October 10, 2025 • 39 mins
Charities & nonprofits like Operation American Soldier & Adopt a Platoon Southie Style whose mission it is to send care packages to troops overseas, is having a harder time sending out care packages to troops due to a new regulation put out by the Universal Postal Union, an agency of the UN. The new regulations are causing backorders and delays. Representatives from Operation American Soldier and Adopt a Platoon Southie Style joined us to explain.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WVS Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Thank you very much, al As we head into our
nine o'clock hour on a Friday night, I am delighted
to be joined by two women who have made a
tremendous commitment individually and together. Although they run separate organizations,
basically sending care packages, packages that include the toiletries that
(00:32):
people we all take for granted here back home in America,
but for US military personnel men and women who are
serving overseas, deployed in places around the world where maybe
there isn't a PX, there isn't a nearby Walgreens or
(00:52):
a CVS, and just the little things of life that
are important to us, whether it's a few kid bars
or package of band aids or some chapstick, or just
any sort of toiletry that all of us take for granted,
and our men and women who are serving don't necessarily
(01:16):
have it available. The two guests are Wendy Raka. Her
organization is called Operation American Soldier. They have been in
operation since two thousand and two, and Kelly Conroy adopted
Platoon SOUTHI style. Wendy, let me start with you if
(01:36):
I could and now I will go to my good
friend Kelly Conroy, tell us what exactly does Operation American
Soldier do and what have you been doing now for
twenty two years?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Well, thank you for having me on. First of all,
I appreciate it, mister Ray. And call me Dan.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I'm not that old. Call me Dan. Please, wen Day, Okay.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Go ahead, sure, sure.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Kelly and I have been collaborating for maybe six months
or so on different ways to make our projects work.
Mine has been, as you said, since late two thousand
and two. We've been shipping thousands of packages every year
to any deployed service member in any branch. These packages,
(02:24):
they're not just filled with things and stuff. They're filled
with letters from the person who packed it for you.
They're filled with things that you missed when you're not home.
And when my sons were deployed, if I sent them
a box of cocoa puffs, they'd be tackled for it.
The little things in life that they miss.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, that's in our pantry. They don't have pantries when
they're halfway around the world, that's for sure. So you've
been doing this for twenty two years, and I'm going
to get into the mechanics of it in a moment.
But I also want to get Kelly in here. Kelly,
you had a real personal reason. Your group is called
adopt a platoon SELFI style. Your son was deployed, but
(03:09):
not before he graduated from West Point.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Yes, that's true. I started it about four years ago,
but he was deployed. He came back about a year ago,
and I was able to adopt his platoon. Well he
was gone, so we were able to experience firsthand how
our packages affected the people that he dealt with on
a daily basis, and some of the men and women
that were underneath him, and a lot of their young kids,
(03:37):
and they don't have necessarily a lot of family or
people to send packages, so they get these packages from
complete strangers. And we would get notes and letters and
emails from them, and how much it meant just to
receive that. And in all of my packages I try
to send them, I send them personalized notes to like
(03:59):
Wendy's grew hop and I try to find out everybody's
birthdays and send them separate packages on their birthdays and
birthday cards. And those were the most meaningful things of everything,
with those little those little things, the cards, and the
notes and the letters, especially the ones from kids.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Well, now, so both of you have been doing this,
you know, with different groups, little difference in your time commitment.
I'm using the phrase care packages. What do you call them?
Let me go back to Wendy. Wendy, I refer to
them as you know, sending a care package. What is
the term of art that your group uses? And what
(04:41):
is Kelly Kelly's group use.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
My husband coined the phrase that we send care cheerboxes
because they're full of cheer and to bring a smile.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
To you for cheerboxes. Okay, Kelly, what do you got?
What are you folks in? SOELTHEA. By the way, when
you adopt a platoon, you're talking about fifty or fifty
five service person and in a platoon? Correct?
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Yes? And then recently I've been asked to take on
a lot more so on top of my platoon, I
will have probably several others, so it will work out
to be probably a couple of hundred a month.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Wow, Wow, what we do well? I use the phrase
care package? What what do you guys? What do you
guys in adopt a platoon? Southea style? Call what you said?
Speaker 4 (05:25):
I would probably say care packages too.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Okay, great great minds thing go like, Kelly, to make
a difference, I know, great minds thing go like okay,
only only kidding you. You guys are the ones who
need to be saluted here because you guys are doing
this great work. Now, everything's been going hunky dory, and
as as Wendy has explained it to me, and I
assume it's it's the same for you, Kelly. You have
(05:50):
a group of all both of you have a group
of volunteers and uh you folks from from scratch. You
you amass the the materials, the contents of the packages,
you packed the packages. You you sent letters with the package,
and you address it to an individual, a military personnel, soldier,
(06:11):
man or woman whatever. That's the way that it's done,
both of you essentially, Is that correct?
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Okay, but but but bye bye Bud. Within the last
couple of weeks, because Kelly reached out to me, I've
known Kelly for a while and I've talked to Wendy
now for the last couple of weeks to understand this,
I'm going to Wendy. Have you described it? You you
were informed that as of September first, for some reason,
(06:42):
you could no longer just put a package together, seal
it up and send it to a soldier. What is
this additional obligation that is making that process so complicated
that now rests on your shoulders.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
So we've been getting very deep in this Dan and
we have found out that it is now required that
we have to not only line item, which we we
did anyway. We line what's in what's in the box, socks,
peanut butter, crackers, fruit spread, spread, whatever, and then we
(07:19):
put the quantity in an approximate weight in just just
an approximate weight for the box in total, and that
was enough. Now we have to line item every single
item that fits in that twelve by ten by six
inch box, which, if you can imagine we're playing tetris
(07:40):
with the box, there's not there's no room left. So
if there's one to put in, one more chapstick, it
goes in there. And we have to line item every
single thing. We have to have the HS code, which
is helped me out here, Kelly, the customs codes, sorry,
(08:00):
the customs code. We have to know where the product
originated from. So if you're putting in a package of
oreos and it's just the fellow pack of oreos. Those
might be made in Mexico. But if you're putting in
the mindi oreos, those could have been made in Spain
and they way different, and they it's it's nuts, It's
absolutely nuts. We can't. It's our volunteers grab a box,
(08:25):
they look at where it's going and they know what
they can put in there because we have signs up,
and then they just pack it as tight as they
can pack it. But I've already predone the labels.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Okay, So now I want Kelly to get in on
this as well. So, Kelly, this complicates this process immensely.
But my understanding, it's not the United States Postal system
that is imposing this upon you, folks. It's some sort
of a group that is associated. It's called the Universal
(08:59):
Poe Still a union which is an agency of the
United Nations based in Burn, Switzerland. How is it that, Kelly,
How does it make you feel, as the mom of
an American soldier, that some group in burn, Switzerland has
(09:26):
decided to make it more difficult for you and your
volunteers to send packages overseas to US military personnel. They're
actually almost discouraging you from doing this making it so complicated.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Exactly, it shouldn't it should not be this layer of
red tape just to do something like this for our
own people. And that's why we were hoping that just
by bringing this to your attention where you reach thirty
eight states, that maybe somebody can help us get to
the bottom of this. Change this regulation. Somewhere along the line,
(10:03):
this was changed, and they've now made it almost absurdly
impossible to send packages. And then if you do send
them and everything isn't line item and correct with that
HS code, they come back to you. So now you've
spent all this money sending packages out, all this time
and effort, and then it turns around and four weeks
(10:24):
later it's coming back to you and it's just deflating.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Now one quick question here before we go to break.
