60
00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:29.759
come home? If they did not come home as they left,

61
00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:34.480
then they have sacrificed something. Let's just think about what

62
00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:38.800
they were presented with when they actually went out to

63
00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:43.199
fight on our behalf. You know, what do you think

64
00:04:44.199 --> 00:04:49.160
crossed their mind before they even got there. They went

65
00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:52.959
to training, they went and learned the skills that they

66
00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:57.839
needed to be able to participate in that war. But

67
00:04:57.959 --> 00:05:02.839
what were their thoughts before or they got there? And

68
00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:06.680
what were their thoughts for those that returned home? Have

69
00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:09.600
we ever talked about that? Have we ever talked with

70
00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:13.199
someone who has experienced that? Have we ever been involved

71
00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:17.800
enough to say, I'd like to hear your story, because

72
00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:22.879
imagine what they're going through. They land in a place

73
00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:25.839
in there. What do they see, what do they hear?

74
00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:32.519
What are they smelling? What are they feeling? Just imagine

75
00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:35.879
being in that place. We can't have compassion and empathy

76
00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:39.240
if we cannot see that. We have stepped in their shoes.

77
00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:42.360
And I want us for today to step in the

78
00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:45.360
shoes of those that have gone in and sacrificed everything.

79
00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:48.199
Step in the shoes of those that have gone there

80
00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:53.879
and they have left limb or even emotions or health

81
00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:58.279
there in another land and they've come home. What do

82
00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:01.399
you think they felt when they first got there? The

83
00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:06.360
temperature was different, It's very hot, it's very humid. They're perspiring,

84
00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:13.199
and then they're on alert. They're constantly on alert. We

85
00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:16.360
have people coaching these days and talking about the reptilian

86
00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:20.000
side of our brain, where it is you know, fight

87
00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:23.720
or flight, and so they're in this this stage of

88
00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:28.160
where they're in survival mode all of the time. The

89
00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:32.279
dopamine is running. They're always tense, they're always you know,

90
00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:39.040
ready to fight, but can never ever like really rest.

91
00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:41.920
How are you going to sleep when you hear the

92
00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:45.240
gun shots in the night? How are you going to

93
00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:47.920
sleep when you don't know what your enemy is getting

94
00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:51.639
ready to do. So they are on high alert all day,

95
00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:57.120
all night, and the emotions are at their highest peak.

96
00:06:57.800 --> 00:07:02.680
There's no resting, there's no peace. It's just anxiety and

97
00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:07.480
also some fear. You can't put out the fact that

98
00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:10.720
they there's not going to be fear because we do

99
00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:13.680
want to survive, we do want to make it to

100
00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:17.600
come home. So there's a lot of emotions there. There's

101
00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:20.399
a lot of things that they're experiencing. There's a lot

102
00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:24.360
of things that you know, maybe they didn't anticipate to

103
00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:28.480
the fullest until they got there. And they're saying to themselves,

104
00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:36.480
is this real? This isn't training anymore. I'm in the

105
00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:40.000
real spot now. I really have to be you know,

106
00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:43.600
on my p's and q's. I can't make a mistake.

107
00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:49.399
All of those things are crossing their minds while they're

108
00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:58.680
trying to do their duty as a person in the military.

109
00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:03.879
What was their biggest challenge? Is it the heat? They

110
00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:08.199
are in a different country that's probably a lot hotter

111
00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:15.560
than here. The terrain is probably more difficult to maneuver through,

112
00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:20.160
you know, is their exhaustion, is their hunger? What kind

113
00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:24.240
of challenges are they're facing besides just the enemy trying

114
00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:26.720
to take them out? There are a lot of challenges.

115
00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:29.439
What's going on in their minds with their families so

116
00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:34.519
far away. Maybe their wives, you know, are at the

117
00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:37.600
point of getting ready to give birth and they're not

118
00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:40.320
able to be there, and they're thinking about that, and

119
00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:42.519
they're wanting to think more about that, and they're wanting

120
00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:45.200
to feel the emotion of the happiness of a new

121
00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:49.080
child coming. But then they also realize they have all

122
00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:51.879
of this danger around, and so they have to focus

123
00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:55.600
on something else. They have to become someone else and

124
00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:59.440
absolutely shut those things out of their minds so that

125
00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:04.039
they can be successful in their battles and successful enough

126
00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:08.000
to be able to come home. They they go through

127
00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:11.759
days and days and days of repetition. Every day. They

128
00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:15.759
can't just go and pick up, you know, their tablet

129
00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:18.559
or pick up their phone and be playing video games

130
00:09:18.679 --> 00:09:22.120
or run into the movies or doing these things. They

131
00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:25.399
are in a place where they are locked in and

132
00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:29.399
they don't have anywhere to go. They can't go anywhere.

133
00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:34.480
Besides the fear, they're having to cope with, the boredom

134
00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:38.480
of the same thing every day, every day, and also

135
00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:43.039
the grief that they feel day to day when they're

136
00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:46.559
being attacked and one of their comrades is has now

137
00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:51.120
been injured or hurt or did not make it at all.

