November 7, 2025 • 50 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning Cooner Country. Okay, my friends, this is the
most special show of the year. It's in some ways
I say this every year. I'm like a broken record,
but it's true. In some ways, it's the easiest show
in the sense of there's no massive show prep. We're
(00:21):
not dealing with breaking news, you know, nothing of that sort,
where we got to, you know, get together fifteen twenty
clips to play on the air. But in many ways
for me, it's the most difficult show of the year
because it's the most emotionally draining, exhausting show of the year.
And that, of course is our annual radiothon here at
(00:43):
the Great WRKO to support disabled American veterans. Dav O're wonderful.
Vets are wonderful. Disabled vets are great patriots and heroes.
And it's something now that we have been doing here
at WRKO, really spearheaded by the Kooner Report. This is
(01:04):
something very dear to me, very dear to everyone who
works on this show. We want to show a little
something of our appreciation and frankly love and gratitude for
the immense sacrifices that our veterans have made for our country,
for our freedoms, really for freedom around the world. And
(01:30):
so we raise money to help the DAV who help
obviously disabled American veterans, and we do it proudly and
happily every single year. And joining me now is my
distinct honor and pleasure to introduce Dan Stack. You know him,
you love him. He's been with us now for years
(01:52):
and years and years. Really he is the heart and
soul of the DAV. Dan, before I get to you,
he's the chief executive officer for the DAV Department of Massachusetts.
He has worked for the DAV for over fifty years.
(02:12):
Dan is a Vietnam veteran. He served in the Air Force.
He's a proud veteran. And this Hour of the DAV
is brought to you by Wilson Farm in Lexington, So
they are sponsoring this hour and I want to give
a big thank you, big shout out to Wilson Farm
in Lexington. Dan, welcome, It is great to see you again.
(02:37):
You always look great every time I see you, and
I got to ask you how are you? And for
everybody listening in this radiothon who want to give to
the disabled American veterans, why should they give to the
vets and specifically the DAV.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Well, thank you very much, thank you for the nice
compliment of how I look this more after spilling coffee
all over myself driving in it's not that good, but
thank god this is.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
The radio and we don't have to worry about how
I look.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Why should you give to the DAV because the DAV
has been here for one hundred and twenty years. The DAV,
I mean over one hundred years. Excuse me. That alone
tells veterans and veterans families that we're here to stay,
that our mission is a mission of giving back to veterans,
of taking care of them, whether it be taking care
(03:29):
of their claims. Before the Veterans Administrations, our National Service
officers are like paralegally trained workman compensation attorneys. They dig
into the medical evidence, they present the case to the
VA so the veteran can get the maximum compensation that
he is deserving of. I know there are many of
you out there that says, well, why would we do that.
(03:51):
We have the Veterans Administration because, like anything else, you
have insurance, but that doesn't mean your insurance company is
going to take care of you. You need an advocate
and that advocate is the DAV. They fight very hard
with the Veterans Administration to make sure you get the
compensation you deserve. We have our transportation program where veterans
(04:15):
that are in need of getting to and from the
VA for their medical appointments, we try to transport them
with volunteer drivers to and from their home to make
sure that they get the wellness care that the VA.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
That's incredible. That's incredible.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Then, and as you know, in the last five years,
we started a housing program. Most of the housing is
in Gardener and Leminster, mass We're very proud of that
and what we do with those helping veterans and families
that basically would not have a home to provide them
with one and then get them on the right road
and track to independent living so they can purchase their
(04:51):
own home. And as we were very proud of the
fact that we have had five veterans move out of
our facility purchasing their own homes. So you know, that
really makes a difference when you're able to take somebody
that has been literally almost on the street or on
the street and then provide them with the tools that
they need to gain independent living for their family so
(05:14):
that they can own their own home and get back
into society, back into the society they fought to serve for,
back into the society that owes to them. But they're
not asking for anything. They're really just trying to be
a member of society and be productive. So that's what
we do, and yes, we do need the support of
the public. Fortunately, the public has supported the DAV for
(05:37):
over that hundred years. That's we don't get any federal funding.
The DAV gets no federal.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Not a sentence, not a federal sense.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
It has been the American public that has supported the DAV.
It has been the American public that has allowed us
to be able to provide the services that we provide
because of the American public in their generosity. Because the
American public left right down the center, doesn't matter. They
(06:07):
care about veterans and they want to make sure veterans
are taken care of.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
God bless you and really all of you in Kooner Country.
I know every year many of you give so generously.
I thank you every year. I thank you now, please
if you can. I know times are tough. I know
you know inflation, cost of living is still high, but
anything would be immensely appreciated. Please, if you want to give,
(06:33):
give This is an incredible organization. They do incredible work
for disabled veterans. You have no idea how many veterans
they help, so please call now if you want to
donate nine seven eight six three two nineteen eighty five.
That's nine seven eight six three two nineteen eighty five.
(06:55):
Or if you want to donate online, go to DAV
five the number five K, the letter k so DAV
five K dot Boston, DAV five k dot Boston, Dan.
I know there's a big five k run tomorrow. It's
(07:17):
an annual tradition now in Boston. I think we're looking
at what fifteen thousand runners. For the audience listening out there,
Why why the five K run, and why has it
become something so big, so grand and so special.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
We're very, very fortunate that over the past ten years
we have had the support of Channel four WBZ and
Lisa Hughes. She was at the very very first run
and has helped us progress all these ten years. One
of the reasons that this run is so great is
the fact that most of the veterans or the veterans
(07:56):
families that come in we're bibbs, and on those bibs
they state why they're running. I'm running for my dad,
I'm running for my brother or my sister. Wants somebody
that has served, either in memory or in honor of them.
And I think when I see those bibs coming across
that finish line, it just breaks my heart because I
(08:19):
know that is a veteran that someone has served with,
someone who may have lost their life, and that they
are not forgotten by the families and the friends that
they had. Those continue on and I think that's the
biggest thing that the DAB five K does is it
brings awareness to everyone around through all of the ads
(08:41):
that we put on the air, through all the billboards,
and more importantly through the social media that the people
that care about the veterans that serve show up. This
year alone, we have over four hundred and thirty five
veterans coming to the affair and that's fantastic veterans supporting
veterans once again, and that's the biggest part of our community.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Dan.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
If people want to show up show their support tomorrow,
where exactly is the five k run being held and
at what time.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
It's going to be at ten am is when they
actually we have a shotgun start. Unfortunately, due to the
government shutdown, we normally have the howitzer.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
That shot starts us off.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
But we're very fortunate this year, just like in seventeen
seventy six, the conqramit amen are coming so we can
start our run. So it's going to be at Fort
Independence and South Boston Castle Island, and we're very grateful
to the DCR, the Department of Conservation and Recreation for
(09:46):
allowing us to have our run there. They do a
fantastic job helping us set up and get everything going there,
so it's great.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
If you want to give, please And I can't tell
you how many times vets, disabled veterans have told me
it's not the that counts, it's the thought, just the
fact that the phone rings, that there's even a two
dollars five dollars ten dollars contribution, that they have not
been forgotten. So Cooner country, they were there for us,
(10:14):
Let's be there for them. Call now nine seven, eight
six three to nineteen eighty five or visit DAV five
sorry DAV five k dot Boston DAV the number five,
the letter k DAV five k dot Boston. Standing to
(10:35):
my or sitting to my right is a super special
guest and it's my son, Ashton Lewis Coooner. It is
the first time he is with me in studio while
I'm doing this incredible radiothon. He wanted to show his
support for the veterans, for the DAV and he insisted
(10:57):
on coming in today. Woke up in the middle of
the night, Ashton. Can you just say a quick hi?
Just say hi, Jeff Cooner Boston's Bulldozer again. One of
our most special shows of the year. I've got Dan Stack,
he is the chief executive Officer for d the dav
Department of Massachusetts on my left, and of course a
(11:20):
very special day for me. I've got my wonderful son Ashton.
First time he is now in studio with me live.
He insisted on coming in. He got up in the
middle of the night. Happily I may add to come
in here, be in studio and show his support not
(11:41):
just for the show today, but for our vets and
our disabled American vets. Okay, if you want to donate,
and please, whatever you can give is tremendously appreciated. Nine seven,
eight six three two nineteen eighty five. Is the number
eight six three to two nineteen eighty five, or if
(12:04):
you prefer, you can give online go to DAV five
k dot Boston. DAV the number five K as in
the letter k dot Boston before I go to Dan. Ashton,
Welcome to the Kooner Report. How are you, my son.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
I'm doing good today. I'm glad to be here today.
