August 6, 2025 • 46 mins
Welcome to the "Militarily Speaking" podcast with Tom McLean and Jodi Vickery.
In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom and Jodi sit down with Lynn Rolfe, the Programs Director at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Lynn shares the organization's mission of advocating for veterans' rights, supporting their communities, and maintaining national security. The episode delves into the VFW's role in creating educational opportunities for high school students, tackling legislative advocacy in Washington, D.C., combating financial distress among veterans, and the significance of community involvement.
“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes the military community who they are.
Ep. 85 – Veterans Are Getting Cheated But The VFW Is Fighting Back
Founded in 1899, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has become one of the most influential veteran service organizations in the U.S., dedicated to securing veterans' rights and benefits. Originally created to assist veterans returning from overseas conflicts, its mission has expanded to cover mental health support, legislative advocacy, and resources for military families.
Lynn Rolfe’s Military Journey and AdvocacyLynn shares his inspiring path from military service to becoming a third-generation VFW member and national advocate. His personal experiences highlight the challenges of transitioning out of the military and the importance of community support during that time. He also underscores the VFW's commitment to veteran mental health, including efforts to prevent PTSD-related issues and veteran suicide.
VFW’s Legislative Efforts & Veteran Benefits
Lynn details the VFW’s tireless work in Washington, D.C., advocating for key legislation like the Major Richard Star Act, which seeks to eliminate the offset between military retirement pay and VA disability compensation. This episode also shines a light on the fight against predatory legal practices targeting veterans filing toxic exposure claims—a critical part of ensuring our heroes receive the benefits they’ve earned.
Community Support & Military Financial Readiness
Beyond policy, the VFW helps veterans facing financial hardship—offering aid through local posts, financial counseling, and connections to trustworthy services to help veterans claim their benefits. These resources empower veterans to achieve financial stability after service.
Innovation Meets Connection
The VFW is also adapting to modern times with creative engagement strategies, including online gaming communities that offer digital camaraderie and support. These efforts address mental health for veterans while building new connections beyond traditional post halls.
Legacy, Leadership, and Looking Ahead
As a third-generation veteran advocate, Lynn reflects on the legacy of military service in his family and how the VFW continues to evolve to meet veterans’ needs. From local outreach to national influence, his story demonstrates how the VFW helps veterans transition successfully into civilian life while preserving the honor of their service.
For more information or to get involved, visit www.vfw.org
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● Last episode’s Military Minute: What breed of dog worked as scouts and messengers during a US Pacific operation in World War II?
● Answer: Dobermann Pinscher
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Militarily speaking, episode85, veterans of Foreign Wars.
This episode we talk withLynn Rol, programs Director
with Veterans Forward Wards.
(00:23):
Welcome to Militarily Speaking,brought to you by Armed Forces Bank.
This is Tom McLean and I'm herewith My Esteem Co-host Jody Vickery.
I'm the military retail exec.
For armed horses.
Jody Vickery is the prestigious Chiefdigital officer for the company.
So
welcome.
Always what adjectiveyou're gonna slide in there.
And was it a good one today?
(00:43):
It was
good today.
You were welcome.
I have a plethora of them.
Plethora of adjectives.
I, I don't wanna know.
So yes, welcome to the show.
We're excited to have you listeningand learning all about our guest,
Lynn Rah, with Fed Warren Wars.
Lynn, I'm gonna take just a, acouple minutes here and share
your bio with our audience.
And then we'll dive right in tolearn everything we can about VFW.
Lynn, RO was, uh, the third was appointeddirector of programs in September of 2015.
(01:08):
Prior to coming to the VFW,he was employed by Northrop
Grumman Technical Assistance.
That's a tough one, right?
I know I had that.
Yeah.
Ralph served in the UnitedStates Army for nine years.
Thank you for your service.
Yep,
most definitely.
As a military police officer amonghis assignments, he served as company
commander of the 300 military companyand deployed in the 2003 and 2004
(01:30):
timeframe in support of Operation IraqiFreedom within the SUNY Triangle and
MSR one, his numerous decorations.
Include the prestigious Bronze star.
He received his bachelor's degreein sociology from Pittsburgh State
University prior to commissioningas a second lieutenant in 1997.
He also received a master's degree inbusiness in organizational security
(01:51):
management from Webster's University.
University right here I of in ourbackyard at Leavenworth, Kansas.
Rolfe is a third generation VFWmember and his younger brother
is currently serving as a US Armymajor in the Kansas National Guard.
So please pass along ourthanks for his service as well.
Yep.
He served in elected and appointedpositions at the post district and
department, or state levels, culminatingwith his election as department
(02:14):
commander 2013 and 2014, and WesternConference Chairman in 2015 and 16.
He's achieved All American statusas a district and post commander.
Served on the National Security ForeignAffairs Committee, national Bylaws
Committee, national VFW, Iraq's andAfghanistan committee, and he was
appointed national, is it aid de camp?
In the 2008, 2009 period, a NationalDeputy Chief of Staff in 2009
(02:38):
and 10, and again in 2010 and 11.
He is a life member.
We're gonna learn a little bit about whatDale likes to do in his spare time here.
He's a life member of the MilitaryPolice Regimental Association, a Master
Mason, a member of the military Orderof the, I need to know what this is.
I don't know what that is.
Ducks Unlimited.
Dozens Forever.
And a board member of thePatriot Outdoor Adventures.
(02:59):
That's a lot going on,
right?
If there's more, he was inducted intoWhite Castle Cravers Hall of Fame.
Wait a minute, is it D White?
Is it D?
White Castle?
Yes.
Absolutely.
Like the little hamburgerswith the holes in them.
Yeah.
You wanna, you wanna talk about how manyyou've eaten in one sitting before Jody?
I have never had a White Castle.
Oh, you're
missing out on money, right, Darren?
(03:20):
Should I tell you my number?
I get one, like one meal.
T Oh.
Right
Now
how do you get to bein the White Castle Cra
I think I've already
joined by default, wrote an essayand got selected across the,
across the country for all the.
Essay submissions.
That's awesome.
And, and then to, to wrap up theother things here, got distracted by
(03:41):
that one named the 2011 LeavenworthCounty Humanitarian of the Year.
He's a gold legacy life numberof BFW post 56 right here in
Leavenworth, Kansas, in our backyard.
Where do you live?
Our backyard.
I drive nearby right through Leavenworthon my way home to Topeka every day.
You don't have to tell us your physicaladdress in Leavenworth, but have you,
(04:02):
have you been to our bank either insidethe Gates or on Li On fourth Street?
Yes.
On both.
Yep.
Nice, nice old bankPresident John, maybe John
Giles.
How about Robert, er, general Arder?
Yes.
So, uh, general?
Yes.
General Arder and my dad.
Yeah, I mean, a lot, alot of family history and.
(04:23):
Bank is, is a
special place right to us.
That's awesome.
And he, yeah, going back to ArmyNational Bank back in 1907, but
he, yeah, he was on our board.
We actually named a, an awardafter him that we give to our,
our quality associates thatdeliver exceptional service.
It's called the General RobertArder Client First Award.
And he's, he's gonna live with us forever.
(04:44):
And absolutely, he's still, he isstill 95, 96 living in Leavenworth.
And yeah, he, he's a nationaltreasure in my opinion.
Well welcome Lynn.
It is an honor to have youon our show overlap of our
circles here, which is law firm.
I wanna say thank you for being with us.
I think to get started, we've got, we'vegot a bunch of, I think, really detailed
questions, which we'll, we'll dive into.
(05:05):
But if you wanna just start bygiving our audience a preview of big
picture level, what is V fw and whatis it about, what's the, the macro
level mission of the organization?
Well, thanks for that.
And of course, thanks for havingme, and it's extra special.
Being a, a Leavenworth boy.
Yeah.
Military transplant.
(05:26):
You know, as a military brat, you know,when people ask me where I'm from, I
don't hesitate but to say Leavenworth.
They're like, well, youwere born in Leavenworth.
I was like, no.
I said, my dad wasstationed there four times.
I was station here twice, so Iwent to high school a lot more.
A lot more is my home or a claim.
So, and then I let my pant leg upwhen I'm introduced on stage and say.
(05:48):
Warden expects me home by,
there were some prominent people that havelived love of work, so discussed 1899, the
founding of the Veterans of Foreign War.
We were founded because of the bonusarmy and, and the government did not
deliver on their promises to takecare of our, of our war erosion.
(06:11):
So we banded together with theSpanish American veterans, Philippine
insurrection, veterans, the and oneother, one other group, but bounded
together to educate our government onthe importance of military service in.
Them honoring the contract.
And it's, it's really crazy how 125years later we're doing the exact
(06:35):
same thing to this day, every day.
That is our bread and butter, is tostand up for our military and our,
and our veterans that have served ourcountry, raised our right hand and
us standing up for them, essentially.
You know, they're union.
'cause you know, those that areserving don't have a union, but
we're able to step into Congress and.
(06:56):
Educate them on what, what we asveterans need from all generations.
So that is really the bounding of the VFW.
And of course, with IRS, we had toadd in the community service aspects
to be able to justify the 5 0 1 C 19congressionally chartered organization.
(07:18):
So day to day our.
Great organization gets veterans theirbenefits, especially as they're transition
outta the military to make sure that theyare receiving their disability payments.
Spouses, widows, gold star kids, ourour NBS or National Veteran Service
staff, our healthcare side doesGod's work with ensuring veterans
(07:42):
get all the benefits that they'reentitled to staying up on the laws.
And especially after the most recent PACTact that was passed two years ago from
p like the exposure that affected everygeneration of, of worked on vets through,
through my, my current generation.
So I'm really proud, really proudof the organization and what way was
(08:03):
founded and, and we're still 125 yearslater doing the exact same thing.
I think as people go to yourwebsite, and I've always been of
the, of the understanding thatVFW has always just been there.