138
00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:57.480
They develop a brotherhood. One of the greatest things that

139
00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:02.279
I've learned when I have walked and talked and been

140
00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:06.360
around some of our veterans, used to work with them

141
00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:11.240
when I went to the homeless shelters and when I

142
00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:18.679
did volunteer work feeding the homeless. You can't imagine how

143
00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:22.879
many of those that are homeless are veterans, those that

144
00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:26.720
have come back and they didn't receive all of the

145
00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:29.960
benefits that they assumed that they were going to receive

146
00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:35.240
because that's what was promised. They are homeless because they

147
00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:41.039
might have emotional issues and so they are not receiving,

148
00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:44.879
you know, the disabilities that they need. And they're out

149
00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:49.399
there and people walk past them as if they're not there.

150
00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:54.720
They don't notice that they're human being. They don't notice

151
00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:58.440
that they used to be a soldier. If you would

152
00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:01.559
just stop for a moment, they would owe you their story.

153
00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:05.840
They would love to tell you their story, and that

154
00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:11.000
would give you opportunity to recognize them and recognize the

155
00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:14.480
price they have paid. The cost of war is far

156
00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:21.120
greater than just ammunition and a plane and a submarine

157
00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:25.159
and a boat and maybe some food and some clothing.

158
00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:30.039
There are lives, There are faces, there are families, There

159
00:11:30.039 --> 00:11:36.000
are children, There are mothers, there are fathers, there are grandchildren.

160
00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:42.159
So many faces, so many hearts, so many lives, so

161
00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:48.360
many emotions. That's a high cost for war because they

162
00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:52.440
come back spent out sometimes and they're never the same again.

163
00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:58.039
That's a high price to pay for our freedoms and

164
00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:01.519
then to come home and not be recognized, eyes are noticed,

165
00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:05.840
or even appreciated. So I'm talking to you on this

166
00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:13.360
day where we are remembering, we are honoring. Some of

167
00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:17.559
us are having great, big cookouts and people coming over

168
00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:21.240
and laughing and having a great time. But think about

169
00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:25.039
the cost of those who aren't at a cookout, who

170
00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:29.679
aren't even with their family aren't having a great time.

171
00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:33.480
And I'm not trying to say this to you to

172
00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:37.080
be a downer. I'm saying these things because they are

173
00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:41.360
human beings, and I believe, after what they have sacrificed,

174
00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:45.080
I think we should give them a little more than

175
00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:48.960
just walking past them as if they don't exist, or

176
00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:52.399
going through the ritual. We bring our flags, we wear

177
00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:55.679
our shirts with the stars and the stripes, and we

178
00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:59.399
say the Pledge of allegiance, and we go through all

179
00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:03.039
of these parades and different things. But there are human

180
00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:07.519
beings that are suffering, that have gone and fought in

181
00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:12.360
our numerous wars, and they left. They were young men

182
00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:17.519
and women, teenagers that really hadn't seen the really good,

183
00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:24.679
bad and ugly of life. They walked in they decided

184
00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:30.639
to volunteer or some way back when we're even drafted,

185
00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:34.759
there was no choice, and they went and did their job.

186
00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:37.919
They went and did their duty, and many did not

187
00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:41.519
come home. But then there are some that have come

188
00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:46.120
home and they are still suffering every day. They are

189
00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:50.320
still suffering. I remember when my brother went to the

190
00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:55.000
military and he came home. And I know my brother

191
00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:57.799
when he left, he was just so much fun. We

192
00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:01.799
used to use five years older than me. He used

193
00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:03.840
to joke, and we used to tease, and we used

194
00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:06.720
to play. And he came home and he was someone

195
00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:10.200
I had I didn't even recognize. I didn't know who

196
00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:15.600
this person was. He was anxious. He walked around in

197
00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:20.159
fear all the time, looking for the enemy to show

198
00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:23.360
up at any time, or they're sending secrets, or you

199
00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:26.399
have to be careful. There was so much anxiety. And

200
00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:30.759
he came home. We didn't know who he was. We

201
00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:36.240
got him some help. He was on medication, but just

202
00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:40.679
the stress of all of those bottled up emotions that

203
00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:47.840
he could not resolve caused him to have a massive

204
00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:53.679
heart attack while he was sleeping. His friends came to

205
00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:58.200
visit him days later, and they found my brother lying

206
00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:01.879
in bed with a bi laying on his chest. He

207
00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:06.039
was reading scriptures and he passed away. And he was

208
00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:10.000
a young man. He was not an old man. He

209
00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:15.840
was in his early fifties. Many have gone to war,

210
00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:20.080
Many have paid a price, Many have paid a cost

211
00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:23.679
that we don't even think about. And I think if

212
00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:27.799
we're going to start examining the cost of war, I

213
00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:32.120
think we need to include the faces and the lives

214
00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:37.039
of our children, and our grandchildren and our cousins and

215
00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:41.759
whatever relationship they are to you. That is a cost.

216
00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:46.480
That is a cost that should be tallied up, and

217
00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:50.399
it should be remembered, and it should be mentioned as

218
00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:55.519
something that you cannot pay back, but you can at

219
00:15:55.600 --> 00:16:01.360
least honor it and show more gratitude and more appreciation,

220
00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:07.519
and even speak to Congress who has our money about

221
00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:14.080
setting aside funds that actually benefits the families of those

222
00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:17.799
that did not make it back, benefits the families that

223
00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:20.679
they have come back and they're not the same person,

224
00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:25.000
so that they can maybe get some type of treatment,

225
00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:28.879
some type of training, some type of help, so they

226
00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:32.879
can at least begin to live a normal life again.