God bless America, God bless the vets, God bless the
dav for being great for the veterans.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Well, that's very kind of you, Ashton, and I just
want to ask you something. You know you should be
in school today, but that's okay, you said no, Dad,
I want to come in today. I want to show
my support. Why do you care so much for our
veterans and why do you care so much for our
disabled veterans and the dav.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Well sable veterans are They fought for our country. They suffered,
some of them sadly passed away. But let's well, the
people that serve I believe they should be blessed. They
deserve better than to suffer for their for fighting for
(13:22):
our country. They served, and they fought against others and
served to help the country.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
And now in their time of need, right, we should
be supporting them, correct, Ashton.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Yes, they supported us us when we were in war,
they went to other places around the world. In my
personal opinion, they should be helped and supported and you
should donate to the dav and you should listen to
my father.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
On iHeartRadio, Well said Ashton. Well said, okay, so yeah,
they were He's completely right. These veterans were there for us.
Let us now be there for them and let them
know they have not been forgotten. So again, whatever you
want to donate is tremendously appreciated nine seven eight six
(14:19):
three two nineteen eighty five. You can also go online
donate there as well dav five k dot Boston And again,
this hour of the WRKO dav Radiothon is brought to
you by the by Wilson Farm in Lexington. Dan, we've
(14:39):
got a caller on the line before I go to him,
is there anything else you'd like to say?
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Thank you very much Ashton for your kind words about
what veterans go through. And definitely I want to thank
Wilson Farms. I've shopped there, so I really appreciate your
support for this particular hour and I would also like
to thank all of the volunteers that have I've gotten
up very early this morning. There are right now waiting
to take your call. Some of them are Kayla, Rachelle, Ali,
(15:08):
Deb Chris, j Phil, Donna. They're there waiting for your call.
They're part of my staff. They work very very hard
on behalf of veterans, and I'm very grateful to have
them there this morning. And I hope you'll make a
call and make a donation.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Nine seven eight six three two nineteen eighty five, or
again if you want to go online dav five K
dot Boston. Okay, let's go to John in Marshfield. John,
you've been holding patiently. Thank you and welcome.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Thank you very much. Jeff, I just wanted to share
a couple of things with you this morning.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
And.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
One is I am a veteran, but I really don't
consider myself a veteran because I didn't fight. I mean,
I believe the people that actually we went over there
and thought of the real heroes. And I'm not a
disabled veteran. I'm a veteran that's disabled. I finally, uh, well,
(16:12):
I guess you know, retired about ten eleven years ago.
Forcibly and finally, life for me is beautiful. And of course,
you know, thanks to Trump getting in office, of course,
and I wanted to thank you for everything that you do.
(16:33):
I mean, I love you in a non sexual way.
Of course. I've been listening to you for about fifteen
years and I can't believe I finally heard Ashton's voice
and he sounds like a grownup. Wow.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
He's fifteen years old now, yeah, I just turned fifteen
a couple of months ago.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
He was born. Wow, that's just wow. I've called in
once or twice, but I just that's enough.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
I just wanted to art the day off on a
good note. And now that I can finally affoid to
give back to all my brothers and sisters, I would
like to start the day with a thousand dollars donation.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Wow, John, thank you, thank you, Thank you. John. That
is a very very generous donation. And I want to
thank you for your service and John, you are very eloquent,
very powerful. I have to say I slightly disagree with you.
To me, a vet is a vet is a vet,
(17:34):
and all vets are heroes, whether they served in war
or not. And honestly, John, I'll tell you why because
when you signed up, you didn't know whether you were
going to go to a war or not, whether you'd
go to a battlefield or not. But you volunteered. You
signed up knowing that risk. To me, that alone makes
you a hero. Jeff Coooner, Boston's Bulldozer, our annual radiothon
(17:59):
here on double you areko to benefit disabled American veterans.
If you want to donate, we're off to a very
good start. The lines apparently are blazing. Please let's keep
it up. Nine seven eight six three two, nineteen eighty five.
If you want to give, you can also go to
DAV fivek dot Boston, DAV fivek dot Boston, and please,
(18:23):
I want to stress to everybody in Kooner Country it's
not the amount that you give, it's the fact that
you give. That's what the vets really value, that they
are not forgotten, that they are remembered. So no amount
is too small. Obviously we'd love, you know, fifty one hundred,
(18:44):
two hundred and fifty five hundred, even one thousand dollars donation.
Don't get me wrong. You know money pays for the
transportation for these veterans, helping these veterans, getting them access
to healthcare, medical care, food, everything benefits that they've earned
and are deserving and entitled to. But any amount, no
(19:08):
amount is too small. At nine seven eight six three
two nineteen eighty five, we've got Phil Nadu on the line.
But before we go to Phil, Dan he's the chief
He is the chief executive officer, the CEO for the
dav Department of Massachusetts. Dan, I know you wanted to
(19:29):
say something in response to the last caller we had
who said, Hey, I'm a veteran, but I never really served,
so I don't really feel like a true veteran.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
And John, I just want to thank you, first and
foremost for your thousand dollars donation. That was above and
beyond and we really appreciate it. But more importantly, I
want you to know that all combat veterans that I
have ever served with have let me know that every
veteran that serves helped them. You got to keep in
mind that it is not just the veteran that is
(20:01):
out there fighting. It takes everybody behind him to make
sure that he has everything he needs so that he
is able to bring the fight to the enemy. With
that being whether you're sitting in an office or basically
if you're out there prepping an airplane or you're prepping
food supplies that has to go to the front lines.
Everybody that serves contributes to whatever we do in the service.
(20:26):
And everyone is a veteran. And I don't care whether
you're a combat veteran or not. Every combat veteran will
tell you that your service meant a great deal to them.
So again, John, thank you very much, and I am
very proud to say that you are a veteran and
a great veteran in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Amen. Very well said, really well said Dan. Okay, just again,
This hour of the dav Radiothon to benefit that disabled
American veterans here on WRKO is brought to you you
by Wilson Farm in Lexington, and on the phone with
(21:04):
us now is Phil Nadu. He is second Junior Vice
Commander US Air Force and a Rock War veteran. Phil.
It's great to hear from you. How are you.
Speaker 6 (21:19):
I'm doing great?
Speaker 7 (21:20):
Thank you Phil.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Before I even start this interview, I just want to
thank you for your service, for your courage, your heroism
and your patriotism. And I've got to ask you, Phil,
if you could just talk a little bit about your
transition from the military and how did the DAV assist
you in particular, how were they there for you?
Speaker 7 (21:46):
So I transition. I retired from the United States Air
Force in twenty two thousand and five. Sorry, And in
twenty ten I had a nervous breakdown from PTSD and
I ended up trying to commit suicide, which I talked
about before, and the DAV stepped in to help me
(22:10):
with that, helped me get a claim in, ify getting
that claim in and helped me with my disability. I
was able to get some help, which is very important,
especially for mental health. And then today now I help
the veterans back. I'm a CSO I write claims for
veterans every day. I do about twenty claims a month.
(22:31):
Since June, I've got about one hundred claims in for veterans.
I try to help them as much as I can.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Phil. If I'm getting too personal, please tell me. I
promise I won't be offended. But what drove you to
the point. I know PSD is very debilitating people. You know,
it's just horrifying, the panic attacks, the inability for man
to sleep at night, the night sweats, terrors, the night terrors,
(23:02):
and after a while it just grinds you down. But
what led you to the point where you were contemplating suicide?
Speaker 7 (23:12):
It was just so you know, in the desert, it's
a where I was. It was one hundred and twenty
degrees every day, two hundred and ten on the asphalt.
Every day we did e ros so engineering onloads to offload.
And the day that this happened was.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
It was in July.
Speaker 7 (23:29):
I was driving on the pike, and the pike a
lot of it is cement, So it was just flashbacks
from being over in the desert of the same color
and the heat. It was one hundred and three degrees
that day. I'll never forget it. I was coming back
from work and just everything building up from work and
from having flashbacks. I just couldn't take it anywhere. Plus
(23:54):
I have tonight this constant ringing in my ears, and
that is driving That drives me nuts all the time.
So finally I went to my backyard.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Hey you yeah, I understand. Uh scared the hell out
of you?