Have you had any success and I know that this
has just happened. I'm assuming that there must be some
people who you've reached out to. Have any of our
political leaders said we can I mean, you can't call Burn,
you can call Burn Switzerland. Good luck getting this changed.
(10:52):
As an individual who you reach it out to and
who has responded in any way, shape or form.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Senator Marky's office has been the one that has responded
more than anybody. Mark Lenigan and Julius Spagnolia are very
involved in trying to get to the source and see
why the military has to do this, and they've been
super responsive.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
So is the military also obligated to do this or
the military has not said that care package is that
the military has to do this? Explain what you meant by.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
That that for all the military packages, you have to
remember that every single family who's shipping to their loved
one has to go through this process as well.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Okay, all right, So what we're going to do is
we're going to take a break. I'll open up the
phone lines if there are people out there who want
to comment in this. First of all, we have two
women here, two people who have spent literally thousands of
hours doing this great volunteer no benefit, well, no financial
(12:04):
benefit to them, a great deal of satisfaction. But we
now have somewhere, some unnamed anonymous bureaucrat with this United
Nations agency, the Universal Postal Union. I didn't even realize
such an union existed, as now imposed on the moms
(12:26):
and dads and friends and volunteers of these two great
organizations and probably other great organizations. Operation American Soldier and
adopted Platoon SEALTI style this obligation. If you'd like to
join the conversation six seven, two, five, four ten thirty
six one seven nine three one ten thirty uh And
(12:47):
if you are someone out there who knows anything about this,
feel free. There's no suggestion that this is being done
to ensure the safety of US military personnel. It sounds
to me like someone came up with this idea, some
bureaucrat who had nothing better to do that day, came
up with an idea that would simply frustrate and diagonize
(13:09):
people who are doing really God's work. Back on Nightside
six one seven, two, five four ten thirty six one
seven nine three one ten thirty back right after this
very quick commercial break up Nightside.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Night Side with Dan Ray, I'MBZ Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Now, I know that many of you out there this
may sound like a confusing story, but at its core,
it's pretty simple. You have Americans civilians who are sufficiently
concerned with the just the comforts of American military personnel
serving overseas that they for in the case of both
(13:48):
Wendy Rocke and Kelly Conroy, they form an organization and
within their organization they have dozens of volunteers, and they
also and I will give you guys an opportunity to
to find out how people can get in touch with
you if they would like to join your efforts basically
providing materials free of charge conveniently to people who are
(14:12):
posted again anywhere anywhere around the world on behalf of
the American the American government. And now we have some
United Nation agency that I don't know ever existed. Wendy
or Kelly. What is the legal status of this group
(14:34):
Universal Postal Union that it has even the right to
consider imposing these restrictions, this additional red tape on groups
like yours that are just simply trying to send some
creature comforts and some reminders of home to our military personnel.
Can any of you can, either of you explain how
(14:57):
they have this authority?
Speaker 4 (15:01):
I certainly can't.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
God Good, we pulled up some information that just simply
says it's a United Nations agency that coordinates international postal
policies and procedures, acting as the primary forum for global
postal cooperation since the establishment in nineteen I'm try eighteen
seventy four. It sets the rules and regulations.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
So way is that? So it's was established in eighteen
seventy four. That long pre data, if you're giving me
the right date. That long predated even the establishment of
the United Nations, which wasn't you know, created until after
World War Two. So this agency's been hanging around for
one hundred and fifty years, and now they're coming out
(15:47):
of nowhere to bother you guys, Wendy, what what do
you know about this group? Anything anything more than that?
Speaker 5 (15:56):
No?
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Sure, I just think they should go home and leave
us alone.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
And no one knows, neither of you know what prompted this.
This isn't some effort by some organization to keep our
military personnel safe. This you've been doing this for, in
your case, Wendy, twenty years, Kelly, in your case, it's
been over four years now, sending materials to military personnel
(16:24):
who really in many cases, some kids who joined the
military these days come from you know, poor circumstances, may
be broken homes. The military can be a lifeline for
someone to get their life in order. They don't have
the familial support that maybe you know everybody has is
(16:49):
that's a factor too, I think in terms of the
value of your outreach. Am I off base on.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
That, ladies, No, no, No, that's percent.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Explain Explain to me why I'm why I'm correct here.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Those packages mean everything to the to these I call
them kids, They mean everything to these kids. You know,
it's just it's a sign of home. It's a sign
that you've thought about, that someone cares about you, a
complete stranger. And I always go back to and maybe
our packages don't have anything to do with this at all,
but I always think that twenty two a day, you know,
(17:29):
maybe somebody somewhere will get this package that's really failing
down and it can just brighten up their day, you know,
a note from someone they don't know, things that they need,
just something to let them know that, you know, you're
not forgotten about where you are. It's a lot tougher
than where you ever thought you'd be, and we just
want to help in some way, shape or form. It's
(17:50):
that simple.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Well, you've both a doing you know, amazing work, absolutely
amazing work. I'm hoping that there may be someone list
is out there who want to join our conversation and
I don't know what we can do other than ask
people to take up the cause here, affiliate with you folks,
maybe contact our senators and congressmen's office. I mean, obviously
(18:17):
they have the staff in the ability to get to
the bottom of this. I can't imagine that there was
some bureaucrat who woke up some Wednesday morning, had nothing
to do, and said, you know, I'm going to tighten
up the rules and regulations of those Americans who were
sending toiletries and care packages to their neighbors, sons and
(18:41):
daughters who were serving in the military. So you'd like
to think that there wasn't someone who just thought this
would be a great idea just to make people's lives
more complicated. But look, let's just open up the phone lines.
And at the same time, when we come back, I
want to talk more about what you do and also
(19:01):
give you an opportunity to give people a way in
which they can contact you off here. They can contact
you on here by calling six one, seven, two, five
four to ten thirty or six one seven, nine three
one ten thirty, but will also give you an opportunity
to give out either your website or email address or
whatever if there are people out there would like to help,
(19:24):
because we're going to get this this red tape straightened
out one way or the other. And if Senator Markeye office,
Senator Markey's office is going to get involved in this
and and help out, we'll give him all the credit
that that they would deserve here, because I think it's
only at the federal level will something like this get
(19:45):
get resolved. It's it's way, it's way up that that
food chain or that chain of command. My name's Dan Ray.
This is Nightside. Feel free to join the conversation six one, seven, two, five,
four to ten thirty six one seven, nine three one
ten thirty Kelly and Wendy Wendy Rocca raca excuse me
of an operation American soldier in Kelly Conroy adopt a
(20:08):
platoon sealthie style ontor to have them with me. I
hope you will be kind enough to join the conversation
and maybe even just give him a word of encouragement,
because this, to me is something that really is a
kick in the gut from an organization and a group
that has probably done nothing for the people who are
(20:30):
out there defending freedom on the front lines around the world.
Back on Nightside right after this, you're.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
On night Side with Dan Ray on w B Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
With me is Wendy Roca. She runs Operation American Soldier.
You're located, Wendy west of Boston. Is there a geographic
area that people can it's more easy for them.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
To volunteer well, wearing Watertown. We're very easy to find
and we have so many volunteers. We're very blessed.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Okay, that's great to have more good Okay, I'm going
to give you a chance. How can folks get in
touch with you if they would like to, you know,
help out or learn more about your organization?