227
00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:38.480
But just think about, you know, the brotherhood that they

228
00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:43.480
develop when they're in the military. They develop friendships, they

229
00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:49.360
develop families while they're there. They still I talk to

230
00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:54.480
veterans and they steal contact and stay in close touch

231
00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:58.960
with those that were standing by their side, those that

232
00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:04.200
were protecting their back, those that were there working at

233
00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:07.680
the same place they were working and feeling the same emotions.

234
00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:11.559
They are able to talk with them. They're a family,

235
00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:15.000
and I know there are different foundations that are out

236
00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:21.240
there for our military veterans that we can help to

237
00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:25.880
contribute so that they can, whether it's music that helps

238
00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:30.359
them have a life, or if it's skills or some

239
00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:34.920
kind of trade or whatever it is, let's try to

240
00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:41.240
bring them back into society instead of letting them wander

241
00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:45.519
on the streets hungry and don't know which way to

242
00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:48.680
go and don't know where to go. While we're just

243
00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:52.519
living our lives and going like going on like nothing

244
00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:57.200
has occurred. Something great occurred and it was very costly,

245
00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:00.920
and I just want to remind us of that so

246
00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:07.279
that when we're celebrating, we're remembering, we're recognizing also that

247
00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:12.680
there are people that we need to give more honor to.

248
00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:18.880
One of the things also that I wanted to mention that,

249
00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:24.680
you know, besides them being in the war, they're away

250
00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:27.359
from home. They're away from family. They just can't pick

251
00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:30.319
up a phone whenever they want to, they can't just

252
00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:33.759
call whenever they want to, They can't always even share

253
00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:37.440
where they are with their families, so they're kind of isolated.

254
00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:43.119
They're alone, and they build this community with each other,

255
00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:51.880
but you know, like coming home and emotionally and practically

256
00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:58.200
some of them having difficulty getting back into the patterns

257
00:18:58.440 --> 00:19:04.200
of life and getting back into the partners of working.

258
00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:07.480
And some of them they left straight from high school

259
00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:10.680
and went into the military. The only job they had

260
00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:15.359
was their job in the military. But when they come home,

261
00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:20.559
helping them acclimate to society and acclimate to the new norms,

262
00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:26.079
acclimate to new equipment and new technology and different things

263
00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:30.440
like that that they haven't had the privilege or the

264
00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:35.519
opportunity to be introduced to and helping them along, not

265
00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:39.160
treating them as if, oh, wow, where you been. Well,

266
00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:43.880
they've been there trying to protect our rights and the

267
00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:47.279
things that we just figure is going to be there

268
00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:53.799
every day. But they need our assistance. They need our help,

269
00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:58.440
They need our taking some time, sacrificing some time that

270
00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:05.720
would benefit them growing and being introduced back into society.

271
00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:09.680
To be a young man straight from high school going

272
00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:14.839
into military training and straight to war, they haven't had

273
00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:20.559
a chance to actually dream. I'm sure they probably when

274
00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:23.519
they first were in high school, or maybe when they

275
00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:26.960
first went to training, they had dreams about what they

276
00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:30.240
would do when they got back. And then some got

277
00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:35.680
injured to the point they have some disabilities and they're

278
00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:39.960
feeling like they can't fulfill their dreams. We're able to

279
00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:44.720
do a lot of work remotely, so there's opportunity for

280
00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:48.359
other things that you can be involved in. You veterans

281
00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:52.720
that might be listening, take a chance and look at

282
00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:56.839
what you really wanted to do in life and find

283
00:20:57.160 --> 00:21:00.559
the path the road. Even if you have to have

284
00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:05.200
coaching or counseling, find someone that can be there that

285
00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:09.319
can help you get yourself centered, get you to the

286
00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:13.519
place where you know exactly what you really want to do.

287
00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:16.839
You might have gone to the military, but that was

288
00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:21.720
not your total purpose in life. There were other dreams

289
00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:26.200
and other things that you were purposed to do, and

290
00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:32.279
so finding that and establishing a life for yourself that

291
00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:37.880
takes away and brings you more of those positive things

292
00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:41.200
instead of all of the negative things. I know, your

293
00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:46.440
dreams sometimes you're having the nightmares remembering where you were,

294
00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:50.039
remembering the things that were happening, remembering the things that

295
00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:54.200
you saw, remembering the smells that you had to endure.

296
00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:58.400
We need to have more positive things that are happening

297
00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:02.599
to help you place that in your life where it

298
00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:06.119
should be. It's just a memory, it's not who you are,

299
00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:09.839
and that you have other things that you can accomplish.

300
00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:15.119
And so people that are out there businesses or foundations

301
00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:19.160
or different ones. Let's find those that have come home

302
00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:25.680
and they're trying to be re introduced into society after

303
00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:30.640
they've spent a number of years in the military. Let's

304
00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:33.839
help them get on their feet, Let's help them be

305
00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:37.640
able to dream, Let's help them be able to choose

306
00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:42.680
a path for their lives, because there's way too many

307
00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:47.880
lives that have gone there. They've come home, and like

308
00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:52.160
I said, they are in our shelters. Some of them

309
00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:56.480
have ended up committing crimes and they're in our prisons

310
00:22:57.240 --> 00:23:02.799
because they didn't get the counseling or the emotional help

311
00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:06.720
that they needed to be able to put those things

312
00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:11.640
aside and become who they really are as a person.