It's been sort of like a national fixturein this company, but when it shows, it
spells out exactly what you've done toestablish the Veterans Administration
(08:24):
and the National Cemetery system.
It's almost like you said it,whether it's a union or whether it's
the origin of supporting veterans.
It all, all lead, all roads,lead back to VFW for that.
Gotcha.
Because of the 125 plus years, theaccountability acts for Veterans
access, the Blue Water Navy VeteranAct, the PACT Act, as you mentioned
(08:46):
GI bill for the 21st century.
I mean, agent Orange, you're alwayslooking out for the best interest and, and
I'm sure advocacy and issues affecting.
Our military are, are rising tothat level where you take 'em to
Capitol Hill and you lead the charge.
Right?
100%. Which it's a greatsegue to my next question.
(09:07):
So then again, name recognition.
But I, you know, I, I asked threepeople today just walking around
our building, I said, what's VFW?
Some people got two wordsright outta the three.
Some people got zero.
One person got one.
'cause I'm a military banker,they put veteran in it.
But as far as the recognition and the,and the branding that you do too, that a
(09:28):
lot of people don't know what value addedservices you provide to that community.
And I think if you have to do a32nd commercial or longer, what are
the value added benefits to VFW?
You have 1.4 million members, right?
Talk about sort of what that value addis so that the general knowledge and
understanding at to Jody's point at ahigh level is we are looking out for you.
(09:53):
Yeah.
And we covered the first two mostimportant was standing up to Congress
and making sure that we're upholdingthe contract when we invested or
missioned in the military or healthcare.
And then last in, in more my lean in theorganization is our community involvement.
(10:13):
Uh, helping local vets, either throughfinancial duress, networking, job
transition, employment, and then mentalhealth, mental awareness that where
the rubber meets the road is the localVFW that knows those local veterans.
So when they need help, you know,they come to us or for assistance
(10:33):
or befriend another veteran and bearound other veterans and, and family
members Getting together is, is.
Huge.
The comradery aspect is huge.
Building that tribe that's, that'salready out there, but connecting it and,
and then going out and helping others.
You mentioned financial de duress inone of your, just sort of like the
pillars or the foundations of what thingsyou're trying to attack out there and
(10:56):
make sure that you've got 'em covered.
What do you see out therefor financial duress?
I would, I would say it's, it'seducation that our veterans tend
to be, for the most part, whenthey transition under employing.
And you have some from, you know, acertain lifestyle and they're so used
to being told what to do, you know, 24hours a day, and then all of a sudden
(11:20):
now they gotta pay a light bill or,you know, water bill or, you know,
those, those things that a lot of usjust take for granted or much less.
How, how, how do you geta mortgage or how do you.
You know, rental agreements or it'sa lot of it the education side that
tends to get veterans into a littlebit of a unsteady state that they might
(11:44):
need, need assistance with, or justsomething outta the blue happens and
they're on, you know, a fixed income,especially if they're medically retired.
From the military, they might have awater heater blow up or the transmission
go goes south and they're so usedto only getting that set amount of
money that they can't afford it.
(12:04):
So we, we as an organizationhere, will step in and.
You can get 'em some help.
No, we see, we see that here too, onthe banking side of things as well.
Yeah.
Well, I wanna talk a little bit aboutthe advocacy work that you and DC, it
was one of the things that you mentionedas sort of the, the top two or three
things that are out there for the VFW.
Can you share with us about what are themost current pressing issues that your
(12:27):
organization's focused on in DC or inother places as you're advocating for the
rights of veterans and their families?
Absolutely.
I, I'll, I'll take an easy one thatour government can't get right right
now is the Major Richard Star Act.
It's for military retirees that whenthey retire and the BA decides, Hey,
(12:50):
here's your disability payment, wepenalize those service members or that
offset of what that, uh, differenceis from the military retirement paid.
And their disability pay, that theyget penalized and they lose a certain
percentage of their VA eight disability.
So we're fighting real hard and we've beenfighting since 2019 to try to fix that.
(13:13):
It's a small segment.
It really hurts.
Those that mean shouldn't get penalized.
You should get your retirement, youshould get, oh, it's a no brainer, but
do you have to have sponsors for that?
Yes.
And there's very few right now, but I knowwe're, we're really strong with Moran.
'cause you know, Senator Moran'son the Veterans Affairs Committee,
a hundred percent on board.
(13:36):
Unfortunately I kind ofstepped away from the Kansas.
We need, you need to come onboard and get the, get it actually
brought to the off floor for a voteinstead of just dying in committee
every year.
Yeah.
Which a lot of, a lot of them do.
But what, how often do youget to go to DC personally?
I used to, I used to go about oncea month and the focus has been
(13:57):
with our high school students.
I, every once in a while I'llprovide some testimonial facts to
our DC staff that does this daily.
As background from the VFW paternalline, when I, I tend to dabble in,
but I take high school students.
I take 55 high schoolstudents every year to DC.
(14:20):
On a week long field trip experiential,and then we get just about a million
and a half in, in, uh, scholarshipsto those young, young men and, and
ladies there in dc And so with thoserelationships, I, I go out and visit
sponsors and, and when, when neededto, when me off the bench to go to.
So
(14:41):
talk to them.
You're the third, you'rethe third generation guy.
You're supposed to be ableto do this with no problem.
But back to the DC side, and I'mgonna go off script little, so
well, you mentioned the 55 students.
How are they selected?
Is there a process wherepeople wanna raise their hand
and submit an application or
something?
Both.
Both.
The Voice, voice of democracyprograms from ninth to 12th grade.
(15:03):
And Patriots Pen is middle school.
They're both, well, the PatriotsPen is just a written essay contest.
That they compete locally, then theygo to, and we call 'em districts,
which are essentially counties and thenstate level, and then they come to to,
to my level at national for judging.
The voice of democracyis an or rated contest.
(15:25):
Those of us in this roomunderstand who Charles Corral is.
Charles Carrell was one of ourfirst winners, but when I talked
to youngsters nowadays, they're, I,I, I gotta tell him to Google him.
So he really got the program, especiallywhen he became really famous and hit the
road in his segments across the country,and talked about what the program did
(15:45):
for him and opened his eyes to DC.
So the high school students can win upto $35,000 if their first place Wow.
Down to about a couple thousand.
But in that, from the post to stateeach, each level, you're winning a
hundred to a couple thousand dollars inscholarships every level as you move up.
So both programs are very impactful.
(16:08):
Get to talk about that programa lot in DC and, and work on
partners and sponsors and,
you know, and I, I don't have totell you this too because I'm glad
you're connected with Kelly Campbell.
Good now.
Right?
At formerly known as HardwareAmerica Patriot Foundation.
Now, what is it?
Valor Partners Foundation.
Right.
That she changed her name and samething, scholarship for, for kids that
(16:31):
are part of the military communityand have that military lifestyle.
I'm glad you're going after theaudience that probably will benefit
quite extensively from the workthat you're doing to give them
the opportunity to go to college.
And now that, to finish the questionon, on the advocacy piece, the second
number one thing that's impacted bothfederal in, in state level legislation
(16:56):
is ever since the advent of the PAC Act.
We have discovered a hugemarket of ambulance chaser.
Dads have lawyers going out thereand chasing veterans to get 'em.
Toxic exposure claims, kindof like the, the late night
TV commercials of meso video.
(17:16):
You know, those kind of things.
Hey, where you hurt in anaccident, I can help you.
Those kind of things that we've gota lot of, a lot of lawyers out there,
a lot of shysters that are chasingthat money from the va. Promise and
vets all this, all, all this money.
And then they're, they're chargingthem, they're charging them a
significant amount of money to do this.
(17:37):
So
are you trying to do likea cease and desist on that?
Yes.
And get leg legislationpassed to prevent that from
Absolutely.
Even though it is very defined inthe CFR and, and the law, right.
That you must be an accreditedservice officer through the va.
We have law firms that are, that are.
Bypassing and not being held accountableand we're just asking 'em to be
(18:00):
accredited and what, you know, it's,don't think it's fair for a vet to
have to pay for something that hey, alot of us are already doing for free.
And, and then they're gonna have to payfor long term if, if they don't read that
fine print in that contract, they couldbe paying for a mortgage on their benefits
forever based on that award amount that,that they're going to get every month.
(18:22):
So.
We're trying to, tryingto really fight that.
And what's happened is that with ourbattle in DC some states have taken
upon themselves to regulate it at thestate level, and we've had some success.
But we're, we're, we're, we'rein, we're in a pretty tough
battle in state houses because.
(18:42):
These law firms are, they're,they're able to throw some money,
well, money and, and lobbying firmsand the engagement of organizations
with certain names in them.
They, they get a lot of them
because of it.
It's, it's, it's been a pretty,pretty disgusting battle,
especially state houses.
I've, I've seen anything thisin other states that it's sad,
(19:04):
but that's our responsibility tostand up for, for our veterans and
well, and a lot of people wouldn'thave heard your passion for this
unless they listen to the podcast.
So.
Maybe people, maybe this will give themthe impetus to go out and act and talk
to their leaders in, in the government.
Crazy part about it too.
Never.
(19:24):
No brainers like
super
common.
I doubt it's sad.
Of
course we should.
And then, you know what?
Of course the last piece of our advocacy,of course is, is standing up for our
military and making sure that they'refully funded and, uh, keep us safe.
You know, a world nowadays.
So the national security aspectof our advocacy is huge for us
to, to be able to stand up becausewe're visiting our troops overseas.
(19:49):
You know, legislators aren't over there.
You know, they, they may not haverepresentation over in Germany or you
know, Asia, and we're able to bring thoseconcerns back well to DOD and help them.
Is there a process?
This is off script, Jody.
Is there a process you use when itcomes to the legislative priorities?
Because there's only so many resources,so many people that can do what you
(20:12):
want to, to advance certain causesthat you're trying to celebrate for
veterans to get to the finish line.