Speaker 3 (21:17):
They can either go on the website, which is Operation
Americansoldier dot org. Or they can email me which is
Wendy W. E. N d Y letter r at Operation
American Soldier dot org.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Both dot org. Okay, yes, all right, So you're you're
a five oh one C three Kelly Conroy. How can
folks most easily obviously the the name adopt the Platoons Southeastyle.
You are based out of South Boston. Uh so we
know how could where do your volunteers come from? How
(21:57):
how far away from South Boston?
Speaker 4 (22:00):
I would say, the South Boston in the Greater Boston area.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Okay, mostly, how can folks get in touch with you
if they'd like to be helpful?
Speaker 4 (22:09):
So, mom, my website is adopt a Platoon SOUTHI Style
dot com and my email is adopt a Platoon ss
at gmail dot com.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
All right, well, look, I want to thank both of
you for what you do. I want you to keep
me posted as to what progress you have. And again,
if i'm Senator marky Is, you're going to be able
to unravel this Gordian knot for you and find out
why this complication has been placed upon you, folks, or
(22:41):
why this complication has been placed on anyone, but particularly you, folks.
I'd like to have you back and give him some
credit or give his office some credit. Again, you guys
spend thousands of hours, well you know, in total, thousands
of hours, and you don't have the ability to pay
(23:01):
for lobbyists or things like that. It's not a problem.
It's just emphasize. It's not a problem with the American government.
It's not a problem with Congress passing something or failing
to pass something. It's a problem with this United Nations agency,
the Universal Postal union based in Burns, Switzerland. So I
(23:22):
thank you both. I wish there were more people who
were willing to call and support what you do. I
think what you're doing is just an amazing volunteer activity.
I thank you for being with us tonight and hopefully.
Speaker 4 (23:36):
We can jam. Could I just say one thing just
before we go. I want to reiterate to everybody, like
Wendy and I were on a zoom probably a month
ago with other organizations. We're two organizations in Massachusetts. We
were a zoom with all people all over the country.
So this is affecting every single person that puts on
(23:59):
the uniform that's deployed. I just don't want people to
think this is more of a Massachusetts issue. Everybody that
is deployed, they will have trouble getting their care packages
and this is key, and we just want to work
this up the chain, get somebody to notice if somebody's
out there. I just want five minutes with Pete Heseth
(24:21):
and Steven Lynch's office is working with me on this
as well.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
No, I think you're absolutely true. What comes down to
is all of these people are approached by so many
organizations and so many individuals with concerns. This is one
that should go to the top of anyone's list, I
hope again if look, I'm sure there are groups like
Operation American Soldier and adopt the platoon Southe style in
(24:49):
every part of the country, in every state in the Union.
And hopefully if it's a Senator or a Congressman from
Hawaii or a lot or one of the lower forty
eight states that are able to ring the bell here,
I'm sure that if the White House knew about this,
or the certainly the Department of War knew about this,
(25:13):
that they would be you know, they can contact the
United Nations and say, look, this is ridiculous. That's all.
That's all I'm hoping to do for you. It's as
simple as that. I have one person who's called in here,
so let me try to accommodate them before before we
let you go here, let me go to Michael Lee Boston. Michael,
I appreciate your calling in, Thank you for listening. You
(25:34):
round with Wendy Raka of Operation American Soldier and Kelly
Conroy adopt a platoon Southea style.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
Go right ahead, Michael, great Dan, how are you tonight?
Speaker 2 (25:44):
Great A little bit concerned about what these folks are
being put through by some United Nations agency. Go right ahead.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
Wait, we've talked off and on over the years. We
share a high school Alma Mata. There are two places
to call here. One is to call sets Moulton's office
and the others to call Vice President jad Vance's office.
If you go through the regular if you go through
the regular channels of these Massachusetts politicians, they're not going
to execute well.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Seth Moulton, hold on, Seth Moulton's a Massachusetts politicians. So
if someone out there has his ear uh, he knows
how to get in touch with me, I'll put him
in touch with Wendy RockA uh and Kelly Connolly in
a New York second uh, and same way. If someone
has the the the cell phone number of the Vice
President of the United States, there's such a time.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
Let me let me see, let me see if I've
been working the other guys, Mark you those guys, it's
gonna take forever.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
You know, this is a this is an organization that
is sort of executing what I would call an anti
US policy.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Well, that's the way I see it, I mean, Michael,
that is the way I see it because the United
Nations we supported, we funded were We're their home base.
You know, people who live in New York are always
inconvenienced every September when the General Assembly comes to New York.
I think there would do nothing agency. They don't end wars.
(27:12):
Their Human Rights Commission is run by countries like Libya
and Iran. It's it's ridiculous. And I will say this,
you know if Ed Markey's office is getting involved in it.
And I spoke with Wendy who's still with us, earlier today.
I asked her, well, who's involved, and she said that
the one office they reached out to that responded was
(27:34):
Markey's office. I don't care who it is, whether it's
a Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative. I just want
a member of Congress who has some sway. You know,
Ed Markey's office does. If he's not able to do it,
he can pick up the phone and call the Defense Department.
The Defense Department may not even be aware of this.
So I love your enthusiasm, Michael, and I appreciate you
(27:56):
having called in and supporting.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
These these these women are doing great work. My sister
is married to a naval aviator. Uh, they did a
bunch of stuff for them, and these women are doing
great work. And there there's an opportunity to get to
the right people in this environment. This is a political
and and uh and and and get some action if
I can get a number of go back to Rob
with it. But uh, don't give up. And I wish
(28:22):
these weremen the best are doing God's work.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
Well, thanks very much, very much. Appreciate you all. And
I see it exactly the same way you do. This
is not partisan, this is uh. Look, if Elizabeth Warren
wanted to get involved in this, uh, I would give
her office credits. But that's how.
Speaker 5 (28:42):
Credit. But there there are too many agendas here and
the purpose is too important and and and as as
a result, uh, we need some people action. So let's
see what you can work and I'll get back to you.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Thanks very much, Michael. Again, Rob will give you my
direct line. Again. I don't want to put the burden.
There could be people who are listening right now who
have access to people you mentioned either Seth Molten. You
know we go through when we do interviews with some
of these people through their press office. All of these
members of Congress, they have a staff of twenty twenty
(29:14):
five thirty people. I have a staff of one well,
Rob at Knight and Marita during the day. I have
all I can do to put my show on five
nights a week, four hours a night. The fact that
it took so long for anybody to call in, and
by the way, we now have a bunch of calls
which we're going to continue on with these folks here.
Maybe maybe your call is going to spur some action.
(29:36):
I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking
the time to call. I really mean that.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
Now, this is this is this is a no brainer.
And these women are doing and their team's wonderful work, and.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
They're doing they're doing They're doing the hard work. You know.
All I'm doing is talking about it. So yeah, I'm
with you. Michael, keep posting hang in with Rob. Will
give you my direct number so you can get to
me anytime you want. Rob, give Michael my direct number.
We'll take a very quick break here six one, seven, two,
five four to ten thirty six one seven, nine, three
one ten thirty. Uh, ladies, you stay right there. I
(30:11):
got Mary Beth and Handover and Sarah in California calling
in we'll take their phone calls if and the only
lines that are open now are six one, seven, nine, three, one,
ten thirty people are listening. It often happens here that
people listen, but this is really intended as a call
to action. And even if people called up and said, hey,
thank you for what you do on behalf of you know,
(30:32):
there are people out there who are veterans who probably
know what it was like to be deployed overseas and
there wasn't anyone sending them here. Packages you've done this.