313
00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:16.200
And so helping them being able to acclimate back into

314
00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:21.319
society is really important, and we all can assist in that,

315
00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:26.119
especially those that do coaching and counseling and helping them

316
00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:31.319
to put some of those things in their right perspective

317
00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:35.799
in their lives. Like I said, they were in a time.

318
00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:38.960
They were in a time where they were in survival

319
00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:43.279
mode all the time, and so it does affect the emotions.

320
00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:47.519
It affects you mentally, it affects you physically, and so

321
00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:52.119
being able to come back and just get involved in

322
00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:54.720
a routine at home, it's going to be a change.

323
00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:57.799
It's going to be a challenge. But it's not like

324
00:23:57.880 --> 00:24:03.319
we don't have help all around the country that can

325
00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:07.720
bring you back to who you really are and allow

326
00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:13.640
you to be able to begin to dream. Some came

327
00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:19.640
home because of the nightmares. Their relationships got destroyed. They

328
00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:25.240
weren't able to be able to interact with their children

329
00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:29.240
because they came home. Like I saw my brother, my

330
00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:33.319
children were scared of their uncle because he would just

331
00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:36.079
sit and talk to himself, or like I said, he

332
00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:40.359
was talking about, you know, people listening in and just

333
00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:42.319
all kinds of things, as if there was some kind

334
00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:46.039
of secret, secret program that he was involved in or whatever,

335
00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:48.440
and he was reliving it over and over and over,

336
00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:51.319
and it was at the point my children were afraid

337
00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:55.000
of him. And so some of these people are coming

338
00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:59.880
home and their relationships need assistance in being able to mend.

339
00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:08.200
I'm talking about real cost of war. It's a human cost.

340
00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:11.960
It's a human cost, it's a family cost, it's a

341
00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:16.200
children's cost. All of this is a price of what

342
00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:22.160
war is about. And they come home and they end up,

343
00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:28.240
you know, the wife feels afraid for the children, and

344
00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:31.599
so they end up in divorce. They lose their wives,

345
00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:35.200
they lose their families, they lose their homes because they

346
00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:39.440
didn't have someone who would reach out and cross that

347
00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:44.799
line and say, hey, man, I've been watching you. You're

348
00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:49.359
not yourself. Let's talk. Let's talk. You can talk to me,

349
00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:53.680
you can share with me. I'm a listener, I'm there

350
00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:56.839
for you. I'm there to listen, I'm there to help.

351
00:25:57.279 --> 00:26:01.720
I'm there to hold your hand, walk with you through

352
00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:06.400
this journey so that you can get the help and

353
00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:11.920
the relief that you need. But you know, the relationships,

354
00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:15.960
you know work, even their outlook on life that's probably

355
00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:18.920
so much different. So we need to be reaching out

356
00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:22.200
and talking to them when they come home. Let's seek

357
00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:27.319
those that provide that kind of advice, that provide that

358
00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:32.039
kind of assistance so that they can walk that journey

359
00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:38.000
and be the men and the women that they always

360
00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:42.680
wanted to be and come home and be accepted and

361
00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:47.279
their families, accepted in their communities and accept it in society.

362
00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:54.559
And if there are issues, we're there to hold them up. Yes,

363
00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:58.279
we are to lift up their arms and lift up

364
00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:01.599
their hands and be the support that they need so

365
00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:05.759
that they can become all that they can become. That

366
00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:08.720
is what we do is neighbors to one another. That's

367
00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:12.319
what we do as citizens for one another. We help

368
00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:20.480
one another. And for those listening who don't understand how

369
00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:26.000
PTSD or moral injury actually feels on a day to

370
00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:32.759
day basis, I've been kind of covering that they have triggers,

371
00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:36.480
things that set them off, set them off into that

372
00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:44.440
survival mode. And if the families haven't gone for counseling,

373
00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:49.400
haven't ever learned about or understand, they're not going to

374
00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:53.079
be able to relate with what has happened to that

375
00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:56.880
loved one that used to not be that way. And

376
00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:59.680
now they've come home and I don't know who they are.

377
00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:04.079
I don't recognize them. Like I said, the nightmare or

378
00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:08.640
the frustrations or the quick anger or the responses that

379
00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:13.759
are that you don't understand. They've been through a lot,

380
00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:17.519
They've been through the cost of war, and they have

381
00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:22.880
paid a price, and they're physically and emotionally in a

382
00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:30.480
place where they need our love, our compassion, empathy and

383
00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:36.960
help so that they can be themselves again or even

384
00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:43.160
better than where they were when they left. But those

385
00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:48.720
families need our help. They need our help, and I

386
00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:53.880
believe we should do everything we possibly can to provide

387
00:28:53.920 --> 00:29:00.319
that help to them so that they can be what

388
00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:05.839
they want to be. They had challenges that they've faced.