But do you have some leadership groupthink where you say, you know, with
20 25, 20 26, these are focal points?
There's probably so many more thatyou, that might be pet projects too.
Yes.
But do you decide as a leadership team
(20:34):
where you're going?
Well, we, we, we propose every yearthe national staff, those that,
that are engaged in, in WashingtonDC propose a bunch of resolutions.
And then our, our statesare responsible to come in.
And we're actually almost into thattimeframe now as we get into June.
(20:55):
Our states are gonna start turning overleadership and they're voting on their
priorities and and what they believe in.
And once they vote and approve,they will send to us in July.
And then at the end of July, wehave our big national convention.
And much like any of the politicalconferences that happen, we vote on, on
(21:17):
the way we see, we wanna move forwardbased on what we've put forth, what
our states have put forth and, and getthe, all of the membership to, to vote
and say, okay, this is what we're gonnastand for this year and move forward.
What's the number of locationsyou have around the country?
Pl plus or minus 3%.
Okay.
Across, across the world.
(21:39):
Everywhere we fought, we have a VFW.
Uh, we're we're just about 52, 5500 VFWs
across the world.
Geez.
So, you know, I think as people go tothose shops or as people get involved
in the VFW brand ambassadorship, whichis important to banks, it's important
to any industry right, to be, to beout there and carry the baton and,
(22:01):
and speak on your behalf in any venue.
But what does it mean to, to be a member?
And is there, what, what sort of sealof approval do they get when they're,
when they're a member?
As a veteran or war, youare eligible to join.
And once you do join, it's that extra,even though you know those of us that
have gone overseas and why we wish wenever had, wish, we never have to have
(22:27):
anyone else that we, we take it uponourselves as warriors and, and, and combat
officers to help fight for peace and in.
Help our community and, and that's ournext mission in life that, you know,
I can no longer put on the uniform.
So my mission now that I discovered,because I went to the Leavenworth parade
(22:49):
once when I first got out of the military,and it's like, you know what, there's
a bunch of, I know what the BFW is.
It gives those of us, youknow, a new mission in life.
That's a very common theme.
We in heard so guests that.
For the uniform, and then they transitioninto civilian life, and then they find
themselves right back in the middleof military community because it's.
(23:12):
It's family.
Right.
Okay.
Immediate connection.
Yeah,
for sure.
So we, we learned thisabout you in your bio.
You're 11, 11 worth president.
You had a wonderful career serving ourcountry of NPN rv, of hired, decorated.
Talk a little bit about your,your personal career, if you
would, and, and sort of howthat journey led you to the VFW.
(23:34):
You just said you wereat the parade, right?
So maybe there's more to it than that.
Maybe there's not, but I'dlove to hear your story.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Actually, actually it is.
And, and, and I'm sure you guys probablyknow this name, Colonel Doug Stead.
I owed, I owe my old boss Doug Stead mylife, and I, and I tell anyone I can, if
(23:56):
he took a chance on me when I got outtathe military to bring me to four lot
more since my dad was on, on staff at theschool, um, as the young Iraq veteran.
But I was not ready.
I, I was, I was a mess.
I was every night drinking, breaking allthe establishments downtown, and then
(24:16):
I would drive out to my dad's five Eastand every night and, and then start over.
My dad, he and Doug sat medown and it wasn't much before
that first better's day parade.
I, I went and told me, basically gaveme a lot of tough love and said, Hey.
You know, you're gonna lose your job.
I'm gonna terminate you ifyou don't straighten up.
(24:39):
'cause it, even though I hit it prettygood, it was affecting work on base
and he was not, not questioning, butso when I, when I saw that parade, I
saw a couple other high school buddiesthat were walking in and followed
him in, was invited to a meeting.
And then it was about 10 yearsfrom, and that was about oh 5 0 6.
(24:59):
That just changed my life.
'cause I, I found that piece that keptme from making those bad decisions every
night and, and, and just got me backon, moved up in Northrop a little bit,
uh, and then sequestration hit, lostthe, lost my job, unfortunately, on,
and I, I was actually on Armed ForcesInsurance Board for about two years.
(25:24):
Lori Simons.
Yep.
We know her.
We know her well.
Yeah.
Yeah.
She, she good people.
She took a chance on me also and,and, you know, knew that we could
get out and more trade bearers.
Talk to more bets that are out therethat may not know about a y Yeah.
At National Guard Conferences andother big types of trade fairs.
(25:45):
So she brought me on to helpwith marketing and, and.
Be that new veteran that, that,that's a long time a FI subscriber.
So did that and simultaneously I'm movingup in the BFW from the state headquarters.
It took over all the states fromKansas West, the Philippines.
And this job came up.
(26:05):
The guy, guy that had my job previouslyretired and I was thinking about moving
to the next wobble in the organizationand, and I reached out and said, Hey.
If there's an opportunity,I live an hour or so away.
I'd like, like a chanceto, well to, to help out.
So I interviewed and well, I'vebeen, been here ever since.
(26:28):
Loving, loving the drinkup on people every day.
Appreciate you sharing that.
I knew there was more tojust going to a break,
but sometimes it takes a while,but you end up finding your home.
Right.
And I think Lynn's found it.
The perfect spot.
I threw out there that your thirdgeneration BFW, your younger brother
and Jody mentioned this too, in your biserving in the Kansas National Guard.
(26:48):
And that so that legacy.
Leah, talk about the legacy and howyou want your legacy to be written.
Hey everyone.
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You know, I, I, I cannot tellyou how much it meant to me.
When my brother passed me in themilitary, he actually just graduated
(28:14):
from the war college in Pennsylvania.
I gotta gotta updatethis, my bio, he, he's.
He's now at the same level as my dad.
So I, I, I think my legacy is I made hislife miserable and he was able to pass me
up because I made things so tough for him.
It worked.
(28:34):
It worked.
Yes.
Absolutely.
And, you know, he's got, he's, he'sthree beautiful young kids that I,
you know, I don't have kids myself.
I'm engaged.
Congrats and living watching him.
I think my legacy will be that notjust the Frazee uncle, but someone
that my, my, my nephew and, and my twonephews and my niece can look up to is
(29:00):
someone that's impacted the community.
Some just a little bit,
kinda the role siblings are supposedto play for each other, right?
Yeah.
Take, take the backseat.
Let, and, but he soundscompetitive, doesn't he?
Mad.
I wanna, I wanna talk abouta little bit the core values,
the mission, the vision of VMW.
I don't know if you could share a littlebit of insight into those pillars with
(29:22):
our audience and maybe, maybe a view intohow the VFW has evolved over the years.
I know when you were describingthe, the kind of big picture view
of the VFW at the beginning of ourconversation, you talked about how
the things that the VFW fought for atthe beginning 125 years ago are, are.
In some ways the same today.
(29:42):
Yeah.
But I'm sure it might be a different
topic, but it's the same.
The ways or the means in which you, you'vedone that as an organization might have
evolved over, over that period of time.
You have mid sight into that if you would.
I,
I mean actually that, that is, and beingthe young Post nine, and I, even though
I'm pre nine 11, still kind of consideredthe nine 11 generation here at the office
(30:06):
that we, we are doing the exact samestuff, just a little differently and, and
one of the biggest examples that I'm most.
Most proud, and this comes back tomy relationship with my brother,
that I get a lot of intel from himon what he's dealing with with his
soldiers, the younger troops nowadays.
And I had seen Darren, that therewas a lot of bets turned back
(30:29):
to what we used to do in thebarracks, in in play video games.
And it is, sure you guys know that isthe largest growing demographic and
business that's out there right now.
And I wrote a couple of researchpapers on the benefits of gaming and
mental health for veterans specificallyof course based on, on everyone's
(30:50):
research, on, on every demographic.
'cause we're all the same.
We just had different experiences.
I'm really proud that I'm a, that I'vestarted a group of about 5,000 veterans
that gain every night, and I'm able toengage them online with resources and just
answer questions and, you know, they hearabout something in the news or some fake
(31:15):
book message that said some fake stuff.
We're able to help clarify so.
Still the same stuff, but we're doingthings that who would've thought?
And, and I, I hear it allthe time from the old timers.
They're like, I can't believe you game.
And I was like, well, I don'tgame, but I'm gaming network
and I'm talking with bets.
I'm, you know, every morning I, Ilog into this channel and I have
(31:39):
copy while I'm reading emails here.
That's awesome.
Office and just talking camaraderie.
So it, it's, and you guysknow since COVID, I, I think,
uh, COVID really helped us.
Transform the organization more intotechnology real fast to be able to adjust.
And we, we were one of the onlyorganizations that, that were able
(32:00):
to keep the doors open, uh, in DC andbecause we had the processes already
in place to be able to handle theBA issues that were up with COVID.
So really proud about that,how we're doing business.
You know what, my
wife and kids play Fortnite.
Oh, what does, whatdoes your husband play?
(32:21):
I don't know.
He plays games on his phone, man.
He doesn't tell you what games they are.
I could, I could not care less.
They're like Dragon Slayer.
But, but I'm wondering, maybe theyshould listen to this episode to learn
from you, Lynn, that maybe they couldbe productive during the time that
they're gaming and off offer sometutelage, guidance, resources and, uh,
(32:44):
just knowledge about some topics, but.
I think they'd rather just play thegame, and that's all they talk about.
Well, I mean, it was a greatway for grandparents to connect.
That's
true.
Yeah.
Okay.
With their kids over that two and ahalf years, Hey, hey, Lynn, when you
wake up every day, you don't have totell our audience that everything you
do in the, in the life of, of Lynn,but what be, because you've been
(33:08):
doing this, so about 11 years now,and you're focused on programs, you're
focused on getting into the schools.
Probably to be the ambassadorand educator, but what
does it look like for you?
It looks like you travel, travel often.
Yeah.
Probably two or three
weekends of the month.
I'm, I'm out at a conference or, orconvention or something, but really the,
(33:31):
my fiance will kill me for saying this.