You guys do the hard work. I'm just trying to
give you four It's as simple as that. And finally
I've woken up some of my listeners and I will
talk to Mary Beth and we'll talk to Sarah uh
(30:53):
and uh and some more. If you want to call in,
we'll be back on the Night Side right after this.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
It's Nice Eye with Dan Ray. I'm w Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
My guest. They're Kelly Rockup of Operation Americansoldier dot org
and Kelly Conroy of Adopta Platoons SOUTHI Style dot Org.
Let me go to Sarah in California. Sarah, welcome to
Night Side. How are you.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
Hi.
Speaker 6 (31:20):
Good, Thank you for bringing attention to this matter.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Well, thank you for calling in. All I can do
is present different topics to my audience. There are certain
topics I know the phone will ring on. My sense
on this one was that people would have rallied to
the support of these, uh, these these wonderful women. You
go right ahead, Sarah, are you a regular listener out there?
Just happened to fun I'm not.
Speaker 6 (31:46):
I happen to find you because you were talking about
this topic. And I've been a co chair of Support
our Service Women, our SOOS project for sixteen years, and
I really just hope we can get things change because
they don't want to discourage people from sending packages overseas.
We send the service women in particular, because we found
(32:07):
that they're not receiving a lot of packages or any
and so I'm really worried that this is going to
hurt them. So I reached straight out to our Congressman
Scott Peters and darryl Isa and their team's trying to
work on it. But it's you know, I want to
try to get things changed before the holiday season.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
Well, I think, Sarah, that's such an important point that
the holidays are coming up, and look, this is just
making it more difficult for folks like you. And I
don't know if you know Wendy or Kelly, but please
say hello. Feel free to say hello to them right now,
and you guys can be in touch after the program.
(32:49):
Kelly and yeah, Kelly and Wendy, say hi to Sarah.
Somebody from California. Whereabouts in California? Are you from? Sarah?
Speaker 6 (32:57):
I'm in San Diego. So we're in a military town
and we really want to support our servicemen and women
out here. I know everybody does, but I just feel
like this is a hopefully our congressman can step up.
But I'm willing to reach out to anybody that I
possibly can. I think reaching out to Vance's office is fantastic.
(33:20):
I'm gonna be doing that tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Yeah, and again, Sell, you know, there may be someone
listening who has a pipeline, because what happens is you
end up with the staff person and you've got to
get to the to the principal as well. I assume
you've never listened to my show before, which this makes
you a first.
Speaker 6 (33:37):
Time caller, right, I am a first time caller.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
Well, we're gonna we love to give a round of
applause to all of our first time callers from our
virtual studio audience. Rob let's get the audience up with
their feet. So yeah, So please be in touch with
Wendy and with Kelly. I've known Kelly for several years.
I've just become a new acquaintance of Wendy. But you
(34:00):
identified what the problem is, and all this is going
to do is to discourage I hope it is not
being done by some UN agency through malevolence, and it
is just abject stupidity that has been utilized here by
this UN agency. And if it is abject stupidity, let's
just reverse it as quickly as we can.
Speaker 6 (34:21):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Well, anyway, you know how to find these two groups.
What's the name of your organization so we can give
We have listeners in California and particularly in Ciego. What's
the name of your group? Will give it a plug.
Speaker 6 (34:33):
So it's Mission Beach Women's Club and our event is
in November around Veteran Stay and it's called Support or
Service Women sos Oh.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Okay, Mission Beach Women's Plural Club. Is that a dot org?
Speaker 6 (34:52):
It is a dot org?
Speaker 2 (34:53):
Okay, So people who are listening and who want to
be in touch with you. Mission Beachwomen's Club dot org.
Thank you so much, Sarah. I hope you continue to
listen to Night Side. We're a very patriotic group of
people with this program here in Boston. And you know,
even though we're very similar to California politically, even people
(35:14):
here in the Democratic Party will line up in support
of this cause as well. As a matter of fact,
Steve Lynch, who's a congressman from South Boston, is a Democrat.
But he's a great guy, and I know that Kelly
will get him involved in this and we need to
we need to get All I can do is just
be a modern day Paul Revere and try to make
people more concerned. Okay, so thank you, Sarah. Appreciate hearing
(35:37):
you your voice and feel free. We're on every every
week Monday through Friday from eight until midnight. And by
the way, you're not our only caller from San Diego,
so believe me, there were people out there who listen
to this show as well. Thanks Sarah. Night all right,
good night. Let me go to Mary Beth and handover.
Mary Beth is a regular Nightside listening Mary Beth thank
you very much for calling in. You're on with Wendy
(35:59):
Raca and Kelly Conroy.
Speaker 7 (36:01):
Hi, ladies, I'm so happy to hear. I have to say,
I apologize. I just got out of work, so i
don't know the entire story, but I'm so happy to
hear that you have organizations that are dealing with this.
I have a son that is in. He's been in
for twenty years. My daughter has been in for ten.
(36:23):
She just got back from deployment from Poland about two
weeks ago, and so between the two of them, he's
got five deployments, she's got three. And I don't understand
why the military always seems to kind of get the
short end of the stick. And I know my son. Yeah,
last year, my son was in Saudi Arabia and he
(36:47):
messaged on Facebook and he said that, you know, there
were a lot of people that he, you know, was
in charge of and they weren't getting any love from home.
So he asked people to contact him. He would give
them a name and they would, you know, that would
be their person.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
Well that's what happened with with with Kelly and her son,
who is a graduate of West Point and he's a
platoon leader a few couple of years ago, and Kelly
formed the organization which is adopted Platoon Southistyle dot org. Uh.
Wendy's group is Operation American Soldier dot org. So be
aware that these are two groups in Massachusetts that are
(37:27):
very active and we're trying to help him out. Trying
to help him out.
Speaker 7 (37:31):
Okay, can you make sure that would you be able
to post those websites on the Facebook page?
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Yeah, we can do that. Also, if you want to
hear the hour in its entirety, if you've missed some
of it tonight, go to our web page tomorrow Nightside
on demand and the nine o'clock hour will be available.
Rob will give you that. And as a matter of fact,
if you want to hold on, I'm running out of
time here, but Rob will will give you those give
you personally those names and so that you can have them. Okay,
(38:01):
And thank you to your family for the sacrifice that
your children will make you behalf of all of us.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
Thank you for serving you when your kids serve your serving.
Speaker 5 (38:10):
I get that.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Kelly and I both understand how hard it is.
Speaker 7 (38:14):
Well, you'll be in touch. I'd love to help out.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Perfect excellent, excellent. Well, it turns out that I think
we've done pretty well tonight, and who knows, maybe we've
found that one or two people that we'll be able
to help us. So Kelly Conroy adop Upatune Sauthi Style
dot org and Wendy RockA Operation Americansoldier dot org. Thank
you both very much for bearing with us tonight and
(38:39):
thank you very much for what you and your organization does.
Speaker 4 (38:42):
Thank you so much, Dan for your time and bringing awareness.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
Well, let's see what happens and keep us posted. If
you hear anything good out of this, I'll come right
back at this story next week if we need to.
Thank you very much. Good night, ladies. Here comes the
ten o'clock News, and right after that we're going to
talk about the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize Today.