Speaker 6 (24:06):
Are?
Speaker 1 (24:06):
We just sorry? Phil? We just if we swear, we
get fined. But I understand. So God saved saved you
that day the gun jammed and I think you facing
confronting the possibility of death scared the hell out of you.
And then you said, I've got to get help, correct Phil?
Speaker 7 (24:26):
And last October I had a small nervous breakdown and
Mike Viele to help me out and got me some
help at Northampton VA. I did a six week impatient
this past February, which has changed my life. I just
let things roll off my back now and I help
even more veterans every day.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Good for you, Good for you. I gotta ask you, Phil,
why did you choose the DAV and for we have
a lot of vets who listen, a lot of disabled
vets who listen. Why would you recommend a fellow veteran
to contact the DAV. What's so special about the DAV.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
Well, the DAV is the one that stepped in to
help me number one. Nobody else would and I was
part of the American Legion and they didn't do anything.
They didn't even make a phone call to me. Just
some friends from the DAV stepped up. I recommend DAV
because they care all the way to the end. We
(25:30):
have a lot of programs where we have fellow veterans
that go to their homes and cut their grass. But
they can see what's going on with the veteran, and
so if the veteran has other needs, we can help them.
They can come back, tell us what they need, and
we'll go back and help that veteran even more. We
have a thing called Gutters to Shutters. We go to
(25:51):
people's homes do small minor repairs, or cut their lawn
or shovel their snow. I just started that program with
Worcester Chapter four a couple of months ago, and it's
been pretty successful. We've helped quite a few people. But
any other needs we see that they need will get
them help from the other areas that we have, transportation, housing.
(26:15):
You know, that's all very important, especially now the way
people need each other more and more.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
You know, Phil, God was with you on that day,
and thank the Lord your gun jammed because we are
so happy and blessed that you are still with us.
And to everybody listening out there, please, this is what
your donation does. It helps people like Phil, our returning
veterans who are battling PTSD mental health issues or depression
(26:48):
or maybe even suicidal thoughts, get them the help that
they need, the help that they earned, frankly, the help
that we owe them. And these are the they put
every everything on the line for us. Please let's not
forget them. So whatever you can give, please give. There
(27:08):
are so many people like Phil out there, So again
the number nine seven eight six three two nineteen eighty
five nine seven eight six three two one nine eight five.
If you want to donate to the DAV, or if
you want to do it online, and many of you
are now doing it online, and which is fine obviously,
(27:30):
go to DAV five k dot Boston, DAV the number five,
the letter K DAV five k dot Boston. Phil, You're
a very special man. You're a true patriot. You're a hero,
You're a role model. We've only got about thirty seconds,
but I know Dan wants to say a quick quick word.
(27:51):
Go ahead down.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Since Phil has been with the disabled American veterans, all
he had, all he has ever done is give him
back to his fellow veterans. Phil, God bless you. Thanks
for being a member of the DAV. Love you, buddy,
Take care.
Speaker 7 (28:04):
I greatly appreciate you and everything the DAVY has done
for me.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
And I'm going to.
Speaker 7 (28:08):
Keep doing it till the day I die. No veteran
left behind. And it's not about us, it's about them.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Phil again, thank you for your service. You're truly a
great American. God bless you, my friend here on the
great WRKO and this hour is brought to you by
Wilson Farm in Lexington, and really special show for me today.
I always love to do this show, obviously to benefit
and help our incredible disabled veterans. I've got Dan Stack,
(28:38):
the CEO of DAV Massachusetts, on my left, and my
son Ashton, fifteen years old, first time ever. He's with
his dad. He's old man in the studio and so
and he's getting a little tired now though he's starting
to see what my life is like. He goes that, Dad, Wow,
(28:59):
it's it doesn't feel like six point fifty dad, because
he's been up for hours. Well, now you know, welcome
to my life, Ashton. Okay, joining us Now you want
to talk about a warrior joining us now? Is Corey Hasselman,
former resident of DAV Veterans Advancement Program. He is a
(29:23):
Marine Corps veteran. Corey. I know you're very busy. Thank
you so much for calling in and again, I want
to thank you for your incredible heroism, sacrifice and service, Corey.
For everyone listening wondering why should they give to the DAV.
(29:43):
And by the way, you can call nine seven eight
sixty three to two, nineteen eighty five if you want
to donate. People are waiting to take your call to
take your donations nine seven eight six three two nineteen
eighty five. You can also go online and donate there
d five k dot Boston. Corey, can you just tell
(30:05):
everyone how did you find the DAV and how did
you transition home from your time in the military.
Speaker 6 (30:17):
Absolutely, thank you so much for having me and hosting
the DAV every year. So for me, getting out of
service was a difficult time. I was medically separated, so
you know, I didn't I didn't expect to get home
when I did, I thought it was going to be
a twenty year career. My mental health struggled a lot.
I decided to go back to college and Kayla Valila,
(30:41):
the director of the DAV Advancement Program, went on to
the orientation and talked about the housing and at the time,
I was in some distress. I didn't have a place
to go. I didn't really know how to improve my
mental health, how to get through the VA system, And
(31:02):
it seemed like this weird light, you know, and I
reached out to Kayla. I talked about, Hey, you know,
I'm a disabled VET. I have these mental health struggles.
I really need a place to just go and sort
my life out. But I need guidance. I don't know
what to do and how to do it. And Kayla
(31:24):
and her husband, Mike, the adjutant for the state, and
the DAV as a whole.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
Dan Stack just took me right in.
Speaker 6 (31:32):
You know. I moved in very very shortly after. They
were able to give me the space that I needed
to focus on school, focus on my mental health. I
started going back to therapy, you know. And they guided
me through the VA disability system to get my compensation established,
make sure I got the benefits and the treatment that
I needed, and really kind of set me on the
(31:53):
path that I am on today. I'm in a much
much better place. I now own my own home, I'm
a I'm a veteran service officer full time, so I
support you know, veterans every day.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Now.
Speaker 6 (32:05):
That's my way of kind of giving back and living
the DAV mission. It truly did you know save my life.
I like to contribute a lot of where I am
today to them.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Oh God, bless you, Corey. Corey. Again, I I just
have to ask if I'm getting again, if I if
I'm touching a nerve or getting to you know, too
personal or violating your privacy. Please tell me. I promise
I won't be offended. When you said you came back,
you were battling certain mental health issues. You were trying
to get back to school, get back on your feet.
(32:39):
What was it in particular? Was it PTSD? Was it anxiety?
Was it depression? What was it that? And specifically that
you were what demons were you battling?
Speaker 6 (32:53):
All right? And the thing about PTSD is a career,
it's all the others.
Speaker 5 (33:01):
Right.
Speaker 6 (33:01):
So because of my PTSD, I now have anxiety and
social situations. It causes depression, which is the you know,
the suicidal thoughts and unfortunately suicidal attempts that I have
had assemmed because of that.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
Oh but is the PTSD now under Please tell me
it's under control now?
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (33:21):
Yes? And again I contribute a lot of that to
the DAV giving me that space to be able to
focus on that instead of being absorbed by everything else
that I had going on in my life. I had
a safe place to just focus on me.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
Corey. I'm reluctant to even go there, but I have
to go there because I want the audience to know
a what our vets go through when we send them
to war, and how much of a sacrifice they pay.
And it's not just on the battlefield, it's after when
they come back, and what the dav does, what it means.
(33:54):
If you did not get involved with the dav If,
in other words, your PTSD untreated and got worse and
worse and worse, and you talked about the suicidal thoughts
and and everything else that comes with it, do you
think maybe you wouldn't be with us today. In other words,
did the dav in some ways save your life?
Speaker 6 (34:16):
Absolutely? I had a suicidal attempt shortly before moving into
the DAVU. Luckily I had attempted. I'll just say it,
it is what it is. Let's get rid of the stigma.
I attempted to hang myself. Luckily the rope broke and
(34:36):
I was able to, you know, live through that. But
if it wasn't for Kayla being on that orientation giving
me that hand up that I needed and the DAV
support that followed, with all of the benefits, the space
that I needed, I really don't think I would be here.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Wow. Wow, everybody listening, please look what they go through
for us, for us, Let's be there for them. Literally,
your money can save lives. Your money will help them
get back on their feet, take care of their mental
(35:17):
health issues, treat their PTSD others. Obviously it's more physical.