389
00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:11.599
So many challenges they faced, we can't even imagine. We

390
00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:18.160
see certain things on movies, and we've watched movies, and

391
00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:21.000
some of you have even played games you know that

392
00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:26.119
deal with war, and you know those kinds of things,

393
00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:32.279
but it's not the same kind of physical and mental

394
00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:37.319
feelings that you are going to feel, not to the

395
00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:41.720
point where it affects you. Some of the people that

396
00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:46.160
I know that have come back from more they have

397
00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:51.480
physical injuries from I didn't realize that, you know, parachuting

398
00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:55.640
from planes you can end up with, you know, damage

399
00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:59.279
to the knees, damage to the hips, and so all

400
00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:03.640
these serious surgeries that are having to take place on

401
00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:08.799
a regular basis, not to mention the emotional things that occur.

402
00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:13.000
Then there's exposure to chemicals that are out there because

403
00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:17.200
everybody's not fighting fair and so they're being exposed to

404
00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:20.880
chemicals and they're coming home and there, and they have

405
00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:26.599
serious diseases. I know my father who was in World

406
00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:30.640
War Two and he happened to be out on the

407
00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:36.240
boat when the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nakasaki.

408
00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:43.240
And when he got back, he was in his early

409
00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:54.359
fifties and he had bone cancer, extremely painful, extremely difficult.

410
00:30:55.799 --> 00:31:00.279
He died very young, and my mother checked in with

411
00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:06.480
the military services to talk about them and to make

412
00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:10.200
arrangements for my father. And I guess it's an understanding

413
00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:14.720
that that particular war, there were a lot of military

414
00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:20.559
people exposed to the radiation and they did contract serious

415
00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:29.440
diseases and they passed young cost of war. I was

416
00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:33.759
only eighteen when my father passed, and yes, I miss

417
00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:38.960
him greatly because he was my hero. But those are

418
00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:44.240
the prices that we all contribute when our family members

419
00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:49.960
go to war and they come back injured or they

420
00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:53.720
don't come back. So there's a lot to honor our

421
00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:58.680
memorial day, things that have occurred, things that are going on,

422
00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:04.039
things that could could go on because they decided to

423
00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:11.599
answer the call to be a part of our military

424
00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:20.599
services for the protection of their own personal families, but

425
00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:24.079
also the families of everyone in this nation. That is

426
00:32:24.119 --> 00:32:30.559
a huge sacrifice and it's a huge cost. And when

427
00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:37.359
we count up the cost, are we providing some type

428
00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:42.039
of compensation, And it's not always money. Maybe a smile,

429
00:32:43.640 --> 00:32:51.039
maybe a hello, maybe a free dinner or a free lunch.

430
00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:55.480
I know some of the restaurants on holidays they give

431
00:32:55.680 --> 00:33:01.799
free lunches to our veterans. Of those free lunches or

432
00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:06.200
a free breakfast, or a free dinner or something like that,

433
00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:09.880
it is highly appreciated. I have talked to different ones.

434
00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:16.240
In fact, they look forward to those meals every holiday,

435
00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:20.839
Memorial Day and Veterans Day where they feel like someone

436
00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:29.079
understands and knows who I am and truly appreciates my sacrifice.

437
00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:34.480
So it's really important that those wonderful things that you're

438
00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:39.160
doing at these restaurants continues. But even we as citizens,

439
00:33:40.039 --> 00:33:43.039
you can buy and now these days you can get

440
00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:46.160
free meals that you can buy and pay for. You

441
00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:50.160
can just go down the street and hand them to

442
00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:53.640
or go to one of those Veterans centers and hand

443
00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:56.759
them out to some of our veterans so that they

444
00:33:56.759 --> 00:34:01.720
can besides just a Memorial Day on Veterer's Day, just

445
00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:03.720
when they just feel like it, they can go in

446
00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:06.519
and get a free lunch, they can get a free dinner,

447
00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:10.400
they can get free breakfast, you know, or they can

448
00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:14.159
go pick up something at a store that they really need.

449
00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:20.960
It would just bless their hearts. And like I said,

450
00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:24.039
I know these things because for years I used to

451
00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:28.639
go and feed at the homeless shelters and even on

452
00:34:28.679 --> 00:34:31.800
the streets, and I would hear them talk and just

453
00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:35.199
being recognized and being noticed or just being looked in

454
00:34:35.239 --> 00:34:42.280
the eyes was very reassuring and very helpful to them.

455
00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:47.519
Some of the things that, you know, I just don't

456
00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:51.159
want to bring up a lot of negative things, but

457
00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:57.360
I know that some of the military men and women

458
00:34:57.400 --> 00:35:04.840
that have come back don't feel that they were received

459
00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:09.039
in the manner that I think we should be receiving

460
00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:15.519
our military. Maybe it wasn't a popular war, but they

461
00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:20.639
went and they fought because the call was there. So

462
00:35:21.239 --> 00:35:25.639
we can't take it out on them. We need to

463
00:35:25.719 --> 00:35:30.079
honor them that they were assigned a duty and they

464
00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:35.239
needed to perform the duties that they were assigned. But

465
00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:38.239
I just want us to recognize all of the things

466
00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:43.800
that do take place when those people sign up and

467
00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:49.440
say okay, I'm going to I'm going to do my

468
00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:52.800
best to protect our nation. I'm going to do my

469
00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:59.920
best to protect and honor the privileges and the freedom

470
00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:03.280
and to make sure that those aren't taken away or

471
00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:08.159
none of those are lost. You know, like I held

472
00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:10.639
up my flag and I said, we say the pledge

473
00:36:10.679 --> 00:36:13.440
all the time, A pledge allegiance to the flag, to

474
00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:17.400
the United States of America, and to the Republic for

475
00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:22.320
which it stands. One nation. I know we're divided at times,

476
00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:31.079
but one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

477
00:36:31.199 --> 00:36:35.119
We say those words, but do we really mean them?