It did not go to Donald Trump, but there's no
(39:09):
reason to suggest he may not win it a year
from now. We'll talk about the disappointment and what's going on.
Coming back on night Side right after this
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WVS Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Thank you very much, al As we head into our
nine o'clock hour on a Friday night, I am delighted
to be joined by two women who have made a
tremendous commitment individually and together. Although they run separate organizations,
basically sending care packages, packages that include the toiletries that
(00:32):
people we all take for granted here back home in America,
but for US military personnel men and women who are
serving overseas, deployed in places around the world where maybe
there isn't a PX, there isn't a nearby Walgreens or
(00:52):
a CVS, and just the little things of life that
are important to us, whether it's a few kid bars
or package of band aids or some chapstick, or just
any sort of toiletry that all of us take for granted,
and our men and women who are serving don't necessarily
(01:16):
have it available. The two guests are Wendy Raka. Her
organization is called Operation American Soldier. They have been in
operation since two thousand and two, and Kelly Conroy adopted
Platoon SOUTHI style. Wendy, let me start with you if
(01:36):
I could and now I will go to my good
friend Kelly Conroy, tell us what exactly does Operation American
Soldier do and what have you been doing now for
twenty two years?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Well, thank you for having me on. First of all,
I appreciate it, mister Ray. And call me Dan.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I'm not that old. Call me Dan. Please, wen Day, Okay.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Go ahead, sure, sure.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Kelly and I have been collaborating for maybe six months
or so on different ways to make our projects work.
Mine has been, as you said, since late two thousand
and two. We've been shipping thousands of packages every year
to any deployed service member in any branch. These packages,
(02:24):
they're not just filled with things and stuff. They're filled
with letters from the person who packed it for you.
They're filled with things that you missed when you're not home.
And when my sons were deployed, if I sent them
a box of cocoa puffs, they'd be tackled for it.
The little things in life that they miss.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, that's in our pantry. They don't have pantries when
they're halfway around the world, that's for sure. So you've
been doing this for twenty two years, and I'm going
to get into the mechanics of it in a moment.
But I also want to get Kelly in here. Kelly,
you had a real personal reason. Your group is called
adopt a platoon SELFI style. Your son was deployed, but
(03:09):
not before he graduated from West Point.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Yes, that's true. I started it about four years ago,
but he was deployed. He came back about a year ago,
and I was able to adopt his platoon. Well he
was gone, so we were able to experience firsthand how
our packages affected the people that he dealt with on
a daily basis, and some of the men and women
that were underneath him, and a lot of their young kids,
(03:37):
and they don't have necessarily a lot of family or
people to send packages, so they get these packages from
complete strangers. And we would get notes and letters and
emails from them, and how much it meant just to
receive that. And in all of my packages I try
to send them, I send them personalized notes to like
(03:59):
Wendy's grew hop and I try to find out everybody's
birthdays and send them separate packages on their birthdays and
birthday cards. And those were the most meaningful things of everything,
with those little those little things, the cards, and the
notes and the letters, especially the ones from kids.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Well, now, so both of you have been doing this,
you know, with different groups, little difference in your time commitment.
I'm using the phrase care packages. What do you call them?
Let me go back to Wendy. Wendy, I refer to
them as you know, sending a care package. What is
the term of art that your group uses? And what
(04:41):
is Kelly Kelly's group use.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
My husband coined the phrase that we send care cheerboxes
because they're full of cheer and to bring a smile.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
To you for cheerboxes. Okay, Kelly, what do you got?
What are you folks in? SOELTHEA. By the way, when
you adopt a platoon, you're talking about fifty or fifty
five service person and in a platoon? Correct?
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Yes? And then recently I've been asked to take on
a lot more so on top of my platoon, I
will have probably several others, so it will work out
to be probably a couple of hundred a month.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Wow, Wow, what we do well? I use the phrase
care package? What what do you guys? What do you
guys in adopt a platoon? Southea style? Call what you said?
Speaker 4 (05:25):
I would probably say care packages too.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Okay, great great minds thing go like, Kelly, to make
a difference, I know, great minds thing go like okay,
only only kidding you. You guys are the ones who
need to be saluted here because you guys are doing
this great work. Now, everything's been going hunky dory, and
as as Wendy has explained it to me, and I
assume it's it's the same for you, Kelly. You have
(05:50):
a group of all both of you have a group
of volunteers and uh you folks from from scratch. You
you amass the the materials, the contents of the packages,
you packed the packages. You you sent letters with the package,
and you address it to an individual, a military personnel, soldier,
(06:11):
man or woman whatever. That's the way that it's done,
both of you essentially, Is that correct?
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Okay, but but but bye bye Bud. Within the last
couple of weeks, because Kelly reached out to me, I've
known Kelly for a while and I've talked to Wendy
now for the last couple of weeks to understand this,
I'm going to Wendy. Have you described it? You you
were informed that as of September first, for some reason,
(06:42):
you could no longer just put a package together, seal
it up and send it to a soldier. What is
this additional obligation that is making that process so complicated
that now rests on your shoulders.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
So we've been getting very deep in this Dan and
we have found out that it is now required that
we have to not only line item, which we we
did anyway. We line what's in what's in the box, socks,
peanut butter, crackers, fruit spread, spread, whatever, and then we
(07:19):
put the quantity in an approximate weight in just just
an approximate weight for the box in total, and that
was enough. Now we have to line item every single
item that fits in that twelve by ten by six
inch box, which, if you can imagine we're playing tetris
(07:40):
with the box, there's not there's no room left. So
if there's one to put in, one more chapstick, it
goes in there. And we have to line item every
single thing. We have to have the HS code, which
is helped me out here, Kelly, the customs codes, sorry,
(08:00):
the customs code. We have to know where the product
originated from. So if you're putting in a package of
oreos and it's just the fellow pack of oreos. Those
might be made in Mexico. But if you're putting in
the mindi oreos, those could have been made in Spain
and they way different, and they it's it's nuts, It's
absolutely nuts. We can't. It's our volunteers grab a box,
(08:25):
they look at where it's going and they know what
they can put in there because we have signs up,
and then they just pack it as tight as they
can pack it. But I've already predone the labels.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Okay, So now I want Kelly to get in on
this as well. So, Kelly, this complicates this process immensely.
But my understanding, it's not the United States Postal system
that is imposing this upon you, folks. It's some sort
of a group that is associated. It's called the Universal
(08:59):
Poe Still a union which is an agency of the
United Nations based in Burn, Switzerland. How is it that, Kelly,
How does it make you feel, as the mom of
an American soldier, that some group in burn, Switzerland has
(09:26):
decided to make it more difficult for you and your
volunteers to send packages overseas to US military personnel. They're
actually almost discouraging you from doing this making it so complicated.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Exactly, it shouldn't it should not be this layer of
red tape just to do something like this for our
own people. And that's why we were hoping that just
by bringing this to your attention where you reach thirty
eight states, that maybe somebody can help us get to
the bottom of this. Change this regulation. Somewhere along the line,
(10:03):
this was changed, and they've now made it almost absurdly
impossible to send packages. And then if you do send
them and everything isn't line item and correct with that
HS code, they come back to you. So now you've
spent all this money sending packages out, all this time
and effort, and then it turns around and four weeks
(10:24):
later it's coming back to you and it's just deflating.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Now one quick question here before we go to break.