Say it, say it.
Boy.
We got a great hunting dog, boomer.
She, I, I take late night dutiesbecause there tends to be more.
Wildlife out at the lake.
'cause I live out towards East andprivate lake out there on small cabin.
But we'll get up early in the morning.
(33:53):
Of course, most times the dog getsher up and emails start right away
because I've got BF Ws over in thePacific areas, you know, that are so
far ahead of us that I tend to justplay catch up on those so I can.
Get those done before I even, you know,get in a truck for the iron 50 hour,
20 minute commute here and get ready.
(34:15):
Watch the news.
Pray to God that I 70 is not bo down.
Jodi does, Jodi does that every day.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I hate the highway.
I don't do a very good job, so I takecall, but, but still to get all the
way across over here to Kansas Cityis where pretty significant going that
going towards the city in the morning.
(34:36):
And then, you know, till five, six, i hereat the office all day responding to phone
calls, emails, like normal corporate work.
Try to dedicate at least an hour to myselfon either go for a walk or let's could
work on, uh, work on some research or somekind of str strategic plan for what, what
(34:58):
I'm trying to accomplish with our team.
Programs and then drive home.
And I'm usually answering all myvoicemails on the way home till I get to
get to my dad's farm, pick my dog back up.
'cause it's just like, and I'm notmaking light of this, but when.
You see one, the families oror families passing their kids
off at, at the gas station.
(35:19):
That's what it feelslike with the dog, right?
Yeah.
I, I, I go to my dad's farm and I pickmy dog up, go down, go down the lake,
take him for a walk and full time.
I'm emailing till better, half gets home.
She works for sheriff'soffice in another county.
Just wanted to make sureI threw that out there.
Not to get, get a plug.
Get a plug for her.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(35:39):
And when she comes home, it, it's,I try to turn up, but it, it is
tough, but it is, I'm, I'm tryingto get better and is what it is.
If you
love what you do, you neverwork a day in your life.
It's been about 10episodes since I said that.
That's awesome.
That's awesome.
Well, thanks for giving us a glimpse into.
Say your personal sideof things a little bit.
(36:00):
Yeah.
I wanna come back to, we talked aboutsome, some of the programs and the
focus areas of the MW people go out tothe website, which they use the FW org.
I'll just say, what will they find there?
How will, how should they thinkabout going there to figure out what
programs and events apply best tothem and maybe their rehearsal needs?
(36:21):
Yeah.
I, I think it does a pretty good job onif, if you're interested in advocacy.
You just click on the, on the, onthe tap for accuracy, uh, assistance.
And they, if you wanna get involvedin the community, click on community.
I'll drop down on, on differentthings like getting into the school,
talk about veterans in the classroomanymore, us recognizing our teacher.
(36:45):
And of course the scholarshipprograms for the youth.
So, you know, across the,across the top, very easy.
And then course find a, find a post, alocator's there and work, you know, a
lot of us going know what those thingsare anymore with start using TikTok a
lot more to, to, to be able to get themessage out or, or just find stuff.
(37:09):
So can we see, will we beable to find you on TikTok?
Yes.
Oh, now I'm jealous.
Do you have account?
No, but I need to be there.
I have an account, but I literally don't,
I don't have an account.
I know.
And donating and volunteering,like we we're talking about your
website, there's more information.
It's pretty navigationalfriendly out there.
Absolutely.
(37:29):
And, and in the buckets of whatwe do from, from advocacy to, to
community in general work that we do.
Um, and, and of course.
Contact us.
If you just have any followingquestions, then we reach out
and we'll come to my desk.
Sure.
Or nine times out of 10 I'll callyou unless it's just a matter of a
(37:50):
resource and just send you a link.
I would
encourage people to look at the corevalues, the mission, and the vision,
because what we've talked abouttoday, you've covered the full gamut,
especially when you look at the visionabout respected for their service.
And get their earned entitlementsrecognized for the sacrifices.
That's a great mission.
And what was the other thing it said?
(38:12):
Perpetuating the memoryof our dad off fallen.
No, but it says no onedoes more for veterans.
Right?
It's like, it's like in all bold on yourwebsite, and that's probably one of the
biggest messages that I want our audienceto hear is that you, you advocate to
the best interest of their wellbeing.
So yeah, I'm all veterans.
(38:32):
I'm off my tangent.
Should we go to the militaryminute or do you want to see if we
can, but I, I would ask is there anythingelse that we haven't thought to ask you
about the organization that really wantto make sure our audience hear today?
Well, one, one thing specificto anytime I can to attack the
stereotype of, of, of being a old man.
(38:53):
White drinking club orgeriatric gin joint, that
that was Jodi's lifestyle, right?
Yeah.
That, you know, some,some VFWs do have a cant.
That isn't what they're there for.
You know that that was started backin World War II as as a earning
(39:17):
opportunity to get together and network.
Yeah.
I'm sure there was a lotof stories told, but.
But it was more to help eachother, you know, through coping.
But those buildings are truly should beand it's, it is very franchise based.
You'll, if you've been to one BFW,you've only been to one because
(39:37):
each one is totally different.
Each one's got a differentidentity based on the leadership.
You know, I'm really proud a lotand work 'cause we're right here.
For a Lotor.
We have a lot of instructors fromthe college, a lot of contractors
involved, a lot of retired military,and, and our post shows that here
in Leavenworth is, is that identity.
(40:00):
And we've got a lot of younger, oneyounger church too from the disciplinary
bar and some of us that I moved back.
So I'm really just give us a chanceand, and try not to buy into that.
I've been interview and we need.
More, I mean, can always use more help,but, but with the times that we're in the,
the, the number that delegate strength,when we say 1.4, Congress listens to that
(40:26):
when we say, Hey, 1.4 believes in this.
So, you know, we come down from 2.3.
About 25 years ago we're,we're seeing a another outward
spike with guys my age here.
Veterans my age that are retiringor just decided to hang up and uh,
(40:46):
and focus on, on white in general.
They had a little more time ordisposable time to, to give back.
And then just a personal note, reallyproud we did start up, or the last piece
of mind personal is we started BuffaloSoldier Chapter and Phi Beta Signal
Trinity Incorporated there four 11that's been defunct for a few years and.
(41:09):
Tonight, I'm Mexico and LansingHigh School to present a
thousand dollars scholarship toa senior with that fraternity.
So really, really proud about that.
That bunch of, bunch of us militaryhave re reinvented that chapter
to get it, get it going again,
love nothing but prettygreat way to spend the Eden.
Yeah, but that ain't clear.
(41:31):
Well, I, I think Iappreciate you being here.
We do wanna play our militaryminute before you go, but
what I think is great is.
I think so many people haveheard veterans of Foreign War.
They've heard VFW, but hopefullytoday gives them a glimpse into
the, the broad spectrum of thingsthat the VFW is, is actively doing.
Agreed.
They may not know that piece.
(41:52):
So hopefully our podcast, um,helps, uh, those within its reach
a little bit, but not to delay.
We have a game that we like to play,uh, called the Military Minute,
and we're gonna ask you to humor us.
Lynn knows, 'cause it's on, it's on hiscue to watch our episode, so, oh yeah.
(42:13):
You may not know it today,but he's gonna know it.
It's really not, it'sreally not that hard.
But our guests on the last podcastwere canines for warriors, and
so we always try to sort of, kindof tie the kind of questions.
Sometimes we don't do so well with
that, but I'm to blame for that.
Is there a
culture question or tied to our guests,but last time it was tied to our guests.
If you know the answer to this, you can.
(42:33):
You can a hundred percenttell us, or you could just.
Wager a flat out guess and we'll see.
But the question for them was,what breed of dog worked as gaps
and messengers during a US Pacificoperation in World War iii?
Any guess?
Saint Bernard.
That's what Tom gets, which isweird 'cause Tom wrote the question.
So if he knew the answerand he still guess, he, you
(42:54):
know, Google could be wrong though.
And Lynn could be right.
We'll see it on TikTok later with Lynn.
Didn't write that down.
Sadly.
The answer according to, to, andhopefully our audience got this
right, was Doberman Fincher,
boom.
Yeah.
See
now you can see just by, bythe way they're shaped, you
can see that they got pointers.
Right.
They just look fierce.
(43:15):
They're
scary.
Yeah.
Yeah.
They're like five chihuahuassleeping out my head
over.
Yeah.
If you're an audience and you putgovernment venture for your answer,
watch for your name to drop as thelucky winner at $50 for you and
$50 for a charity at your choice.
Like BFW, like
BMW, and this week's military minutes.
(43:36):
So you can't answer this one becausethis, we're gonna tee this one up
for our audience, but it's a questionabout military appreciation mark,
which is course the month of May.
And the question is, in what yearwas military appreciation mark
made official in which US Centerchampion that formal resignation?
So this kind of ties back to Lynnjust because it's got something to
(43:56):
do with Washington DC with a senator.
Military, military appreciate.
We should say, Lynn, whatare you doing for military?
Appreciate.
So don't
answer Lynn if you know, but I, I,I might have guessed the person.
I dunno that I would'veever guessed the right.
So if you know the answer or you'reright, people in our audience, make
sure you enter your best guess whenthis podcast drops, then you two could
(44:19):
be selected to win $50 for yourselfand $50 for a charity of your choice.
By the way, Lynn, you can justgive us a blink your eyes twice
if you knew the answer to that.
I,
well, I, I do, I didn't think it was him.
I do know.
Oh.
So, but it makes total sense.
You just, you just did a teaser bysaying it's a him, so, all right.
(44:40):
Yeah, that's okay.
Well, we just narrowed thelimit of guesses by 50%.
We two, we're trying to makeit easier for our audience.
All right.
So if you enjoyed today's episode, go outto af bank.com and subscribe to the show.
Rate us, leave us a comment.
Try to be favorable about Jody, andeven if you have to embellish on your
(45:01):
favorite podcast platform such asApple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube.