478
00:36:35.800 --> 00:36:39.239
You see the conversations that are going on. Do you

479
00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:44.800
really mean them? And while we're sharing so much ugliness

480
00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:49.079
in social media, I want you to understand we do

481
00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:51.519
have those that are in the military or those that

482
00:36:51.639 --> 00:36:55.440
have been in the military reading some of the nonsense

483
00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:59.800
that's being put out there in social media. Do you

484
00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:06.119
think they feel honored and appreciated and respected and loved

485
00:37:06.719 --> 00:37:11.119
and have compassion given to them when they're seeing this

486
00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:15.639
ugliness and social media? Do you think they feel like

487
00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:21.800
their sacrifices losing a leg, losing an arm, losing both legs,

488
00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:27.800
losing their hearing, cost that they've had to pay so

489
00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:35.519
that you can make ridiculous statements. Do you think that

490
00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:38.840
really shows appreciation? What do you think they are feeling

491
00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:44.239
when they see these things. It's very disturbing to them.

492
00:37:45.400 --> 00:37:50.039
It's hurtful, it's painful, and even after they have paid

493
00:37:50.119 --> 00:37:55.199
so much, they see that those that they have given

494
00:37:55.320 --> 00:38:01.119
so much to don't even recognize that they did it

495
00:38:01.159 --> 00:38:04.360
because the call was there and they felt it was

496
00:38:04.679 --> 00:38:09.159
their responsibility and they were at the age to go

497
00:38:10.320 --> 00:38:16.239
and fight for the nation. We need to respect and

498
00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:19.440
be cautious of the things that we say, especially when

499
00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:25.000
we have those that are currently even serving in the military. Now,

500
00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:28.440
maybe the leadership it may not be as you would

501
00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:31.679
want it to be. Make sure you're focusing on the

502
00:38:31.800 --> 00:38:39.679
right persons. But don't hurt those that have signed a

503
00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:44.599
piece of paper that says I'm willing to lay all

504
00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:49.960
down so that we could have the freedom to say

505
00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:52.599
the things that we want to say, do the things

506
00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:57.400
we want to do whenever we want to. I just

507
00:38:57.400 --> 00:38:59.719
want to ask you this question when you hear memorial

508
00:39:00.920 --> 00:39:08.000
what comes up for you emotionally, mentally, mentally, physically. Is

509
00:39:08.119 --> 00:39:14.039
Memorial Day a remembrance or is it grief? Or is

510
00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:18.679
it pride or is it anger or something else? What

511
00:39:18.920 --> 00:39:23.480
are you feeling when you hear a memorial Day? And

512
00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:26.559
then when you're thinking, and I hope it's more than

513
00:39:26.760 --> 00:39:30.519
just a picnic and having family over and you know,

514
00:39:30.639 --> 00:39:33.840
having your steaks on the grill and your beer and

515
00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:36.760
the cooler. And I hope that it's more than that.

516
00:39:37.559 --> 00:39:41.360
I hope it is a recognition of those who have

517
00:39:41.480 --> 00:39:49.199
sacrificed everything, and those who have sacrificed something. I hope

518
00:39:49.239 --> 00:39:53.039
you're thinking of them and put your like I said,

519
00:39:53.960 --> 00:39:58.199
place yourself in their shoes. What are they feeling today?

520
00:39:59.159 --> 00:40:03.239
Is what's more important than you having a holiday today?

521
00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:06.039
You didn't have to go to work, Yes, that is

522
00:40:07.119 --> 00:40:09.599
it is a blessed thing. And you got paid to

523
00:40:09.639 --> 00:40:13.719
not go to work today. That's even better. But you

524
00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:20.159
know what, those are privileges we have because someone went

525
00:40:20.199 --> 00:40:25.960
to battle in one of our wars. So what are

526
00:40:26.039 --> 00:40:32.679
you really thinking when you are celebrating today? What are

527
00:40:32.719 --> 00:40:37.880
your memories? What are your emotions? What is the most

528
00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:41.920
important thing on your mind today that you want to

529
00:40:41.960 --> 00:40:45.239
talk about, that you wanted to discuss that is actually

530
00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:50.400
related to the memorial of those that have did not

531
00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:56.920
come home and understanding. Others came home, but they left

532
00:40:56.960 --> 00:41:01.719
a lot behind. And also those that are still there.

533
00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:06.880
What are they going through? How are you remembering memorrel

534
00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:14.639
day and what are you feeling emotionally, physically, practically. What

535
00:41:14.679 --> 00:41:21.079
does it mean to you when you think about when

536
00:41:21.079 --> 00:41:26.559
they're coming home. Some of them probably might even have regrets.