They have no you know, they have no legs, they
have no arms, they're in wheelchairs. Everyone is different. But
you can be there for them and make an incredible
difference in their lives. And it's you know, and I'm
sure Corey and Dan and everybody will tell you it's
(35:39):
not the dollar amount. It's that you care and that
you're willing to donate something anything. So please for Corey,
for all the disabled veterans, make that call nine seven
eight six three two nineteen eighty five nine seven eight
six three two one nine eight five. If you want
(35:59):
to donate, you can also go online DAV five k
dot Boston, DAV the number five, the letter k dot Boston. Corey.
I want to thank you on so many levels for
your service, for your bravery, for your patriotism, for your heroism,
(36:19):
but honestly for your courage now in talking about what
you experienced, because there is a stigma. There shouldn't be
a stigma, but many people are reluctant or afraid to
talk about it. And what you did again took tremendous
guts and tremendous courage. So I really really want to
thank you Corey from the bottom of my heart before
(36:41):
I let you go. I know Dan wants to say
a few words. Go ahead, Dan, It's a.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
Very special spot in my heart.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Corey.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
I'm very proud of the man you are today.
Speaker 3 (36:51):
Love us, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
Jeff Ashton, you want to say a few words to Corey.
Speaker 4 (37:00):
Thank you for your service. I'm glad that you got
it over your PTSD and thank god that you didn't
follow through fully with suicide.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
Corey. Honestly, there's tears in this studio right now. I
want you to know that. So Corey, you need anything,
you give me a call. Okay.
Speaker 6 (37:22):
Thank you for giving the DAVI a platform and for
US veterans a platform to be heard.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
Thank you, honestly, thank you for your service. I don't
know I wouldn't be behind this microphone if it wasn't
for heroes like you, Corey. God bless you and have
a wonderful weekend and a wonderful Veterans day. Take care, okay,
my friends again the number to call please donate, give
as much as you can nine seven eight six three
two one nine eight five nine seven eight six three
(37:51):
two nineteen eighty five. You can also give again via online.
The website is DAV five k t Boston DAV five
k dot Boston. And again, this hour was brought to
you by Wilson Farm in Lexington. I want to thank
everyone at the Wilson Farm in Lexington. Now. The seven
(38:14):
o'clock hour, which we're about to hit right now, is
brought to you by Brighton Marine. I want to thank
everyone at Brighton Marine and in studio with us now.
A man who needs no introduction. He was with us
just a couple of days ago. He comes on every
year when we do our annual radiothon to benefit disabled
(38:37):
American veterans. He's a celebrity chef has the best, seriously,
the best food in Boston, co founder of the Wallburgers
franchise and Almanov.
Speaker 8 (38:51):
I think is how you pronounce it, Nova Wicked Clothes, Alma.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
Nove Paul Wahlberg, Buddy, how are you. I'm good.
Speaker 8 (39:03):
It's you know, obviously great to be here on this
day because we love doing this and uh being being
able to support the DAV and and to be able
to support you.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Oh, thank you. It's my pleasure. But to me, it's
all about the vets. And look, Paul, we've talked about
this before, but we got a lot of people listening now. Look,
I'm being honest. You're successful, you're family successful. You don't
need to do this. You're you're wealthy, you deserve it.
You've made very well for yourself. Your family's done very
(39:34):
well for themselves. Why do you care? And why in
particular disabled American veterans?
Speaker 8 (39:42):
You say, and that's funny when you say you don't
have to do this. You do have to do this,
because everybody should do this. This is one of those
things where everybody needs to be out supporting the veterans
of you know, in any capacity. And there's so many
(40:02):
great programs, but the DAV helps get them, you know,
the all of the things that they need, you know, transportation, food, everything,
and taking care of the vets.
Speaker 1 (40:12):
Like we owe that to them.
Speaker 8 (40:14):
That is one of those things that that everybody needs
to recognize every single day. Being able to say thank
you in any capacity, holding a door, being polite, you know,
helping with services, supporting with money, whatever it is, do
the work. I love the work, so I'm always out
there trying to work and do different things. And so
(40:34):
being able to be involved with it, and for that
and for the DAV to let me be involved with
it is a blessing.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Paul, you've been I think the DAV almost from the beginning.
I mean he's right a long time, right, dan' knotting
his head up and down. We were you their first
food vendor.
Speaker 8 (40:51):
No, there were a couple of food vendors when we
came on board, but you know, again, they reached out
and we were able to support and I was able
to get some other restaurants of friends that I know,
because that's the one thing, you know, when something's going on,
the restaurants always jump in and and it's a great community.
And when we started doing this, it was really that
(41:14):
that thing that you know, we love being part of it,
and it gets in front, it gets us in front
of guests where we can actually see them face to
face when you go to these events, and so for
us to be involved, and like I said, it was
a blessing. And when when Bob Bob Lynch reached out
to me and said, hey, do you want to be
part of us, it was like absolutely.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
I know your mother is involved in a charity, correct
non profit Almacare's. Yeah, Almacare's.
Speaker 8 (41:41):
Alma Care's is a branch that that we've done and
started by my daughter and one of our friends from
you know, way back when, and we feed families at
Thanksgiving and it's just something that we do.
Speaker 1 (41:51):
So now, Paul, are you going to be running tomorrow
at the five K. I'm a watcher. I'm a watcher.
I'll be back.
Speaker 8 (42:02):
I'll be back toasting buns and assembling meat ball sliders.
But yes, I participate in my own special way.
Speaker 1 (42:12):
Paul, you're a big champion of the vets. God bless you.
If you don't mind me asking why the DAV I mean,
there's so many other charities. I mean I could name them,
you know, I could name you dozens of them, but
you love the DAV And I'm just curious.
Speaker 8 (42:27):
Why in the beginning, and it's gonna sound silly, but
they asked, he said, and really, and I can't put
it any other way. They said, hey, do you want
to be part of this? And the minute I, you know, obviously,
the minute I hear vets, I'm like absolutely. And then
once you once you see the work that they do,
(42:52):
that's what sticks. That's what it is, because it's not
just hey, we're out, we're out trying to you know,
make ourselves feel better. We are providing a service the DAV.
And this is not me, you know, I use the
Royal Wee kind of thing, but the DAV provides services
for these veterans that are so needed and the people
(43:15):
that are involved. It's and you know, a lot of
people get involved with for things for certain reasons, but
what keeps me coming back are the people that are involved,
the people the team, Dan and his group and Bob
Lynch and everybody that's involved, and then the veterans themselves,
that core of people that are there who know exactly
(43:38):
what they're you know, to understand what they're going through
and I have no concept of their day to day challenges,
but you know, it's again, we're so blessed to be
part of this, and and you know growing up it
was my dad was a veteran and all of his
brothers because it was that generation, and so we it
(44:01):
was drilled into us to say thank you. It was
drilled into us to be supportive of that, and we
want to make sure that we follow through on that.
Speaker 1 (44:11):
Paul, you know what's coming now, my friend. We do
this every year. You're more than generous. We always do
our auction. This is a very special thing. We always
give it to the highest bidder. Paul Wahlberg will come
to your home.
Speaker 8 (44:32):
I we're doing them in the restaurants.
Speaker 1 (44:35):
Oh you're doing yeah anymore?
Speaker 8 (44:38):
Yeah, I'm trying to what the hell happened? I'm a
menace on the roads, to be quite honest with you.
So that the less time I'm driving around, that's what
we want. I keep asking and saying, can you let me,
you know, help pick up some of the veterans like, no,
we've seen you drive. So I try to do it
in the restaurant as much as possible.
Speaker 1 (44:57):
All right, So this is going to be done at
your world famous restaurant. Eight people, yep, h and I
take it. This is a full course meal.
Speaker 8 (45:04):
This is yeah, six courses, you know. I come out
and we introduce everyone. I host it, and you know,
it's a very personal touch and and we we you know,
people you know ask you know a lot of times
people say, hey, what about this? What about that? In
terms of what we do for the food, and you know,
we want to be.
Speaker 1 (45:21):
Do whatever you want.
Speaker 8 (45:22):
We're there to make you happy and say thank you
for supporting the dav So we're talking steak, steak, whatever's available,
whatever you want, Tell me what you want, Tell tell
me what you want, Benison.
Speaker 1 (45:34):
If it's you know, we get some good game. We
can do this. We do a lot of seafood. We'll
do whatever you want, all right? And are you throwing
in wine as well? Or wine's wines included?