Lynn Rolfe.
Good job.
Yeah, well done, well done.
Oh, thank you all.
You guys are Champs, dude.
I'm looking forward to going backand, and listening to the other 84.
You have to do that by next
Wednesday.
Yeah.
You know he, he said somethingreally nice about us.
(45:23):
You know how I always wantedto try to find out if he has
connections to their celebrity.
So maybe Lynn will ask for your autograph.
Oh yeah.
That'll be a lot of money.
But nobody ever, it was apleasure to meet you today.
I appreciate you being on with
us.
Pleasure was all mine.
Thank you.
Yeah, thank you.
Alright, Lynn.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank y'all.
Appreciate it.
Bye Bye.
(45:48):
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(46:09):
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Speaking logo are registered.
(46:29):
Trademarks of Armed Forces.
Militarily speaking, episode85, veterans of Foreign Wars.
This episode we talk withLynn Rol, programs Director
with Veterans Forward Wards.
(00:23):
Welcome to Militarily Speaking,brought to you by Armed Forces Bank.
This is Tom McLean and I'm herewith My Esteem Co-host Jody Vickery.
I'm the military retail exec.
For armed horses.
Jody Vickery is the prestigious Chiefdigital officer for the company.
So
welcome.
Always what adjectiveyou're gonna slide in there.
And was it a good one today?
(00:43):
It was
good today.
You were welcome.
I have a plethora of them.
Plethora of adjectives.
I, I don't wanna know.
So yes, welcome to the show.
We're excited to have you listeningand learning all about our guest,
Lynn Rah, with Fed Warren Wars.
Lynn, I'm gonna take just a, acouple minutes here and share
your bio with our audience.
And then we'll dive right in tolearn everything we can about VFW.
Lynn, RO was, uh, the third was appointeddirector of programs in September of 2015.
(01:08):
Prior to coming to the VFW,he was employed by Northrop
Grumman Technical Assistance.
That's a tough one, right?
I know I had that.
Yeah.
Ralph served in the UnitedStates Army for nine years.
Thank you for your service.
Yep,
most definitely.
As a military police officer amonghis assignments, he served as company
commander of the 300 military companyand deployed in the 2003 and 2004
(01:30):
timeframe in support of Operation IraqiFreedom within the SUNY Triangle and
MSR one, his numerous decorations.
Include the prestigious Bronze star.
He received his bachelor's degreein sociology from Pittsburgh State
University prior to commissioningas a second lieutenant in 1997.
He also received a master's degree inbusiness in organizational security
(01:51):
management from Webster's University.
University right here I of in ourbackyard at Leavenworth, Kansas.
Rolfe is a third generation VFWmember and his younger brother
is currently serving as a US Armymajor in the Kansas National Guard.
So please pass along ourthanks for his service as well.
Yep.
He served in elected and appointedpositions at the post district and
department, or state levels, culminatingwith his election as department
(02:14):
commander 2013 and 2014, and WesternConference Chairman in 2015 and 16.
He's achieved All American statusas a district and post commander.
Served on the National Security ForeignAffairs Committee, national Bylaws
Committee, national VFW, Iraq's andAfghanistan committee, and he was
appointed national, is it aid de camp?
In the 2008, 2009 period, a NationalDeputy Chief of Staff in 2009
(02:38):
and 10, and again in 2010 and 11.
He is a life member.
We're gonna learn a little bit about whatDale likes to do in his spare time here.
He's a life member of the MilitaryPolice Regimental Association, a Master
Mason, a member of the military Orderof the, I need to know what this is.
I don't know what that is.
Ducks Unlimited.
Dozens Forever.
And a board member of thePatriot Outdoor Adventures.
(02:59):
That's a lot going on,
right?
If there's more, he was inducted intoWhite Castle Cravers Hall of Fame.
Wait a minute, is it D White?
Is it D?
White Castle?
Yes.
Absolutely.
Like the little hamburgerswith the holes in them.
Yeah.
You wanna, you wanna talk about how manyyou've eaten in one sitting before Jody?
I have never had a White Castle.
Oh, you're
missing out on money, right, Darren?
(03:20):
Should I tell you my number?
I get one, like one meal.
T Oh.
Right
Now
how do you get to bein the White Castle Cra
I think I've already
joined by default, wrote an essayand got selected across the,
across the country for all the.
Essay submissions.
That's awesome.
And, and then to, to wrap up theother things here, got distracted by
(03:41):
that one named the 2011 LeavenworthCounty Humanitarian of the Year.
He's a gold legacy life numberof BFW post 56 right here in
Leavenworth, Kansas, in our backyard.
Where do you live?
Our backyard.
I drive nearby right through Leavenworthon my way home to Topeka every day.
You don't have to tell us your physicaladdress in Leavenworth, but have you,
(04:02):
have you been to our bank either insidethe Gates or on Li On fourth Street?
Yes.
On both.
Yep.
Nice, nice old bankPresident John, maybe John
Giles.
How about Robert, er, general Arder?
Yes.
So, uh, general?
Yes.
General Arder and my dad.
Yeah, I mean, a lot, alot of family history and.
(04:23):
Bank is, is a
special place right to us.
That's awesome.
And he, yeah, going back to ArmyNational Bank back in 1907, but
he, yeah, he was on our board.
We actually named a, an awardafter him that we give to our,
our quality associates thatdeliver exceptional service.
It's called the General RobertArder Client First Award.
And he's, he's gonna live with us forever.
(04:44):
And absolutely, he's still, he isstill 95, 96 living in Leavenworth.
And yeah, he, he's a nationaltreasure in my opinion.
Well welcome Lynn.
It is an honor to have youon our show overlap of our
circles here, which is law firm.
I wanna say thank you for being with us.
I think to get started, we've got, we'vegot a bunch of, I think, really detailed
questions, which we'll, we'll dive into.
(05:05):
But if you wanna just start bygiving our audience a preview of big
picture level, what is V fw and whatis it about, what's the, the macro
level mission of the organization?
Well, thanks for that.
And of course, thanks for havingme, and it's extra special.
Being a, a Leavenworth boy.
Yeah.
Military transplant.
(05:26):
You know, as a military brat, you know,when people ask me where I'm from, I
don't hesitate but to say Leavenworth.
They're like, well, youwere born in Leavenworth.
I was like, no.
I said, my dad wasstationed there four times.
I was station here twice, so Iwent to high school a lot more.
A lot more is my home or a claim.
So, and then I let my pant leg upwhen I'm introduced on stage and say.
(05:48):
Warden expects me home by,
there were some prominent people that havelived love of work, so discussed 1899, the
founding of the Veterans of Foreign War.
We were founded because of the bonusarmy and, and the government did not
deliver on their promises to takecare of our, of our war erosion.
(06:11):
So we banded together with theSpanish American veterans, Philippine
insurrection, veterans, the and oneother, one other group, but bounded
together to educate our government onthe importance of military service in.
Them honoring the contract.
And it's, it's really crazy how 125years later we're doing the exact
(06:35):
same thing to this day, every day.
That is our bread and butter, is tostand up for our military and our,
and our veterans that have served ourcountry, raised our right hand and
us standing up for them, essentially.
You know, they're union.
'cause you know, those that areserving don't have a union, but
we're able to step into Congress and.
(06:56):
Educate them on what, what we asveterans need from all generations.
So that is really the bounding of the VFW.
And of course, with IRS, we had toadd in the community service aspects
to be able to justify the 5 0 1 C 19congressionally chartered organization.
(07:18):
So day to day our.
Great organization gets veterans theirbenefits, especially as they're transition
outta the military to make sure that theyare receiving their disability payments.
Spouses, widows, gold star kids, ourour NBS or National Veteran Service
staff, our healthcare side doesGod's work with ensuring veterans
(07:42):
get all the benefits that they'reentitled to staying up on the laws.
And especially after the most recent PACTact that was passed two years ago from
p like the exposure that affected everygeneration of, of worked on vets through,
through my, my current generation.
So I'm really proud, really proudof the organization and what way was
(08:03):
founded and, and we're still 125 yearslater doing the exact same thing.
I think as people go to yourwebsite, and I've always been of
the, of the understanding thatVFW has always just been there.
It's been sort of like a national fixturein this company, but when it shows, it
spells out exactly what you've done toestablish the Veterans Administration
(08:24):
and the National Cemetery system.
It's almost like you said it,whether it's a union or whether it's
the origin of supporting veterans.
It all, all lead, all roads,lead back to VFW for that.
Gotcha.
Because of the 125 plus years, theaccountability acts for Veterans
access, the Blue Water Navy VeteranAct, the PACT Act, as you mentioned
(08:46):
GI bill for the 21st century.
I mean, agent Orange, you're alwayslooking out for the best interest and, and
I'm sure advocacy and issues affecting.
Our military are, are rising tothat level where you take 'em to
Capitol Hill and you lead the charge.
Right?
100%. Which it's a greatsegue to my next question.
(09:07):
So then again, name recognition.
But I, you know, I, I asked threepeople today just walking around
our building, I said, what's VFW?
Some people got two wordsright outta the three.
Some people got zero.
One person got one.
'cause I'm a military banker,they put veteran in it.
But as far as the recognition and the,and the branding that you do too, that a
(09:28):
lot of people don't know what value addedservices you provide to that community.
And I think if you have to do a32nd commercial or longer, what are
the value added benefits to VFW?
You have 1.4 million members, right?
Talk about sort of what that value addis so that the general knowledge and
understanding at to Jody's point at ahigh level is we are looking out for you.
(09:53):
Yeah.
And we covered the first two mostimportant was standing up to Congress
and making sure that we're upholdingthe contract when we invested or
missioned in the military or healthcare.
And then last in, in more my lean in theorganization is our community involvement.
(10:13):
Uh, helping local vets, either throughfinancial duress, networking, job
transition, employment, and then mentalhealth, mental awareness that where
the rubber meets the road is the localVFW that knows those local veterans.