537
00:41:29.039 --> 00:41:31.239
If they could talk to their younger self, you know,

538
00:41:31.320 --> 00:41:36.000
what would they have said, oh man, I shouldn't have

539
00:41:36.039 --> 00:41:39.239
done this, or oh man, I'm glad I stood up

540
00:41:40.079 --> 00:41:45.239
for our liberties and our freedoms of this nation and

541
00:41:45.280 --> 00:41:51.400
feeling that pride that they took that step, a very

542
00:41:51.519 --> 00:41:56.679
dangerous step, and I think we need to stand and

543
00:41:56.760 --> 00:42:02.159
applaud them every chance we can, because they did something

544
00:42:02.400 --> 00:42:05.880
that none of us would have wanted to do. They

545
00:42:05.880 --> 00:42:10.599
did something that, even if you were eligible, you didn't

546
00:42:10.599 --> 00:42:16.920
sign up to do. They took on something that costs

547
00:42:17.000 --> 00:42:20.440
them a lot. And let's remember the cost. It's more

548
00:42:20.519 --> 00:42:25.159
than dollar bills, It's more than silver and gold. It's

549
00:42:25.519 --> 00:42:31.280
human beings, their faces, their emotions, their losses, and their

550
00:42:31.360 --> 00:42:38.199
losses are great for you veterans who might be struggling.

551
00:42:41.239 --> 00:42:47.000
What can we say? What can we as civilians who

552
00:42:47.039 --> 00:42:49.840
are listening right now. What can we say or what

553
00:42:49.880 --> 00:42:55.519
can we do to support veterans better, something more concrete,

554
00:42:55.679 --> 00:43:02.559
something that we can do and noticing them. As I said,

555
00:43:02.599 --> 00:43:03.840
there are a lot of them that are in the

556
00:43:03.880 --> 00:43:10.360
homeless shelters. You know, maybe I know we can you know,

557
00:43:10.880 --> 00:43:14.079
build advocacies for a lot of different issues, and we

558
00:43:14.119 --> 00:43:19.119
could build advocacies to make certain that our governments build

559
00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:24.480
tiny homes or some kind of housing for our veterans.

560
00:43:24.920 --> 00:43:30.519
That should be a clarion call for each and every

561
00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:35.519
one of us writing letters to our governments making sure

562
00:43:35.800 --> 00:43:38.639
that the funds are spent and they didn't forget the

563
00:43:38.760 --> 00:43:41.840
veterans so that they have some place to stay. They

564
00:43:41.840 --> 00:43:44.679
don't need a mansion. They just want a roof over

565
00:43:44.719 --> 00:43:48.239
their head so they're not having to sit under the bridge,

566
00:43:48.400 --> 00:43:51.119
they're not having to sit in a tent and it's

567
00:43:51.719 --> 00:43:56.679
thirty two degrees outside or even colder. That they can

568
00:43:56.760 --> 00:44:00.360
have a bike to ride, or they can have a

569
00:44:00.360 --> 00:44:04.760
scooter or even one that has runs on batteries just

570
00:44:04.800 --> 00:44:08.639
in case maybe their leg is missing. There should be

571
00:44:08.719 --> 00:44:11.480
something that we can do as citizens to show our

572
00:44:11.480 --> 00:44:16.159
appreciation and certainly we've wasted a lot of money government

573
00:44:16.199 --> 00:44:19.840
money in the past. Let's use that money for something

574
00:44:19.880 --> 00:44:24.800
that actually will make a difference in people's lives. Let's

575
00:44:24.880 --> 00:44:29.880
make sure that our veterans that come home they have

576
00:44:29.960 --> 00:44:32.960
a place to stay, a roof over their head, a

577
00:44:33.039 --> 00:44:36.280
little stove that they can fix their own meal, some

578
00:44:36.440 --> 00:44:39.639
place to lay their head at night, some place they

579
00:44:39.639 --> 00:44:42.599
can call home. Because one of the things is really

580
00:44:42.679 --> 00:44:45.800
even important. They need to have an address to even

581
00:44:45.840 --> 00:44:49.920
get benefits. Some of them don't have benefits because they

582
00:44:49.960 --> 00:44:52.000
are on the streets and they don't have an address,

583
00:44:52.079 --> 00:44:54.760
and they can't stay with their relatives. So what are

584
00:44:54.800 --> 00:44:58.079
they going to do, so they can't receive any of

585
00:44:58.079 --> 00:45:00.880
the benefits that are available to them because they don't

586
00:45:00.880 --> 00:45:04.800
have an address. So, by gosh, we need our governors,

587
00:45:04.840 --> 00:45:08.039
we need our state representatives, we need our senators, we

588
00:45:08.079 --> 00:45:12.000
need our council people to really take this to heart

589
00:45:12.639 --> 00:45:18.320
and think about doing something that really shows that you

590
00:45:18.440 --> 00:45:22.639
have counted the cost that they have made and you've

591
00:45:22.679 --> 00:45:27.920
provided a home. There are lots of places out there

592
00:45:27.960 --> 00:45:32.119
that have samples of tiny homes, and I'm sure there's

593
00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:36.440
land where they can be put together and it can

594
00:45:36.480 --> 00:45:46.719
be done. So however you decide to remember this Memorial Day.

595
00:45:46.840 --> 00:45:51.000
I hope that it's filled with gratitude and it's directed

596
00:45:51.119 --> 00:45:58.639
towards the right people, those who really did give a lot.

597
00:46:00.119 --> 00:46:04.199
Is directed to those who did not come home at all.