Speaker 8 (45:43):
Now, what we should really do is get you down
there as well, and you can you can host, but
I'm sure you'll keep the bidding down if you're you know,
miss mister personality over here.
Speaker 3 (45:56):
All right.
Speaker 1 (45:56):
You always put the screws to me every time I
show up here. It's going to give you a hat.
But I think I'm gonna keep that given well, I'm
trying to raise the auction.
Speaker 9 (46:05):
I guess I'm trying to sweeten the poddle little your
ear of pot sweetener. Absolutely so, an incredible hold on, Bob,
I'm wanna get you, I promise. Uh so, an incredible
meal at Paul Wahlberg's restaurant for eight people, six courses,
wine included.
Speaker 1 (46:23):
I'm assuming dessert, right, I mean.
Speaker 8 (46:25):
No, no, we we we we cut you off. Yeah,
that's what that's where we draw the line. Yes, we
we have uh we have great desserts made in house.
We have it's and everything's it's just from scratch kitchen.
So we're very very proud, you know, over there. And
and the same with Wahburgers. You know, so much of
that stuff is made freshly, and you know, we love
(46:48):
what we do and we want to be able to share.
Speaker 1 (46:51):
We're going to start the bidding at one thousand dollars.
We'll start at one thousand dollars, and we're gonna keep hopefully,
we're gonna keep this open throughout the entire day. And
trust me, this will be a meal you will never
ever forget. It's an experience. You're gonna meet Paul, You're
gonna meet his wonderful team. You're gonna eat like you've
(47:13):
never eaten. You're gonna drink like you've never drunk before.
This is really and it's for an incredible cause. What
are you selling?
Speaker 3 (47:22):
Jeez?
Speaker 1 (47:22):
I think I want to be pot Wow, so really
good at that. So we'll start it off one thousand
dollars nine seven eight six three two nineteen eighty five
nine seven eight six three two one nine eight five.
You can also DAV five K dot Boston obviously if
(47:43):
you want to donate, that's the number to call as well. Uh, Paul,
Before we say bye to you, my friend Bob Lynch
from the DAV I know you want to add something
as well.
Speaker 10 (47:53):
I just wanted to give you some feedback from there.
Was a winner from last year's auction and he called
me about a month ago. He had just had his
dinner at Almanova, and I have to say he couldn't
have been more complimentary about what he got.
Speaker 8 (48:13):
Oh, I was that was excellent. I remember that because
I was sick that day, they didn't have to they
didn't have to deal with me.
Speaker 1 (48:20):
That was all. Yeah. The staff said, wow, they had
a really good time last night. Sorry you missed it.
Speaker 10 (48:28):
But as a as a highlight for that family, they
couldn't say enough good things and I just wanted to say,
anybody out there bidding is going to have they He said,
this was in the top three of anything that they
have ever experienced as a family, aside from weddings and births,
and well they don't get out much, they don't, but
(48:50):
they were delighted.
Speaker 1 (48:51):
It was just no, I know, it's it look really
it is. And and Paul has been you know, he's modest,
but he goes out of his way, his team goes
out of his way. And how do people bid? Call?
Nine seven eight six three two, nineteen eighty five. So
the current, we'll go for it. We'll start off at
one thousand dollars and then we'll keep raising it and
raising it throughout the day, and we'll announce the bids
(49:15):
throughout the day, right, that's how we usually do it,
and then by the end of the day we'll announce
a winner. So we're getting a lot of calls already.
Nine seven eight six three two, nineteen eighty five. Paul,
we've only got about a minute left. Any final words,
any parting thoughts, any how's Mark, How's how's everybody? You
(49:37):
know what? Everybody's good? So we're we're we're blessed.
Speaker 8 (49:41):
And and you know, you know, every day on the
right side of the grass is a good day. So
but again, you know, I want to say thank you
to all of the members for the dav Massachusetts. It's
such an amazing team and for them to let us
be part of this is truly amazing.
Speaker 1 (49:58):
Anything a coonerspeck on the menu coming up? I know
we've been talking about that for a while.
Speaker 8 (50:04):
Yeah, well you haven't given me enough input, you know,
because you're.
Speaker 1 (50:08):
Really quite quiet about that.
Speaker 8 (50:11):
Yeah, we're still we're still working on that that Coomer special.
But yeah, I mean we're getting we're getting close, very
very close, very very close.
Speaker 1 (50:21):
We're talking, we've been talking with Paul Wahlberg. Okay, my friends,
please let's be there for disabled American veterans. They've been
there for us. Again the number nine seven eight six
three two nineteen eighty five,
Good morning Cooner Country. Okay, my friends, this is the
most special show of the year. It's in some ways
I say this every year. I'm like a broken record,
but it's true. In some ways, it's the easiest show
in the sense of there's no massive show prep. We're
(00:21):
not dealing with breaking news, you know, nothing of that sort,
where we got to, you know, get together fifteen twenty
clips to play on the air. But in many ways
for me, it's the most difficult show of the year
because it's the most emotionally draining, exhausting show of the year.
And that, of course is our annual radiothon here at
(00:43):
the Great WRKO to support disabled American veterans. Dav O're wonderful.
Vets are wonderful. Disabled vets are great patriots and heroes.
And it's something now that we have been doing here
at WRKO, really spearheaded by the Kooner Report. This is
(01:04):
something very dear to me, very dear to everyone who
works on this show. We want to show a little
something of our appreciation and frankly love and gratitude for
the immense sacrifices that our veterans have made for our country,
for our freedoms, really for freedom around the world. And
(01:30):
so we raise money to help the DAV who help
obviously disabled American veterans, and we do it proudly and
happily every single year. And joining me now is my
distinct honor and pleasure to introduce Dan Stack. You know him,
you love him. He's been with us now for years
(01:52):
and years and years. Really he is the heart and
soul of the DAV. Dan, before I get to you,
he's the chief executive officer for the DAV Department of Massachusetts.
He has worked for the DAV for over fifty years.
(02:12):
Dan is a Vietnam veteran. He served in the Air Force.
He's a proud veteran. And this Hour of the DAV
is brought to you by Wilson Farm in Lexington, So
they are sponsoring this hour and I want to give
a big thank you, big shout out to Wilson Farm
in Lexington. Dan, welcome, It is great to see you again.
(02:37):
You always look great every time I see you, and
I got to ask you how are you? And for
everybody listening in this radiothon who want to give to
the disabled American veterans, why should they give to the
vets and specifically the DAV.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Well, thank you very much, thank you for the nice
compliment of how I look this more after spilling coffee
all over myself driving in it's not that good, but
thank god this is.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
The radio and we don't have to worry about how
I look.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Why should you give to the DAV because the DAV
has been here for one hundred and twenty years. The DAV,
I mean over one hundred years. Excuse me. That alone
tells veterans and veterans families that we're here to stay,
that our mission is a mission of giving back to veterans,
of taking care of them, whether it be taking care
(03:29):
of their claims. Before the Veterans Administrations, our National Service
officers are like paralegally trained workman compensation attorneys. They dig
into the medical evidence, they present the case to the
VA so the veteran can get the maximum compensation that
he is deserving of. I know there are many of
you out there that says, well, why would we do that.
(03:51):
We have the Veterans Administration because, like anything else, you
have insurance, but that doesn't mean your insurance company is
going to take care of you. You need an advocate
and that advocate is the DAV. They fight very hard
with the Veterans Administration to make sure you get the
compensation you deserve. We have our transportation program where veterans
(04:15):
that are in need of getting to and from the
VA for their medical appointments, we try to transport them
with volunteer drivers to and from their home to make
sure that they get the wellness care that the VA.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
That's incredible. That's incredible.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Then, and as you know, in the last five years,
we started a housing program. Most of the housing is
in Gardener and Leminster, mass We're very proud of that
and what we do with those helping veterans and families
that basically would not have a home to provide them
with one and then get them on the right road
and track to independent living so they can purchase their
(04:51):
own home. And as we were very proud of the
fact that we have had five veterans move out of
our facility purchasing their own homes. So you know, that
really makes a difference when you're able to take somebody
that has been literally almost on the street or on
the street and then provide them with the tools that
they need to gain independent living for their family so
(05:14):
that they can own their own home and get back
into society, back into the society they fought to serve for,
back into the society that owes to them. But they're
not asking for anything. They're really just trying to be
a member of society and be productive. So that's what
we do, and yes, we do need the support of
the public. Fortunately, the public has supported the DAV for
(05:37):
over that hundred years. That's we don't get any federal funding.