So when they need help, you know,they come to us or for assistance
(10:33):
or befriend another veteran and bearound other veterans and, and family
members Getting together is, is.
Huge.
The comradery aspect is huge.
Building that tribe that's, that'salready out there, but connecting it and,
and then going out and helping others.
You mentioned financial de duress inone of your, just sort of like the
pillars or the foundations of what thingsyou're trying to attack out there and
(10:56):
make sure that you've got 'em covered.
What do you see out therefor financial duress?
I would, I would say it's, it'seducation that our veterans tend
to be, for the most part, whenthey transition under employing.
And you have some from, you know, acertain lifestyle and they're so used
to being told what to do, you know, 24hours a day, and then all of a sudden
(11:20):
now they gotta pay a light bill or,you know, water bill or, you know,
those, those things that a lot of usjust take for granted or much less.
How, how, how do you geta mortgage or how do you.
You know, rental agreements or it'sa lot of it the education side that
tends to get veterans into a littlebit of a unsteady state that they might
(11:44):
need, need assistance with, or justsomething outta the blue happens and
they're on, you know, a fixed income,especially if they're medically retired.
From the military, they might have awater heater blow up or the transmission
go goes south and they're so usedto only getting that set amount of
money that they can't afford it.
(12:04):
So we, we as an organizationhere, will step in and.
You can get 'em some help.
No, we see, we see that here too, onthe banking side of things as well.
Yeah.
Well, I wanna talk a little bit aboutthe advocacy work that you and DC, it
was one of the things that you mentionedas sort of the, the top two or three
things that are out there for the VFW.
Can you share with us about what are themost current pressing issues that your
(12:27):
organization's focused on in DC or inother places as you're advocating for the
rights of veterans and their families?
Absolutely.
I, I'll, I'll take an easy one thatour government can't get right right
now is the Major Richard Star Act.
It's for military retirees that whenthey retire and the BA decides, Hey,
(12:50):
here's your disability payment, wepenalize those service members or that
offset of what that, uh, differenceis from the military retirement paid.
And their disability pay, that theyget penalized and they lose a certain
percentage of their VA eight disability.
So we're fighting real hard and we've beenfighting since 2019 to try to fix that.
(13:13):
It's a small segment.
It really hurts.
Those that mean shouldn't get penalized.
You should get your retirement, youshould get, oh, it's a no brainer, but
do you have to have sponsors for that?
Yes.
And there's very few right now, but I knowwe're, we're really strong with Moran.
'cause you know, Senator Moran'son the Veterans Affairs Committee,
a hundred percent on board.
(13:36):
Unfortunately I kind ofstepped away from the Kansas.
We need, you need to come onboard and get the, get it actually
brought to the off floor for a voteinstead of just dying in committee
every year.
Yeah.
Which a lot of, a lot of them do.
But what, how often do youget to go to DC personally?
I used to, I used to go about oncea month and the focus has been
(13:57):
with our high school students.
I, every once in a while I'llprovide some testimonial facts to
our DC staff that does this daily.
As background from the VFW paternalline, when I, I tend to dabble in,
but I take high school students.
I take 55 high schoolstudents every year to DC.
(14:20):
On a week long field trip experiential,and then we get just about a million
and a half in, in, uh, scholarshipsto those young, young men and, and
ladies there in dc And so with thoserelationships, I, I go out and visit
sponsors and, and when, when neededto, when me off the bench to go to.
So
(14:41):
talk to them.
You're the third, you'rethe third generation guy.
You're supposed to be ableto do this with no problem.
But back to the DC side, and I'mgonna go off script little, so
well, you mentioned the 55 students.
How are they selected?
Is there a process wherepeople wanna raise their hand
and submit an application or
something?
Both.
Both.
The Voice, voice of democracyprograms from ninth to 12th grade.
(15:03):
And Patriots Pen is middle school.
They're both, well, the PatriotsPen is just a written essay contest.
That they compete locally, then theygo to, and we call 'em districts,
which are essentially counties and thenstate level, and then they come to to,
to my level at national for judging.
The voice of democracyis an or rated contest.
(15:25):
Those of us in this roomunderstand who Charles Corral is.
Charles Carrell was one of ourfirst winners, but when I talked
to youngsters nowadays, they're, I,I, I gotta tell him to Google him.
So he really got the program, especiallywhen he became really famous and hit the
road in his segments across the country,and talked about what the program did
(15:45):
for him and opened his eyes to DC.
So the high school students can win upto $35,000 if their first place Wow.
Down to about a couple thousand.
But in that, from the post to stateeach, each level, you're winning a
hundred to a couple thousand dollars inscholarships every level as you move up.
So both programs are very impactful.
(16:08):
Get to talk about that programa lot in DC and, and work on
partners and sponsors and,
you know, and I, I don't have totell you this too because I'm glad
you're connected with Kelly Campbell.
Good now.
Right?
At formerly known as HardwareAmerica Patriot Foundation.
Now, what is it?
Valor Partners Foundation.
Right.
That she changed her name and samething, scholarship for, for kids that
(16:31):
are part of the military communityand have that military lifestyle.
I'm glad you're going after theaudience that probably will benefit
quite extensively from the workthat you're doing to give them
the opportunity to go to college.
And now that, to finish the questionon, on the advocacy piece, the second
number one thing that's impacted bothfederal in, in state level legislation
(16:56):
is ever since the advent of the PAC Act.
We have discovered a hugemarket of ambulance chaser.
Dads have lawyers going out thereand chasing veterans to get 'em.
Toxic exposure claims, kindof like the, the late night
TV commercials of meso video.
(17:16):
You know, those kind of things.
Hey, where you hurt in anaccident, I can help you.
Those kind of things that we've gota lot of, a lot of lawyers out there,
a lot of shysters that are chasingthat money from the va. Promise and
vets all this, all, all this money.
And then they're, they're chargingthem, they're charging them a
significant amount of money to do this.
(17:37):
So
are you trying to do likea cease and desist on that?
Yes.
And get leg legislationpassed to prevent that from
Absolutely.
Even though it is very defined inthe CFR and, and the law, right.
That you must be an accreditedservice officer through the va.
We have law firms that are, that are.
Bypassing and not being held accountableand we're just asking 'em to be
(18:00):
accredited and what, you know, it's,don't think it's fair for a vet to
have to pay for something that hey, alot of us are already doing for free.
And, and then they're gonna have to payfor long term if, if they don't read that
fine print in that contract, they couldbe paying for a mortgage on their benefits
forever based on that award amount that,that they're going to get every month.
(18:22):
So.
We're trying to, tryingto really fight that.
And what's happened is that with ourbattle in DC some states have taken
upon themselves to regulate it at thestate level, and we've had some success.
But we're, we're, we're, we'rein, we're in a pretty tough
battle in state houses because.
(18:42):
These law firms are, they're,they're able to throw some money,
well, money and, and lobbying firmsand the engagement of organizations
with certain names in them.
They, they get a lot of them
because of it.
It's, it's, it's been a pretty,pretty disgusting battle,
especially state houses.
I've, I've seen anything thisin other states that it's sad,
(19:04):
but that's our responsibility tostand up for, for our veterans and
well, and a lot of people wouldn'thave heard your passion for this
unless they listen to the podcast.
So.
Maybe people, maybe this will give themthe impetus to go out and act and talk
to their leaders in, in the government.
Crazy part about it too.
Never.
(19:24):
No brainers like
super
common.
I doubt it's sad.
Of
course we should.
And then, you know what?
Of course the last piece of our advocacy,of course is, is standing up for our
military and making sure that they'refully funded and, uh, keep us safe.
You know, a world nowadays.
So the national security aspectof our advocacy is huge for us
to, to be able to stand up becausewe're visiting our troops overseas.
(19:49):
You know, legislators aren't over there.
You know, they, they may not haverepresentation over in Germany or you
know, Asia, and we're able to bring thoseconcerns back well to DOD and help them.
Is there a process?
This is off script, Jody.
Is there a process you use when itcomes to the legislative priorities?
Because there's only so many resources,so many people that can do what you
(20:12):
want to, to advance certain causesthat you're trying to celebrate for
veterans to get to the finish line.
But do you have some leadership groupthink where you say, you know, with
20 25, 20 26, these are focal points?
There's probably so many more thatyou, that might be pet projects too.
Yes.
But do you decide as a leadership team
(20:34):
where you're going?
Well, we, we, we propose every yearthe national staff, those that,
that are engaged in, in WashingtonDC propose a bunch of resolutions.
And then our, our statesare responsible to come in.
And we're actually almost into thattimeframe now as we get into June.
(20:55):
Our states are gonna start turning overleadership and they're voting on their
priorities and and what they believe in.
And once they vote and approve,they will send to us in July.
And then at the end of July, wehave our big national convention.
And much like any of the politicalconferences that happen, we vote on, on
(21:17):
the way we see, we wanna move forwardbased on what we've put forth, what
our states have put forth and, and getthe, all of the membership to, to vote
and say, okay, this is what we're gonnastand for this year and move forward.
What's the number of locationsyou have around the country?
Pl plus or minus 3%.
Okay.
Across, across the world.
(21:39):
Everywhere we fought, we have a VFW.
Uh, we're we're just about 52, 5500 VFWs
across the world.
Geez.
So, you know, I think as people go tothose shops or as people get involved
in the VFW brand ambassadorship, whichis important to banks, it's important
to any industry right, to be, to beout there and carry the baton and,
(22:01):
and speak on your behalf in any venue.
But what does it mean to, to be a member?
And is there, what, what sort of sealof approval do they get when they're,
when they're a member?
As a veteran or war, youare eligible to join.
And once you do join, it's that extra,even though you know those of us that
have gone overseas and why we wish wenever had, wish, we never have to have
(22:27):
anyone else that we, we take it uponourselves as warriors and, and, and combat
officers to help fight for peace and in.