Have you had any success and I know that this
has just happened. I'm assuming that there must be some
people who you've reached out to. Have any of our
political leaders said we can I mean, you can't call Burn,
you can call Burn Switzerland. Good luck getting this changed.
(10:52):
As an individual who you reach it out to and
who has responded in any way, shape or form.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Senator Marky's office has been the one that has responded
more than anybody. Mark Lenigan and Julius Spagnolia are very
involved in trying to get to the source and see
why the military has to do this, and they've been
super responsive.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
So is the military also obligated to do this or
the military has not said that care package is that
the military has to do this? Explain what you meant by.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
That that for all the military packages, you have to
remember that every single family who's shipping to their loved
one has to go through this process as well.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Okay, all right, So what we're going to do is
we're going to take a break. I'll open up the
phone lines if there are people out there who want
to comment in this. First of all, we have two
women here, two people who have spent literally thousands of
hours doing this great volunteer no benefit, well, no financial
(12:04):
benefit to them, a great deal of satisfaction. But we
now have somewhere, some unnamed anonymous bureaucrat with this United
Nations agency, the Universal Postal Union. I didn't even realize
such an union existed, as now imposed on the moms
(12:26):
and dads and friends and volunteers of these two great
organizations and probably other great organizations. Operation American Soldier and
adopted Platoon SEALTI style this obligation. If you'd like to
join the conversation six seven, two, five, four ten thirty
six one seven nine three one ten thirty uh And
(12:47):
if you are someone out there who knows anything about this,
feel free. There's no suggestion that this is being done
to ensure the safety of US military personnel. It sounds
to me like someone came up with this idea, some
bureaucrat who had nothing better to do that day, came
up with an idea that would simply frustrate and diagonize
(13:09):
people who are doing really God's work. Back on Nightside
six one seven, two, five four ten thirty six one
seven nine three one ten thirty back right after this
very quick commercial break up Nightside.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Night Side with Dan Ray, I'MBZ Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Now, I know that many of you out there this
may sound like a confusing story, but at its core,
it's pretty simple. You have Americans civilians who are sufficiently
concerned with the just the comforts of American military personnel
serving overseas that they for in the case of both
(13:48):
Wendy Rocke and Kelly Conroy, they form an organization and
within their organization they have dozens of volunteers, and they
also and I will give you guys an opportunity to
to find out how people can get in touch with
you if they would like to join your efforts basically
providing materials free of charge conveniently to people who are
(14:12):
posted again anywhere anywhere around the world on behalf of
the American the American government. And now we have some
United Nation agency that I don't know ever existed. Wendy
or Kelly. What is the legal status of this group
(14:34):
Universal Postal Union that it has even the right to
consider imposing these restrictions, this additional red tape on groups
like yours that are just simply trying to send some
creature comforts and some reminders of home to our military personnel.
Can any of you can, either of you explain how
(14:57):
they have this authority?
Speaker 4 (15:01):
I certainly can't.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
God Good, we pulled up some information that just simply
says it's a United Nations agency that coordinates international postal
policies and procedures, acting as the primary forum for global
postal cooperation since the establishment in nineteen I'm try eighteen
seventy four. It sets the rules and regulations.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
So way is that? So it's was established in eighteen
seventy four. That long pre data, if you're giving me
the right date. That long predated even the establishment of
the United Nations, which wasn't you know, created until after
World War Two. So this agency's been hanging around for
one hundred and fifty years, and now they're coming out
(15:47):
of nowhere to bother you guys, Wendy, what what do
you know about this group? Anything anything more than that?
Speaker 5 (15:56):
No?
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Sure, I just think they should go home and leave
us alone.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
And no one knows, neither of you know what prompted this.
This isn't some effort by some organization to keep our
military personnel safe. This you've been doing this for, in
your case, Wendy, twenty years, Kelly, in your case, it's
been over four years now, sending materials to military personnel
(16:24):
who really in many cases, some kids who joined the
military these days come from you know, poor circumstances, may
be broken homes. The military can be a lifeline for
someone to get their life in order. They don't have
the familial support that maybe you know everybody has is
(16:49):
that's a factor too, I think in terms of the
value of your outreach. Am I off base on.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
That, ladies, No, no, No, that's percent.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Explain Explain to me why I'm why I'm correct here.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Those packages mean everything to the to these I call
them kids, They mean everything to these kids. You know,
it's just it's a sign of home. It's a sign
that you've thought about, that someone cares about you, a
complete stranger. And I always go back to and maybe
our packages don't have anything to do with this at all,
but I always think that twenty two a day, you know,
(17:29):
maybe somebody somewhere will get this package that's really failing
down and it can just brighten up their day, you know,
a note from someone they don't know, things that they need,
just something to let them know that, you know, you're
not forgotten about where you are. It's a lot tougher
than where you ever thought you'd be, and we just
want to help in some way, shape or form. It's
(17:50):
that simple.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Well, you've both a doing you know, amazing work, absolutely
amazing work. I'm hoping that there may be someone list
is out there who want to join our conversation and
I don't know what we can do other than ask
people to take up the cause here, affiliate with you folks,
maybe contact our senators and congressmen's office. I mean, obviously
(18:17):
they have the staff in the ability to get to
the bottom of this. I can't imagine that there was
some bureaucrat who woke up some Wednesday morning, had nothing
to do, and said, you know, I'm going to tighten
up the rules and regulations of those Americans who were
sending toiletries and care packages to their neighbors, sons and
(18:41):
daughters who were serving in the military. So you'd like
to think that there wasn't someone who just thought this
would be a great idea just to make people's lives
more complicated. But look, let's just open up the phone lines.
And at the same time, when we come back, I
want to talk more about what you do and also
(19:01):
give you an opportunity to give people a way in
which they can contact you off here. They can contact
you on here by calling six one, seven, two, five
four to ten thirty or six one seven, nine three
one ten thirty, but will also give you an opportunity
to give out either your website or email address or
whatever if there are people out there would like to help,
(19:24):
because we're going to get this this red tape straightened
out one way or the other. And if Senator Markeye office,
Senator Markey's office is going to get involved in this
and and help out, we'll give him all the credit
that that they would deserve here, because I think it's
only at the federal level will something like this get
(19:45):
get resolved. It's it's way, it's way up that that
food chain or that chain of command. My name's Dan Ray.
This is Nightside. Feel free to join the conversation six one, seven, two, five,
four to ten thirty six one seven, nine three one
ten thirty Kelly and Wendy Wendy Rocca raca excuse me
of an operation American soldier in Kelly Conroy adopt a
(20:08):
platoon sealthie style ontor to have them with me. I
hope you will be kind enough to join the conversation
and maybe even just give him a word of encouragement,
because this, to me is something that really is a
kick in the gut from an organization and a group
that has probably done nothing for the people who are
(20:30):
out there defending freedom on the front lines around the world.
Back on Nightside right after this, you're.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
On night Side with Dan Ray on w B Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
With me is Wendy Roca. She runs Operation American Soldier.
You're located, Wendy west of Boston. Is there a geographic
area that people can it's more easy for them.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
To volunteer well, wearing Watertown. We're very easy to find
and we have so many volunteers. We're very blessed.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Okay, that's great to have more good Okay, I'm going
to give you a chance. How can folks get in
touch with you if they would like to, you know,
help out or learn more about your organization?