The DAV gets no federal.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Not a sentence, not a federal sense.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
It has been the American public that has supported the DAV.
It has been the American public that has allowed us
to be able to provide the services that we provide
because of the American public in their generosity. Because the
American public left right down the center, doesn't matter. They
(06:07):
care about veterans and they want to make sure veterans
are taken care of.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
God bless you and really all of you in Kooner Country.
I know every year many of you give so generously.
I thank you every year. I thank you now, please
if you can. I know times are tough. I know
you know inflation, cost of living is still high, but
anything would be immensely appreciated. Please, if you want to give,
(06:33):
give This is an incredible organization. They do incredible work
for disabled veterans. You have no idea how many veterans
they help, so please call now if you want to
donate nine seven eight six three two nineteen eighty five.
That's nine seven eight six three two nineteen eighty five.
(06:55):
Or if you want to donate online, go to DAV
five the number five K, the letter k so DAV
five K dot Boston, DAV five k dot Boston, Dan.
I know there's a big five k run tomorrow. It's
(07:17):
an annual tradition now in Boston. I think we're looking
at what fifteen thousand runners. For the audience listening out there,
Why why the five K run, and why has it
become something so big, so grand and so special.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
We're very, very fortunate that over the past ten years
we have had the support of Channel four WBZ and
Lisa Hughes. She was at the very very first run
and has helped us progress all these ten years. One
of the reasons that this run is so great is
the fact that most of the veterans or the veterans
(07:56):
families that come in we're bibbs, and on those bibs
they state why they're running. I'm running for my dad,
I'm running for my brother or my sister. Wants somebody
that has served, either in memory or in honor of them.
And I think when I see those bibs coming across
that finish line, it just breaks my heart because I
(08:19):
know that is a veteran that someone has served with,
someone who may have lost their life, and that they
are not forgotten by the families and the friends that
they had. Those continue on and I think that's the
biggest thing that the DAB five K does is it
brings awareness to everyone around through all of the ads
(08:41):
that we put on the air, through all the billboards,
and more importantly through the social media that the people
that care about the veterans that serve show up. This
year alone, we have over four hundred and thirty five
veterans coming to the affair and that's fantastic veterans supporting
veterans once again, and that's the biggest part of our community.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Dan.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
If people want to show up show their support tomorrow,
where exactly is the five k run being held and
at what time.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
It's going to be at ten am is when they
actually we have a shotgun start. Unfortunately, due to the
government shutdown, we normally have the howitzer.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
That shot starts us off.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
But we're very fortunate this year, just like in seventeen
seventy six, the conqramit amen are coming so we can
start our run. So it's going to be at Fort
Independence and South Boston Castle Island, and we're very grateful
to the DCR, the Department of Conservation and Recreation for
(09:46):
allowing us to have our run there. They do a
fantastic job helping us set up and get everything going there,
so it's great.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
If you want to give, please And I can't tell
you how many times vets, disabled veterans have told me
it's not the that counts, it's the thought, just the
fact that the phone rings, that there's even a two
dollars five dollars ten dollars contribution, that they have not
been forgotten. So Cooner country, they were there for us,
(10:14):
Let's be there for them. Call now nine seven, eight
six three to nineteen eighty five or visit DAV five
sorry DAV five k dot Boston DAV the number five,
the letter k DAV five k dot Boston. Standing to
(10:35):
my or sitting to my right is a super special
guest and it's my son, Ashton Lewis Coooner. It is
the first time he is with me in studio while
I'm doing this incredible radiothon. He wanted to show his
support for the veterans, for the DAV and he insisted
(10:57):
on coming in today. Woke up in the middle of
the night, Ashton. Can you just say a quick hi?
Just say hi, Jeff Cooner Boston's Bulldozer again. One of
our most special shows of the year. I've got Dan Stack,
he is the chief executive Officer for d the dav
Department of Massachusetts on my left, and of course a
(11:20):
very special day for me. I've got my wonderful son Ashton.
First time he is now in studio with me live.
He insisted on coming in. He got up in the
middle of the night. Happily I may add to come
in here, be in studio and show his support not
(11:41):
just for the show today, but for our vets and
our disabled American vets. Okay, if you want to donate,
and please, whatever you can give is tremendously appreciated. Nine seven,
eight six three two nineteen eighty five. Is the number
eight six three to two nineteen eighty five, or if
(12:04):
you prefer, you can give online go to DAV five
k dot Boston. DAV the number five K as in
the letter k dot Boston before I go to Dan. Ashton,
Welcome to the Kooner Report. How are you, my son.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
I'm doing good today. I'm glad to be here today.
God bless America, God bless the vets, God bless the
dav for being great for the veterans.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Well, that's very kind of you, Ashton, and I just
want to ask you something. You know you should be
in school today, but that's okay, you said no, Dad,
I want to come in today. I want to show
my support. Why do you care so much for our
veterans and why do you care so much for our
disabled veterans and the dav.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Well sable veterans are They fought for our country. They suffered,
some of them sadly passed away. But let's well, the
people that serve I believe they should be blessed. They
deserve better than to suffer for their for fighting for
(13:22):
our country. They served, and they fought against others and
served to help the country.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
And now in their time of need, right, we should
be supporting them, correct, Ashton.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Yes, they supported us us when we were in war,
they went to other places around the world. In my
personal opinion, they should be helped and supported and you
should donate to the dav and you should listen to
my father.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
On iHeartRadio, Well said Ashton. Well said, okay, so yeah,
they were He's completely right. These veterans were there for us.
Let us now be there for them and let them
know they have not been forgotten. So again, whatever you
want to donate is tremendously appreciated nine seven eight six
(14:19):
three two nineteen eighty five. You can also go online
donate there as well dav five k dot Boston And again,
this hour of the WRKO dav Radiothon is brought to
you by the by Wilson Farm in Lexington. Dan, we've
(14:39):
got a caller on the line before I go to him,
is there anything else you'd like to say?
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Thank you very much Ashton for your kind words about
what veterans go through. And definitely I want to thank
Wilson Farms. I've shopped there, so I really appreciate your
support for this particular hour and I would also like
to thank all of the volunteers that have I've gotten
up very early this morning. There are right now waiting
to take your call. Some of them are Kayla, Rachelle, Ali,
(15:08):
Deb Chris, j Phil, Donna. They're there waiting for your call.
They're part of my staff. They work very very hard
on behalf of veterans, and I'm very grateful to have
them there this morning. And I hope you'll make a
call and make a donation.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Nine seven eight six three two nineteen eighty five, or
again if you want to go online dav five K
dot Boston. Okay, let's go to John in Marshfield. John,
you've been holding patiently. Thank you and welcome.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Thank you very much. Jeff, I just wanted to share
a couple of things with you this morning.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
And.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
One is I am a veteran, but I really don't
consider myself a veteran because I didn't fight. I mean,
I believe the people that actually we went over there
and thought of the real heroes. And I'm not a
disabled veteran. I'm a veteran that's disabled. I finally, uh, well,
(16:12):
I guess you know, retired about ten eleven years ago.
Forcibly and finally, life for me is beautiful. And of course,
you know, thanks to Trump getting in office, of course,
and I wanted to thank you for everything that you do.
(16:33):
I mean, I love you in a non sexual way.
Of course. I've been listening to you for about fifteen
years and I can't believe I finally heard Ashton's voice
and he sounds like a grownup. Wow.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
He's fifteen years old now, yeah, I just turned fifteen
a couple of months ago.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
He was born. Wow, that's just wow. I've called in
once or twice, but I just that's enough.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
I just wanted to art the day off on a
good note. And now that I can finally affoid to
give back to all my brothers and sisters, I would
like to start the day with a thousand dollars donation.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Wow, John, thank you, thank you, Thank you. John. That
is a very very generous donation. And I want to
thank you for your service and John, you are very eloquent,
very powerful. I have to say I slightly disagree with you.
To me, a vet is a vet is a vet,
(17:34):
and all vets are heroes, whether they served in war
or not. And honestly, John, I'll tell you why because
when you signed up, you didn't know whether you were
going to go to a war or not, whether you'd
go to a battlefield or not. But you volunteered. You
signed up knowing that risk. To me, that alone makes
you a hero. Jeff Coooner, Boston's Bulldozer, our annual radiothon
(17:59):
here on double you areko to benefit disabled American veterans.