598
00:46:05.599 --> 00:46:12.400
Maybe take some flowers in to one of the cemeteries

599
00:46:13.679 --> 00:46:19.280
where the veterans are and place flowers there because there

600
00:46:19.639 --> 00:46:24.199
has not been communication with their family, and their family

601
00:46:24.239 --> 00:46:27.079
have forgotten, or they can't get there, or they can't

602
00:46:27.119 --> 00:46:31.519
afford go out and put some flowers there and say,

603
00:46:31.800 --> 00:46:35.960
I appreciate you and what you've done and what you've

604
00:46:36.159 --> 00:46:39.519
sacrificed and what you have given. Just so I can

605
00:46:39.559 --> 00:46:44.679
get on social media and be an idiot, I'm teasing.

606
00:46:44.719 --> 00:46:47.920
You're not an idiot. You're just voicing your opinion. But

607
00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:51.559
sometimes opinions can be cruel when you don't have all

608
00:46:51.559 --> 00:46:58.800
the facts. So let's show gratitude today. Let's show gratitude

609
00:46:58.840 --> 00:47:03.199
to those that have paid the price. Let's show gratitude

610
00:47:03.239 --> 00:47:08.920
to those who came home and weren't maybe exactly the

611
00:47:08.960 --> 00:47:16.159
way they've left. They've suffered, they have emotional and mental pain.

612
00:47:16.960 --> 00:47:21.559
They're trying to just get by. Let's show some love,

613
00:47:22.360 --> 00:47:26.400
Let's show some compassion, and most of all, let's show

614
00:47:26.440 --> 00:47:30.360
an awful lot of gratitude because we wouldn't have wanted

615
00:47:30.400 --> 00:47:33.199
to pay that price, and they did it for us,

616
00:47:34.280 --> 00:47:40.960
and we ought to cheer them, we ought to clap

617
00:47:41.039 --> 00:47:48.039
for them, we ought to try to inspire them. Let's

618
00:47:48.119 --> 00:47:52.599
let them know that we really appreciate what they've done,

619
00:47:52.840 --> 00:47:56.119
what they're doing, or what they're going to do, because

620
00:47:56.239 --> 00:47:59.480
I know someone out there listening is going to take

621
00:47:59.519 --> 00:48:05.119
to heart that they need counseling, they need coaching, they

622
00:48:05.159 --> 00:48:12.400
need assistance, they need your attention, they need your love

623
00:48:12.880 --> 00:48:20.000
and compassion. And for those that do coaching, consider talking

624
00:48:20.039 --> 00:48:22.880
to some of our veterans, talking to some of those

625
00:48:22.920 --> 00:48:27.440
that come back, and they have emotional triggers, and they

626
00:48:27.480 --> 00:48:32.119
have mental triggers, and they have physical triggers because they

627
00:48:32.199 --> 00:48:37.119
did pay a cost that was so high. They need

628
00:48:37.400 --> 00:48:41.679
your time and your attention so that they can make

629
00:48:41.719 --> 00:48:47.360
their lives better and they can have new lives that

630
00:48:47.400 --> 00:48:53.960
are not constantly reliving the war and all of the

631
00:48:53.960 --> 00:48:58.760
things that war brings about in people's lives and minds.

632
00:48:59.320 --> 00:49:02.159
I mean, they're people that have come home and because

633
00:49:02.199 --> 00:49:05.119
of the dreams and because of the nightmares, have decided

634
00:49:05.199 --> 00:49:08.440
not to marry and never to have children because they

635
00:49:08.559 --> 00:49:11.039
know that it would frighten them. It knows that they

636
00:49:11.079 --> 00:49:15.679
wouldn't impack them. So they have sacrifice the continuance of

637
00:49:15.760 --> 00:49:20.239
who they are because they didn't want to hurt someone else.

638
00:49:21.119 --> 00:49:26.159
That's love. They paid the price and then continue to

639
00:49:26.239 --> 00:49:32.480
pay because they don't want to harm. So I just

640
00:49:32.519 --> 00:49:36.239
want you to know that I appreciate your listening today.

641
00:49:37.119 --> 00:49:42.519
I appreciate you joining a Sharp Outlook on a weekly basis.

642
00:49:42.559 --> 00:49:48.960
We're here every Monday at eight am Pacific time eleven

643
00:49:49.000 --> 00:49:53.280
a m. Eastern time. We're here to bring knowledge, We're

644
00:49:53.280 --> 00:49:56.760
here to bring truth, and we're here to bring you

645
00:49:56.880 --> 00:50:01.360
information so that you can stay informed. So whatever you do,

646
00:50:02.480 --> 00:50:08.639
stay informed. I want to.

647
00:50:08.599 --> 00:50:11.679
Thank you for joining us on a Sharp Outlook. We

648
00:50:11.800 --> 00:50:14.960
have been informed and energized to take the next steps.

649
00:50:15.480 --> 00:50:19.000
We have posted links to websites and videos to learn

650
00:50:19.039 --> 00:50:22.719
more on today's topic. Please join us again next week

651
00:50:23.119 --> 00:50:27.159
or another thought provoking conversation right here on k for

652
00:50:27.639 --> 00:50:32.199
HD radio and Talk for TV. Listen to the podcast

653
00:50:32.320 --> 00:50:37.800
on all the podcast apps, and until next week, stay informed.