Speaker 3 (21:17):
They can either go on the website, which is Operation
Americansoldier dot org. Or they can email me which is
Wendy W. E. N d Y letter r at Operation
American Soldier dot org.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Both dot org. Okay, yes, all right, So you're you're
a five oh one C three Kelly Conroy. How can
folks most easily obviously the the name adopt the Platoons Southeastyle.
You are based out of South Boston. Uh so we
know how could where do your volunteers come from? How
(21:57):
how far away from South Boston?
Speaker 4 (22:00):
I would say, the South Boston in the Greater Boston area.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Okay, mostly, how can folks get in touch with you
if they'd like to be helpful?
Speaker 4 (22:09):
So, mom, my website is adopt a Platoon SOUTHI Style
dot com and my email is adopt a Platoon ss
at gmail dot com.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
All right, well, look, I want to thank both of
you for what you do. I want you to keep
me posted as to what progress you have. And again,
if i'm Senator marky Is, you're going to be able
to unravel this Gordian knot for you and find out
why this complication has been placed upon you, folks, or
(22:41):
why this complication has been placed on anyone, but particularly you, folks.
I'd like to have you back and give him some
credit or give his office some credit. Again, you guys
spend thousands of hours, well you know, in total, thousands
of hours, and you don't have the ability to pay
(23:01):
for lobbyists or things like that. It's not a problem.
It's just emphasize. It's not a problem with the American government.
It's not a problem with Congress passing something or failing
to pass something. It's a problem with this United Nations agency,
the Universal Postal union based in Burns, Switzerland. So I
(23:22):
thank you both. I wish there were more people who
were willing to call and support what you do. I
think what you're doing is just an amazing volunteer activity.
I thank you for being with us tonight and hopefully.
Speaker 4 (23:36):
We can jam. Could I just say one thing just
before we go. I want to reiterate to everybody, like
Wendy and I were on a zoom probably a month
ago with other organizations. We're two organizations in Massachusetts. We
were a zoom with all people all over the country.
So this is affecting every single person that puts on
(23:59):
the uniform that's deployed. I just don't want people to
think this is more of a Massachusetts issue. Everybody that
is deployed, they will have trouble getting their care packages
and this is key, and we just want to work
this up the chain, get somebody to notice if somebody's
out there. I just want five minutes with Pete Heseth
(24:21):
and Steven Lynch's office is working with me on this
as well.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
No, I think you're absolutely true. What comes down to
is all of these people are approached by so many
organizations and so many individuals with concerns. This is one
that should go to the top of anyone's list, I
hope again if look, I'm sure there are groups like
Operation American Soldier and adopt the platoon Southe style in
(24:49):
every part of the country, in every state in the Union.
And hopefully if it's a Senator or a Congressman from
Hawaii or a lot or one of the lower forty
eight states that are able to ring the bell here,
I'm sure that if the White House knew about this,
or the certainly the Department of War knew about this,
(25:13):
that they would be you know, they can contact the
United Nations and say, look, this is ridiculous. That's all.
That's all I'm hoping to do for you. It's as
simple as that. I have one person who's called in here,
so let me try to accommodate them before before we
let you go here, let me go to Michael Lee Boston. Michael,
I appreciate your calling in, Thank you for listening. You
(25:34):
round with Wendy Raka of Operation American Soldier and Kelly
Conroy adopt a platoon Southea style.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
Go right ahead, Michael, great Dan, how are you tonight?
Speaker 2 (25:44):
Great A little bit concerned about what these folks are
being put through by some United Nations agency. Go right ahead.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
Wait, we've talked off and on over the years. We
share a high school Alma Mata. There are two places
to call here. One is to call sets Moulton's office
and the others to call Vice President jad Vance's office.
If you go through the regular if you go through
the regular channels of these Massachusetts politicians, they're not going
to execute well.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Seth Moulton, hold on, Seth Moulton's a Massachusetts politicians. So
if someone out there has his ear uh, he knows
how to get in touch with me, I'll put him
in touch with Wendy RockA uh and Kelly Connolly in
a New York second uh, and same way. If someone
has the the the cell phone number of the Vice
President of the United States, there's such a time.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
Let me let me see, let me see if I've
been working the other guys, Mark you those guys, it's
gonna take forever.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
You know, this is a this is an organization that
is sort of executing what I would call an anti
US policy.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Well, that's the way I see it, I mean, Michael,
that is the way I see it because the United
Nations we supported, we funded were We're their home base.
You know, people who live in New York are always
inconvenienced every September when the General Assembly comes to New York.
I think there would do nothing agency. They don't end wars.
(27:12):
Their Human Rights Commission is run by countries like Libya
and Iran. It's it's ridiculous. And I will say this,
you know if Ed Markey's office is getting involved in it.
And I spoke with Wendy who's still with us, earlier today.
I asked her, well, who's involved, and she said that
the one office they reached out to that responded was
(27:34):
Markey's office. I don't care who it is, whether it's
a Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative. I just want
a member of Congress who has some sway. You know,
Ed Markey's office does. If he's not able to do it,
he can pick up the phone and call the Defense Department.
The Defense Department may not even be aware of this.
So I love your enthusiasm, Michael, and I appreciate you
(27:56):
having called in and supporting.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
These these these women are doing great work. My sister
is married to a naval aviator. Uh, they did a
bunch of stuff for them, and these women are doing
great work. And there there's an opportunity to get to
the right people in this environment. This is a political
and and uh and and and get some action if
I can get a number of go back to Rob
with it. But uh, don't give up. And I wish
(28:22):
these weremen the best are doing God's work.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
Well, thanks very much, very much. Appreciate you all. And
I see it exactly the same way you do. This
is not partisan, this is uh. Look, if Elizabeth Warren
wanted to get involved in this, uh, I would give
her office credits. But that's how.
Speaker 5 (28:42):
Credit. But there there are too many agendas here and
the purpose is too important and and and as as
a result, uh, we need some people action. So let's
see what you can work and I'll get back to you.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Thanks very much, Michael. Again, Rob will give you my
direct line. Again. I don't want to put the burden.
There could be people who are listening right now who
have access to people you mentioned either Seth Molten. You
know we go through when we do interviews with some
of these people through their press office. All of these
members of Congress, they have a staff of twenty twenty
(29:14):
five thirty people. I have a staff of one well,
Rob at Knight and Marita during the day. I have
all I can do to put my show on five
nights a week, four hours a night. The fact that
it took so long for anybody to call in, and
by the way, we now have a bunch of calls
which we're going to continue on with these folks here.
Maybe maybe your call is going to spur some action.
(29:36):
I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking
the time to call. I really mean that.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
Now, this is this is this is a no brainer.
And these women are doing and their team's wonderful work, and.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
They're doing they're doing They're doing the hard work. You know.
All I'm doing is talking about it. So yeah, I'm
with you. Michael, keep posting hang in with Rob. Will
give you my direct number so you can get to
me anytime you want. Rob, give Michael my direct number.
We'll take a very quick break here six one, seven, two,
five four to ten thirty six one seven, nine, three
one ten thirty. Uh, ladies, you stay right there. I
(30:11):
got Mary Beth and Handover and Sarah in California calling
in we'll take their phone calls if and the only
lines that are open now are six one, seven, nine, three, one,
ten thirty people are listening. It often happens here that
people listen, but this is really intended as a call
to action. And even if people called up and said, hey,
thank you for what you do on behalf of you know,
(30:32):
there are people out there who are veterans who probably
know what it was like to be deployed overseas and
there wasn't anyone sending them here. Packages you've done this.