Help our community and, and that's ournext mission in life that, you know,
I can no longer put on the uniform.
So my mission now that I discovered,because I went to the Leavenworth parade
(22:49):
once when I first got out of the military,and it's like, you know what, there's
a bunch of, I know what the BFW is.
It gives those of us, youknow, a new mission in life.
That's a very common theme.
We in heard so guests that.
For the uniform, and then they transitioninto civilian life, and then they find
themselves right back in the middleof military community because it's.
(23:12):
It's family.
Right.
Okay.
Immediate connection.
Yeah,
for sure.
So we, we learned thisabout you in your bio.
You're 11, 11 worth president.
You had a wonderful career serving ourcountry of NPN rv, of hired, decorated.
Talk a little bit about your,your personal career, if you
would, and, and sort of howthat journey led you to the VFW.
(23:34):
You just said you wereat the parade, right?
So maybe there's more to it than that.
Maybe there's not, but I'dlove to hear your story.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Actually, actually it is.
And, and, and I'm sure you guys probablyknow this name, Colonel Doug Stead.
I owed, I owe my old boss Doug Stead mylife, and I, and I tell anyone I can, if
(23:56):
he took a chance on me when I got outtathe military to bring me to four lot
more since my dad was on, on staff at theschool, um, as the young Iraq veteran.
But I was not ready.
I, I was, I was a mess.
I was every night drinking, breaking allthe establishments downtown, and then
(24:16):
I would drive out to my dad's five Eastand every night and, and then start over.
My dad, he and Doug sat medown and it wasn't much before
that first better's day parade.
I, I went and told me, basically gaveme a lot of tough love and said, Hey.
You know, you're gonna lose your job.
I'm gonna terminate you ifyou don't straighten up.
(24:39):
'cause it, even though I hit it prettygood, it was affecting work on base
and he was not, not questioning, butso when I, when I saw that parade, I
saw a couple other high school buddiesthat were walking in and followed
him in, was invited to a meeting.
And then it was about 10 yearsfrom, and that was about oh 5 0 6.
(24:59):
That just changed my life.
'cause I, I found that piece that keptme from making those bad decisions every
night and, and, and just got me backon, moved up in Northrop a little bit,
uh, and then sequestration hit, lostthe, lost my job, unfortunately, on,
and I, I was actually on Armed ForcesInsurance Board for about two years.
(25:24):
Lori Simons.
Yep.
We know her.
We know her well.
Yeah.
Yeah.
She, she good people.
She took a chance on me also and,and, you know, knew that we could
get out and more trade bearers.
Talk to more bets that are out therethat may not know about a y Yeah.
At National Guard Conferences andother big types of trade fairs.
(25:45):
So she brought me on to helpwith marketing and, and.
Be that new veteran that, that,that's a long time a FI subscriber.
So did that and simultaneously I'm movingup in the BFW from the state headquarters.
It took over all the states fromKansas West, the Philippines.
And this job came up.
(26:05):
The guy, guy that had my job previouslyretired and I was thinking about moving
to the next wobble in the organizationand, and I reached out and said, Hey.
If there's an opportunity,I live an hour or so away.
I'd like, like a chanceto, well to, to help out.
So I interviewed and well, I'vebeen, been here ever since.
(26:28):
Loving, loving the drinkup on people every day.
Appreciate you sharing that.
I knew there was more tojust going to a break,
but sometimes it takes a while,but you end up finding your home.
Right.
And I think Lynn's found it.
The perfect spot.
I threw out there that your thirdgeneration BFW, your younger brother
and Jody mentioned this too, in your biserving in the Kansas National Guard.
(26:48):
And that so that legacy.
Leah, talk about the legacy and howyou want your legacy to be written.
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You know, I, I, I cannot tellyou how much it meant to me.
When my brother passed me in themilitary, he actually just graduated
(28:14):
from the war college in Pennsylvania.
I gotta gotta updatethis, my bio, he, he's.
He's now at the same level as my dad.
So I, I, I think my legacy is I made hislife miserable and he was able to pass me
up because I made things so tough for him.
It worked.
(28:34):
It worked.
Yes.
Absolutely.
And, you know, he's got, he's, he'sthree beautiful young kids that I,
you know, I don't have kids myself.
I'm engaged.
Congrats and living watching him.
I think my legacy will be that notjust the Frazee uncle, but someone
that my, my, my nephew and, and my twonephews and my niece can look up to is
(29:00):
someone that's impacted the community.
Some just a little bit,
kinda the role siblings are supposedto play for each other, right?
Yeah.
Take, take the backseat.
Let, and, but he soundscompetitive, doesn't he?
Mad.
I wanna, I wanna talk abouta little bit the core values,
the mission, the vision of VMW.
I don't know if you could share a littlebit of insight into those pillars with
(29:22):
our audience and maybe, maybe a view intohow the VFW has evolved over the years.
I know when you were describingthe, the kind of big picture view
of the VFW at the beginning of ourconversation, you talked about how
the things that the VFW fought for atthe beginning 125 years ago are, are.
In some ways the same today.
(29:42):
Yeah.
But I'm sure it might be a different
topic, but it's the same.
The ways or the means in which you, you'vedone that as an organization might have
evolved over, over that period of time.
You have mid sight into that if you would.
I,
I mean actually that, that is, and beingthe young Post nine, and I, even though
I'm pre nine 11, still kind of consideredthe nine 11 generation here at the office
(30:06):
that we, we are doing the exact samestuff, just a little differently and, and
one of the biggest examples that I'm most.
Most proud, and this comes back tomy relationship with my brother,
that I get a lot of intel from himon what he's dealing with with his
soldiers, the younger troops nowadays.
And I had seen Darren, that therewas a lot of bets turned back
(30:29):
to what we used to do in thebarracks, in in play video games.
And it is, sure you guys know that isthe largest growing demographic and
business that's out there right now.
And I wrote a couple of researchpapers on the benefits of gaming and
mental health for veterans specificallyof course based on, on everyone's
(30:50):
research, on, on every demographic.
'cause we're all the same.
We just had different experiences.
I'm really proud that I'm a, that I'vestarted a group of about 5,000 veterans
that gain every night, and I'm able toengage them online with resources and just
answer questions and, you know, they hearabout something in the news or some fake
(31:15):
book message that said some fake stuff.
We're able to help clarify so.
Still the same stuff, but we're doingthings that who would've thought?
And, and I, I hear it allthe time from the old timers.
They're like, I can't believe you game.
And I was like, well, I don'tgame, but I'm gaming network
and I'm talking with bets.
I'm, you know, every morning I, Ilog into this channel and I have
(31:39):
copy while I'm reading emails here.
That's awesome.
Office and just talking camaraderie.
So it, it's, and you guysknow since COVID, I, I think,
uh, COVID really helped us.
Transform the organization more intotechnology real fast to be able to adjust.
And we, we were one of the onlyorganizations that, that were able
(32:00):
to keep the doors open, uh, in DC andbecause we had the processes already
in place to be able to handle theBA issues that were up with COVID.
So really proud about that,how we're doing business.
You know what, my
wife and kids play Fortnite.
Oh, what does, whatdoes your husband play?
(32:21):
I don't know.
He plays games on his phone, man.
He doesn't tell you what games they are.
I could, I could not care less.
They're like Dragon Slayer.
But, but I'm wondering, maybe theyshould listen to this episode to learn
from you, Lynn, that maybe they couldbe productive during the time that
they're gaming and off offer sometutelage, guidance, resources and, uh,
(32:44):
just knowledge about some topics, but.
I think they'd rather just play thegame, and that's all they talk about.
Well, I mean, it was a greatway for grandparents to connect.
That's
true.
Yeah.
Okay.
With their kids over that two and ahalf years, Hey, hey, Lynn, when you
wake up every day, you don't have totell our audience that everything you
do in the, in the life of, of Lynn,but what be, because you've been
(33:08):
doing this, so about 11 years now,and you're focused on programs, you're
focused on getting into the schools.
Probably to be the ambassadorand educator, but what
does it look like for you?
It looks like you travel, travel often.
Yeah.
Probably two or three
weekends of the month.
I'm, I'm out at a conference or, orconvention or something, but really the,
(33:31):
my fiance will kill me for saying this.
Say it, say it.
Boy.
We got a great hunting dog, boomer.
She, I, I take late night dutiesbecause there tends to be more.
Wildlife out at the lake.
'cause I live out towards East andprivate lake out there on small cabin.
But we'll get up early in the morning.
(33:53):
Of course, most times the dog getsher up and emails start right away
because I've got BF Ws over in thePacific areas, you know, that are so
far ahead of us that I tend to justplay catch up on those so I can.
Get those done before I even, you know,get in a truck for the iron 50 hour,
20 minute commute here and get ready.
(34:15):
Watch the news.
Pray to God that I 70 is not bo down.
Jodi does, Jodi does that every day.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I hate the highway.
I don't do a very good job, so I takecall, but, but still to get all the
way across over here to Kansas Cityis where pretty significant going that
going towards the city in the morning.
(34:36):
And then, you know, till five, six, i hereat the office all day responding to phone
calls, emails, like normal corporate work.
Try to dedicate at least an hour to myselfon either go for a walk or let's could
work on, uh, work on some research or somekind of str strategic plan for what, what
(34:58):
I'm trying to accomplish with our team.
Programs and then drive home.
And I'm usually answering all myvoicemails on the way home till I get to
get to my dad's farm, pick my dog back up.
'cause it's just like, and I'm notmaking light of this, but when.
You see one, the families oror families passing their kids
off at, at the gas station.
(35:19):
That's what it feelslike with the dog, right?
Yeah.
I, I, I go to my dad's farm and I pickmy dog up, go down, go down the lake,
take him for a walk and full time.
I'm emailing till better, half gets home.
She works for sheriff'soffice in another county.
Just wanted to make sureI threw that out there.
Not to get, get a plug.