If you want to donate, we're off to a very
good start. The lines apparently are blazing. Please let's keep
it up. Nine seven eight six three two, nineteen eighty five.
If you want to give, you can also go to
DAV fivek dot Boston, DAV fivek dot Boston, and please,
(18:23):
I want to stress to everybody in Kooner Country it's
not the amount that you give, it's the fact that
you give. That's what the vets really value, that they
are not forgotten, that they are remembered. So no amount
is too small. Obviously we'd love, you know, fifty one hundred,
(18:44):
two hundred and fifty five hundred, even one thousand dollars donation.
Don't get me wrong. You know money pays for the
transportation for these veterans, helping these veterans, getting them access
to healthcare, medical care, food, everything benefits that they've earned
and are deserving and entitled to. But any amount, no
(19:08):
amount is too small. At nine seven eight six three
two nineteen eighty five, we've got Phil Nadu on the line.
But before we go to Phil, Dan he's the chief
He is the chief executive officer, the CEO for the
dav Department of Massachusetts. Dan, I know you wanted to
(19:29):
say something in response to the last caller we had
who said, Hey, I'm a veteran, but I never really served,
so I don't really feel like a true veteran.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
And John, I just want to thank you, first and
foremost for your thousand dollars donation. That was above and
beyond and we really appreciate it. But more importantly, I
want you to know that all combat veterans that I
have ever served with have let me know that every
veteran that serves helped them. You got to keep in
mind that it is not just the veteran that is
(20:01):
out there fighting. It takes everybody behind him to make
sure that he has everything he needs so that he
is able to bring the fight to the enemy. With
that being whether you're sitting in an office or basically
if you're out there prepping an airplane or you're prepping
food supplies that has to go to the front lines.
Everybody that serves contributes to whatever we do in the service.
(20:26):
And everyone is a veteran. And I don't care whether
you're a combat veteran or not. Every combat veteran will
tell you that your service meant a great deal to them.
So again, John, thank you very much, and I am
very proud to say that you are a veteran and
a great veteran in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Amen. Very well said, really well said Dan. Okay, just again,
This hour of the dav Radiothon to benefit that disabled
American veterans here on WRKO is brought to you you
by Wilson Farm in Lexington, and on the phone with
(21:04):
us now is Phil Nadu. He is second Junior Vice
Commander US Air Force and a Rock War veteran. Phil.
It's great to hear from you. How are you.
Speaker 6 (21:19):
I'm doing great?
Speaker 7 (21:20):
Thank you Phil.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Before I even start this interview, I just want to
thank you for your service, for your courage, your heroism
and your patriotism. And I've got to ask you, Phil,
if you could just talk a little bit about your
transition from the military and how did the DAV assist
you in particular, how were they there for you?
Speaker 7 (21:46):
So I transition. I retired from the United States Air
Force in twenty two thousand and five. Sorry, And in
twenty ten I had a nervous breakdown from PTSD and
I ended up trying to commit suicide, which I talked
about before, and the DAV stepped in to help me
(22:10):
with that, helped me get a claim in, ify getting
that claim in and helped me with my disability. I
was able to get some help, which is very important,
especially for mental health. And then today now I help
the veterans back. I'm a CSO I write claims for
veterans every day. I do about twenty claims a month.
(22:31):
Since June, I've got about one hundred claims in for veterans.
I try to help them as much as I can.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Phil. If I'm getting too personal, please tell me. I
promise I won't be offended. But what drove you to
the point. I know PSD is very debilitating people. You know,
it's just horrifying, the panic attacks, the inability for man
to sleep at night, the night sweats, terrors, the night terrors,
(23:02):
and after a while it just grinds you down. But
what led you to the point where you were contemplating suicide?
Speaker 7 (23:12):
It was just so you know, in the desert, it's
a where I was. It was one hundred and twenty
degrees every day, two hundred and ten on the asphalt.
Every day we did e ros so engineering onloads to offload.
And the day that this happened was.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
It was in July.
Speaker 7 (23:29):
I was driving on the pike, and the pike a
lot of it is cement, So it was just flashbacks
from being over in the desert of the same color
and the heat. It was one hundred and three degrees
that day. I'll never forget it. I was coming back
from work and just everything building up from work and
from having flashbacks. I just couldn't take it anywhere. Plus
(23:54):
I have tonight this constant ringing in my ears, and
that is driving That drives me nuts all the time.
So finally I went to my backyard.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Hey you yeah, I understand. Uh scared the hell out
of you?
Speaker 6 (24:06):
Are?
Speaker 1 (24:06):
We just sorry? Phil? We just if we swear, we
get fined. But I understand. So God saved saved you
that day the gun jammed and I think you facing
confronting the possibility of death scared the hell out of you.
And then you said, I've got to get help, correct Phil?
Speaker 7 (24:26):
And last October I had a small nervous breakdown and
Mike Viele to help me out and got me some
help at Northampton VA. I did a six week impatient
this past February, which has changed my life. I just
let things roll off my back now and I help
even more veterans every day.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Good for you, Good for you. I gotta ask you, Phil,
why did you choose the DAV and for we have
a lot of vets who listen, a lot of disabled
vets who listen. Why would you recommend a fellow veteran
to contact the DAV. What's so special about the DAV.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
Well, the DAV is the one that stepped in to
help me number one. Nobody else would and I was
part of the American Legion and they didn't do anything.
They didn't even make a phone call to me. Just
some friends from the DAV stepped up. I recommend DAV
because they care all the way to the end. We
(25:30):
have a lot of programs where we have fellow veterans
that go to their homes and cut their grass. But
they can see what's going on with the veteran, and
so if the veteran has other needs, we can help them.
They can come back, tell us what they need, and
we'll go back and help that veteran even more. We
have a thing called Gutters to Shutters. We go to
(25:51):
people's homes do small minor repairs, or cut their lawn
or shovel their snow. I just started that program with
Worcester Chapter four a couple of months ago, and it's
been pretty successful. We've helped quite a few people. But
any other needs we see that they need will get
them help from the other areas that we have, transportation, housing.
(26:15):
You know, that's all very important, especially now the way
people need each other more and more.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
You know, Phil, God was with you on that day,
and thank the Lord your gun jammed because we are
so happy and blessed that you are still with us.
And to everybody listening out there, please, this is what
your donation does. It helps people like Phil, our returning
veterans who are battling PTSD mental health issues or depression
(26:48):
or maybe even suicidal thoughts, get them the help that
they need, the help that they earned, frankly, the help
that we owe them. And these are the they put
every everything on the line for us. Please let's not
forget them. So whatever you can give, please give. There
(27:08):
are so many people like Phil out there, So again
the number nine seven eight six three two nineteen eighty
five nine seven eight six three two one nine eight five.
If you want to donate to the DAV, or if
you want to do it online, and many of you
are now doing it online, and which is fine obviously,
(27:30):
go to DAV five k dot Boston, DAV the number five,
the letter K DAV five k dot Boston. Phil, You're
a very special man. You're a true patriot. You're a hero,
You're a role model. We've only got about thirty seconds,
but I know Dan wants to say a quick quick word.
(27:51):
Go ahead down.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Since Phil has been with the disabled American veterans, all
he had, all he has ever done is give him
back to his fellow veterans. Phil, God bless you. Thanks
for being a member of the DAV. Love you, buddy,
Take care.
Speaker 7 (28:04):
I greatly appreciate you and everything the DAVY has done
for me.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
And I'm going to.
Speaker 7 (28:08):
Keep doing it till the day I die. No veteran
left behind. And it's not about us, it's about them.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Phil again, thank you for your service. You're truly a
great American. God bless you, my friend here on the
great WRKO and this hour is brought to you by
Wilson Farm in Lexington, and really special show for me today.
I always love to do this show, obviously to benefit
and help our incredible disabled veterans. I've got Dan Stack,
(28:38):
the CEO of DAV Massachusetts, on my left, and my
son Ashton, fifteen years old, first time ever. He's with
his dad. He's old man in the studio and so
and he's getting a little tired now though he's starting
to see what my life is like. He goes that, Dad, Wow,
(28:59):
it's it doesn't feel like six point fifty dad, because
he's been up for hours. Well, now you know, welcome
to my life, Ashton. Okay, joining us Now you want
to talk about a warrior joining us now? Is Corey Hasselman,
former resident of DAV Veterans Advancement Program. He is a
(29:23):
Marine Corps veteran. Corey. I know you're very busy. Thank
you so much for calling in and again, I want
to thank you for your incredible heroism, sacrifice and service, Corey.