You guys do the hard work. I'm just trying to
give you four It's as simple as that. And finally
I've woken up some of my listeners and I will
talk to Mary Beth and we'll talk to Sarah uh
(30:53):
and uh and some more. If you want to call in,
we'll be back on the Night Side right after this.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
It's Nice Eye with Dan Ray. I'm w Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
My guest. They're Kelly Rockup of Operation Americansoldier dot org
and Kelly Conroy of Adopta Platoons SOUTHI Style dot Org.
Let me go to Sarah in California. Sarah, welcome to
Night Side. How are you.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
Hi.
Speaker 6 (31:20):
Good, Thank you for bringing attention to this matter.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Well, thank you for calling in. All I can do
is present different topics to my audience. There are certain
topics I know the phone will ring on. My sense
on this one was that people would have rallied to
the support of these, uh, these these wonderful women. You
go right ahead, Sarah, are you a regular listener out there?
Just happened to fun I'm not.
Speaker 6 (31:46):
I happen to find you because you were talking about
this topic. And I've been a co chair of Support
our Service Women, our SOOS project for sixteen years, and
I really just hope we can get things change because
they don't want to discourage people from sending packages overseas.
We send the service women in particular, because we found
(32:07):
that they're not receiving a lot of packages or any
and so I'm really worried that this is going to
hurt them. So I reached straight out to our Congressman
Scott Peters and darryl Isa and their team's trying to
work on it. But it's you know, I want to
try to get things changed before the holiday season.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
Well, I think, Sarah, that's such an important point that
the holidays are coming up, and look, this is just
making it more difficult for folks like you. And I
don't know if you know Wendy or Kelly, but please
say hello. Feel free to say hello to them right now,
and you guys can be in touch after the program.
(32:49):
Kelly and yeah, Kelly and Wendy, say hi to Sarah.
Somebody from California. Whereabouts in California? Are you from? Sarah?
Speaker 6 (32:57):
I'm in San Diego. So we're in a military town
and we really want to support our servicemen and women
out here. I know everybody does, but I just feel
like this is a hopefully our congressman can step up.
But I'm willing to reach out to anybody that I
possibly can. I think reaching out to Vance's office is fantastic.
(33:20):
I'm gonna be doing that tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Yeah, and again, Sell, you know, there may be someone
listening who has a pipeline, because what happens is you
end up with the staff person and you've got to
get to the to the principal as well. I assume
you've never listened to my show before, which this makes
you a first.
Speaker 6 (33:37):
Time caller, right, I am a first time caller.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
Well, we're gonna we love to give a round of
applause to all of our first time callers from our
virtual studio audience. Rob let's get the audience up with
their feet. So yeah, So please be in touch with
Wendy and with Kelly. I've known Kelly for several years.
I've just become a new acquaintance of Wendy. But you
(34:00):
identified what the problem is, and all this is going
to do is to discourage I hope it is not
being done by some UN agency through malevolence, and it
is just abject stupidity that has been utilized here by
this UN agency. And if it is abject stupidity, let's
just reverse it as quickly as we can.
Speaker 6 (34:21):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Well, anyway, you know how to find these two groups.
What's the name of your organization so we can give
We have listeners in California and particularly in Ciego. What's
the name of your group? Will give it a plug.
Speaker 6 (34:33):
So it's Mission Beach Women's Club and our event is
in November around Veteran Stay and it's called Support or
Service Women sos Oh.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Okay, Mission Beach Women's Plural Club. Is that a dot org?
Speaker 6 (34:52):
It is a dot org?
Speaker 2 (34:53):
Okay, So people who are listening and who want to
be in touch with you. Mission Beachwomen's Club dot org.
Thank you so much, Sarah. I hope you continue to
listen to Night Side. We're a very patriotic group of
people with this program here in Boston. And you know,
even though we're very similar to California politically, even people
(35:14):
here in the Democratic Party will line up in support
of this cause as well. As a matter of fact,
Steve Lynch, who's a congressman from South Boston, is a Democrat.
But he's a great guy, and I know that Kelly
will get him involved in this and we need to
we need to get All I can do is just
be a modern day Paul Revere and try to make
people more concerned. Okay, so thank you, Sarah. Appreciate hearing
(35:37):
you your voice and feel free. We're on every every
week Monday through Friday from eight until midnight. And by
the way, you're not our only caller from San Diego,
so believe me, there were people out there who listen
to this show as well. Thanks Sarah. Night all right,
good night. Let me go to Mary Beth and handover.
Mary Beth is a regular Nightside listening Mary Beth thank
you very much for calling in. You're on with Wendy
(35:59):
Raca and Kelly Conroy.
Speaker 7 (36:01):
Hi, ladies, I'm so happy to hear. I have to say,
I apologize. I just got out of work, so i
don't know the entire story, but I'm so happy to
hear that you have organizations that are dealing with this.
I have a son that is in. He's been in
for twenty years. My daughter has been in for ten.
(36:23):
She just got back from deployment from Poland about two
weeks ago, and so between the two of them, he's
got five deployments, she's got three. And I don't understand
why the military always seems to kind of get the
short end of the stick. And I know my son. Yeah,
last year, my son was in Saudi Arabia and he
(36:47):
messaged on Facebook and he said that, you know, there
were a lot of people that he, you know, was
in charge of and they weren't getting any love from home.
So he asked people to contact him. He would give
them a name and they would, you know, that would
be their person.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
Well that's what happened with with with Kelly and her son,
who is a graduate of West Point and he's a
platoon leader a few couple of years ago, and Kelly
formed the organization which is adopted Platoon Southistyle dot org. Uh.
Wendy's group is Operation American Soldier dot org. So be
aware that these are two groups in Massachusetts that are
(37:27):
very active and we're trying to help him out. Trying
to help him out.
Speaker 7 (37:31):
Okay, can you make sure that would you be able
to post those websites on the Facebook page?
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Yeah, we can do that. Also, if you want to
hear the hour in its entirety, if you've missed some
of it tonight, go to our web page tomorrow Nightside
on demand and the nine o'clock hour will be available.
Rob will give you that. And as a matter of fact,
if you want to hold on, I'm running out of
time here, but Rob will will give you those give
you personally those names and so that you can have them. Okay,
(38:01):
And thank you to your family for the sacrifice that
your children will make you behalf of all of us.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
Thank you for serving you when your kids serve your serving.
Speaker 5 (38:10):
I get that.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Kelly and I both understand how hard it is.
Speaker 7 (38:14):
Well, you'll be in touch. I'd love to help out.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Perfect excellent, excellent. Well, it turns out that I think
we've done pretty well tonight, and who knows, maybe we've
found that one or two people that we'll be able
to help us. So Kelly Conroy adop Upatune Sauthi Style
dot org and Wendy RockA Operation Americansoldier dot org. Thank
you both very much for bearing with us tonight and
(38:39):
thank you very much for what you and your organization does.
Speaker 4 (38:42):
Thank you so much, Dan for your time and bringing awareness.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
Well, let's see what happens and keep us posted. If
you hear anything good out of this, I'll come right
back at this story next week if we need to.
Thank you very much. Good night, ladies. Here comes the
ten o'clock News, and right after that we're going to
talk about the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize Today.
It did not go to Donald Trump, but there's no
(39:09):
reason to suggest he may not win it a year
from now. We'll talk about the disappointment and what's going on.
Coming back on night Side right after this
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