Get a plug for her.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(35:39):
And when she comes home, it, it's,I try to turn up, but it, it is
tough, but it is, I'm, I'm tryingto get better and is what it is.
If you
love what you do, you neverwork a day in your life.
It's been about 10episodes since I said that.
That's awesome.
That's awesome.
Well, thanks for giving us a glimpse into.
Say your personal sideof things a little bit.
(36:00):
Yeah.
I wanna come back to, we talked aboutsome, some of the programs and the
focus areas of the MW people go out tothe website, which they use the FW org.
I'll just say, what will they find there?
How will, how should they thinkabout going there to figure out what
programs and events apply best tothem and maybe their rehearsal needs?
(36:21):
Yeah.
I, I think it does a pretty good job onif, if you're interested in advocacy.
You just click on the, on the, onthe tap for accuracy, uh, assistance.
And they, if you wanna get involvedin the community, click on community.
I'll drop down on, on differentthings like getting into the school,
talk about veterans in the classroomanymore, us recognizing our teacher.
(36:45):
And of course the scholarshipprograms for the youth.
So, you know, across the,across the top, very easy.
And then course find a, find a post, alocator's there and work, you know, a
lot of us going know what those thingsare anymore with start using TikTok a
lot more to, to, to be able to get themessage out or, or just find stuff.
(37:09):
So can we see, will we beable to find you on TikTok?
Yes.
Oh, now I'm jealous.
Do you have account?
No, but I need to be there.
I have an account, but I literally don't,
I don't have an account.
I know.
And donating and volunteering,like we we're talking about your
website, there's more information.
It's pretty navigationalfriendly out there.
Absolutely.
(37:29):
And, and in the buckets of whatwe do from, from advocacy to, to
community in general work that we do.
Um, and, and of course.
Contact us.
If you just have any followingquestions, then we reach out
and we'll come to my desk.
Sure.
Or nine times out of 10 I'll callyou unless it's just a matter of a
(37:50):
resource and just send you a link.
I would
encourage people to look at the corevalues, the mission, and the vision,
because what we've talked abouttoday, you've covered the full gamut,
especially when you look at the visionabout respected for their service.
And get their earned entitlementsrecognized for the sacrifices.
That's a great mission.
And what was the other thing it said?
(38:12):
Perpetuating the memoryof our dad off fallen.
No, but it says no onedoes more for veterans.
Right?
It's like, it's like in all bold on yourwebsite, and that's probably one of the
biggest messages that I want our audienceto hear is that you, you advocate to
the best interest of their wellbeing.
So yeah, I'm all veterans.
(38:32):
I'm off my tangent.
Should we go to the militaryminute or do you want to see if we
can, but I, I would ask is there anythingelse that we haven't thought to ask you
about the organization that really wantto make sure our audience hear today?
Well, one, one thing specificto anytime I can to attack the
stereotype of, of, of being a old man.
(38:53):
White drinking club orgeriatric gin joint, that
that was Jodi's lifestyle, right?
Yeah.
That, you know, some,some VFWs do have a cant.
That isn't what they're there for.
You know that that was started backin World War II as as a earning
(39:17):
opportunity to get together and network.
Yeah.
I'm sure there was a lotof stories told, but.
But it was more to help eachother, you know, through coping.
But those buildings are truly should beand it's, it is very franchise based.
You'll, if you've been to one BFW,you've only been to one because
(39:37):
each one is totally different.
Each one's got a differentidentity based on the leadership.
You know, I'm really proud a lotand work 'cause we're right here.
For a Lotor.
We have a lot of instructors fromthe college, a lot of contractors
involved, a lot of retired military,and, and our post shows that here
in Leavenworth is, is that identity.
(40:00):
And we've got a lot of younger, oneyounger church too from the disciplinary
bar and some of us that I moved back.
So I'm really just give us a chanceand, and try not to buy into that.
I've been interview and we need.
More, I mean, can always use more help,but, but with the times that we're in the,
the, the number that delegate strength,when we say 1.4, Congress listens to that
(40:26):
when we say, Hey, 1.4 believes in this.
So, you know, we come down from 2.3.
About 25 years ago we're,we're seeing a another outward
spike with guys my age here.
Veterans my age that are retiringor just decided to hang up and uh,
(40:46):
and focus on, on white in general.
They had a little more time ordisposable time to, to give back.
And then just a personal note, reallyproud we did start up, or the last piece
of mind personal is we started BuffaloSoldier Chapter and Phi Beta Signal
Trinity Incorporated there four 11that's been defunct for a few years and.
(41:09):
Tonight, I'm Mexico and LansingHigh School to present a
thousand dollars scholarship toa senior with that fraternity.
So really, really proud about that.
That bunch of, bunch of us militaryhave re reinvented that chapter
to get it, get it going again,
love nothing but prettygreat way to spend the Eden.
Yeah, but that ain't clear.
(41:31):
Well, I, I think Iappreciate you being here.
We do wanna play our militaryminute before you go, but
what I think is great is.
I think so many people haveheard veterans of Foreign War.
They've heard VFW, but hopefullytoday gives them a glimpse into
the, the broad spectrum of thingsthat the VFW is, is actively doing.
Agreed.
They may not know that piece.
(41:52):
So hopefully our podcast, um,helps, uh, those within its reach
a little bit, but not to delay.
We have a game that we like to play,uh, called the Military Minute,
and we're gonna ask you to humor us.
Lynn knows, 'cause it's on, it's on hiscue to watch our episode, so, oh yeah.
(42:13):
You may not know it today,but he's gonna know it.
It's really not, it'sreally not that hard.
But our guests on the last podcastwere canines for warriors, and
so we always try to sort of, kindof tie the kind of questions.
Sometimes we don't do so well with
that, but I'm to blame for that.
Is there a
culture question or tied to our guests,but last time it was tied to our guests.
If you know the answer to this, you can.
(42:33):
You can a hundred percenttell us, or you could just.
Wager a flat out guess and we'll see.
But the question for them was,what breed of dog worked as gaps
and messengers during a US Pacificoperation in World War iii?
Any guess?
Saint Bernard.
That's what Tom gets, which isweird 'cause Tom wrote the question.
So if he knew the answerand he still guess, he, you
(42:54):
know, Google could be wrong though.
And Lynn could be right.
We'll see it on TikTok later with Lynn.
Didn't write that down.
Sadly.
The answer according to, to, andhopefully our audience got this
right, was Doberman Fincher,
boom.
Yeah.
See
now you can see just by, bythe way they're shaped, you
can see that they got pointers.
Right.
They just look fierce.
(43:15):
They're
scary.
Yeah.
Yeah.
They're like five chihuahuassleeping out my head
over.
Yeah.
If you're an audience and you putgovernment venture for your answer,
watch for your name to drop as thelucky winner at $50 for you and
$50 for a charity at your choice.
Like BFW, like
BMW, and this week's military minutes.
(43:36):
So you can't answer this one becausethis, we're gonna tee this one up
for our audience, but it's a questionabout military appreciation mark,
which is course the month of May.
And the question is, in what yearwas military appreciation mark
made official in which US Centerchampion that formal resignation?
So this kind of ties back to Lynnjust because it's got something to
(43:56):
do with Washington DC with a senator.
Military, military appreciate.
We should say, Lynn, whatare you doing for military?
Appreciate.
So don't
answer Lynn if you know, but I, I,I might have guessed the person.
I dunno that I would'veever guessed the right.
So if you know the answer or you'reright, people in our audience, make
sure you enter your best guess whenthis podcast drops, then you two could
(44:19):
be selected to win $50 for yourselfand $50 for a charity of your choice.
By the way, Lynn, you can justgive us a blink your eyes twice
if you knew the answer to that.
I,
well, I, I do, I didn't think it was him.
I do know.
Oh.
So, but it makes total sense.
You just, you just did a teaser bysaying it's a him, so, all right.
(44:40):
Yeah, that's okay.
Well, we just narrowed thelimit of guesses by 50%.
We two, we're trying to makeit easier for our audience.
All right.
So if you enjoyed today's episode, go outto af bank.com and subscribe to the show.
Rate us, leave us a comment.
Try to be favorable about Jody, andeven if you have to embellish on your
(45:01):
favorite podcast platform such asApple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube.
Lynn Rolfe.
Good job.
Yeah, well done, well done.
Oh, thank you all.
You guys are Champs, dude.
I'm looking forward to going backand, and listening to the other 84.
You have to do that by next
Wednesday.
Yeah.
You know he, he said somethingreally nice about us.
(45:23):
You know how I always wantedto try to find out if he has
connections to their celebrity.
So maybe Lynn will ask for your autograph.
Oh yeah.
That'll be a lot of money.
But nobody ever, it was apleasure to meet you today.
I appreciate you being on with
us.
Pleasure was all mine.
Thank you.
Yeah, thank you.
Alright, Lynn.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank y'all.
Appreciate it.
Bye Bye.
(45:48):
Copyright Armed Forces Bank Member,FDIC, equal Housing Lender, all
non Armed forces, bank owned apps,websites, company names, and product
names or trademarks or registeredtrademarks of their respective owners.
They're mentioned does not implyany affiliation with or endorsement
by Armed Forces Bank of themor their products and services.
They're merely used as examples of themany available apps, companies, and
websites that offer similar services.
Before using any app or website, youshould carefully review the terms
of use data collection and privacypolicy apps may have an initial cost
(46:09):
or in application purchase features.
This information is general innature and is not intended to be
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Although Armed Forces Bank believesthis information to be accurate, it
cannot ensure that it could change.
Statements or opinions of individualsreferenced herein are their own
not Armed Forces Bank consultant.
Appropriate professional concerningyour specific situation and respective
governing bodies for applicable lawssuch as irs.gov for current tax law.
Armed Forces Bank, the ArmedForces Bank logo and the Militarily
Speaking logo are registered.
(46:29):
Trademarks of Armed Forces.
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