For everyone listening wondering why should they give to the DAV.
(29:43):
And by the way, you can call nine seven eight
sixty three to two, nineteen eighty five if you want
to donate. People are waiting to take your call to
take your donations nine seven eight six three two nineteen
eighty five. You can also go online and donate there
d five k dot Boston. Corey, can you just tell
(30:05):
everyone how did you find the DAV and how did
you transition home from your time in the military.
Speaker 6 (30:17):
Absolutely, thank you so much for having me and hosting
the DAV every year. So for me, getting out of
service was a difficult time. I was medically separated, so
you know, I didn't I didn't expect to get home
when I did, I thought it was going to be
a twenty year career. My mental health struggled a lot.
I decided to go back to college and Kayla Valila,
(30:41):
the director of the DAV Advancement Program, went on to
the orientation and talked about the housing and at the time,
I was in some distress. I didn't have a place
to go. I didn't really know how to improve my
mental health, how to get through the VA system, And
(31:02):
it seemed like this weird light, you know, and I
reached out to Kayla. I talked about, Hey, you know,
I'm a disabled VET. I have these mental health struggles.
I really need a place to just go and sort
my life out. But I need guidance. I don't know
what to do and how to do it. And Kayla
(31:24):
and her husband, Mike, the adjutant for the state, and
the DAV as a whole.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
Dan Stack just took me right in.
Speaker 6 (31:32):
You know. I moved in very very shortly after. They
were able to give me the space that I needed
to focus on school, focus on my mental health. I
started going back to therapy, you know. And they guided
me through the VA disability system to get my compensation established,
make sure I got the benefits and the treatment that
I needed, and really kind of set me on the
(31:53):
path that I am on today. I'm in a much
much better place. I now own my own home, I'm
a I'm a veteran service officer full time, so I
support you know, veterans every day.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Now.
Speaker 6 (32:05):
That's my way of kind of giving back and living
the DAV mission. It truly did you know save my life.
I like to contribute a lot of where I am
today to them.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Oh God, bless you, Corey. Corey. Again, I I just
have to ask if I'm getting again, if I if
I'm touching a nerve or getting to you know, too
personal or violating your privacy. Please tell me. I promise
I won't be offended. When you said you came back,
you were battling certain mental health issues. You were trying
to get back to school, get back on your feet.
(32:39):
What was it in particular? Was it PTSD? Was it anxiety?
Was it depression? What was it that? And specifically that
you were what demons were you battling?
Speaker 6 (32:53):
All right? And the thing about PTSD is a career,
it's all the others.
Speaker 5 (33:01):
Right.
Speaker 6 (33:01):
So because of my PTSD, I now have anxiety and
social situations. It causes depression, which is the you know,
the suicidal thoughts and unfortunately suicidal attempts that I have
had assemmed because of that.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
Oh but is the PTSD now under Please tell me
it's under control now?
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (33:21):
Yes? And again I contribute a lot of that to
the DAV giving me that space to be able to
focus on that instead of being absorbed by everything else
that I had going on in my life. I had
a safe place to just focus on me.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
Corey. I'm reluctant to even go there, but I have
to go there because I want the audience to know
a what our vets go through when we send them
to war, and how much of a sacrifice they pay.
And it's not just on the battlefield, it's after when
they come back, and what the dav does, what it means.
(33:54):
If you did not get involved with the dav If,
in other words, your PTSD untreated and got worse and
worse and worse, and you talked about the suicidal thoughts
and and everything else that comes with it, do you
think maybe you wouldn't be with us today. In other words,
did the dav in some ways save your life?
Speaker 6 (34:16):
Absolutely? I had a suicidal attempt shortly before moving into
the DAVU. Luckily I had attempted. I'll just say it,
it is what it is. Let's get rid of the stigma.
I attempted to hang myself. Luckily the rope broke and
(34:36):
I was able to, you know, live through that. But
if it wasn't for Kayla being on that orientation giving
me that hand up that I needed and the DAV
support that followed, with all of the benefits, the space
that I needed, I really don't think I would be here.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Wow. Wow, everybody listening, please look what they go through
for us, for us, Let's be there for them. Literally,
your money can save lives. Your money will help them
get back on their feet, take care of their mental
(35:17):
health issues, treat their PTSD others. Obviously it's more physical.
They have no you know, they have no legs, they
have no arms, they're in wheelchairs. Everyone is different. But
you can be there for them and make an incredible
difference in their lives. And it's you know, and I'm
sure Corey and Dan and everybody will tell you it's
(35:39):
not the dollar amount. It's that you care and that
you're willing to donate something anything. So please for Corey,
for all the disabled veterans, make that call nine seven
eight six three two nineteen eighty five nine seven eight
six three two one nine eight five. If you want
(35:59):
to donate, you can also go online DAV five k
dot Boston, DAV the number five, the letter k dot Boston. Corey.
I want to thank you on so many levels for
your service, for your bravery, for your patriotism, for your heroism,
(36:19):
but honestly for your courage now in talking about what
you experienced, because there is a stigma. There shouldn't be
a stigma, but many people are reluctant or afraid to
talk about it. And what you did again took tremendous
guts and tremendous courage. So I really really want to
thank you Corey from the bottom of my heart before
(36:41):
I let you go. I know Dan wants to say
a few words. Go ahead, Dan, It's a.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
Very special spot in my heart.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Corey.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
I'm very proud of the man you are today.
Speaker 3 (36:51):
Love us, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
Jeff Ashton, you want to say a few words to Corey.
Speaker 4 (37:00):
Thank you for your service. I'm glad that you got
it over your PTSD and thank god that you didn't
follow through fully with suicide.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
Corey. Honestly, there's tears in this studio right now. I
want you to know that. So Corey, you need anything,
you give me a call. Okay.
Speaker 6 (37:22):
Thank you for giving the DAVI a platform and for
US veterans a platform to be heard.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
Thank you, honestly, thank you for your service. I don't
know I wouldn't be behind this microphone if it wasn't
for heroes like you, Corey. God bless you and have
a wonderful weekend and a wonderful Veterans day. Take care, okay,
my friends again the number to call please donate, give
as much as you can nine seven eight six three
two one nine eight five nine seven eight six three
(37:51):
two nineteen eighty five. You can also give again via online.
The website is DAV five k t Boston DAV five
k dot Boston. And again, this hour was brought to
you by Wilson Farm in Lexington. I want to thank
everyone at the Wilson Farm in Lexington. Now. The seven
(38:14):
o'clock hour, which we're about to hit right now, is
brought to you by Brighton Marine. I want to thank
everyone at Brighton Marine and in studio with us now.
A man who needs no introduction. He was with us
just a couple of days ago. He comes on every
year when we do our annual radiothon to benefit disabled
(38:37):
American veterans. He's a celebrity chef has the best, seriously,
the best food in Boston, co founder of the Wallburgers
franchise and Almanov.
Speaker 8 (38:51):
I think is how you pronounce it, Nova Wicked Clothes, Alma.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
Nove Paul Wahlberg, Buddy, how are you. I'm good.
Speaker 8 (39:03):
It's you know, obviously great to be here on this
day because we love doing this and uh being being
able to support the DAV and and to be able
to support you.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Oh, thank you. It's my pleasure. But to me, it's
all about the vets. And look, Paul, we've talked about
this before, but we got a lot of people listening now. Look,
I'm being honest. You're successful, you're family successful. You don't
need to do this. You're you're wealthy, you deserve it.
You've made very well for yourself. Your family's done very
(39:34):
well for themselves. Why do you care? And why in
particular disabled American veterans?
Speaker 8 (39:42):
You say, and that's funny when you say you don't
have to do this. You do have to do this,
because everybody should do this. This is one of those
things where everybody needs to be out supporting the veterans
of you know, in any capacity. And there's so many
(40:02):
great programs, but the DAV helps get them, you know,
the all of the things that they need, you know, transportation, food, everything,
and taking care of the vets.
Speaker 1 (40:12):
Like we owe that to them.
Speaker 8 (40:14):
That is one of those things that that everybody needs
to recognize every single day. Being able to say thank
you in any capacity, holding a door, being polite, you know,
helping with services, supporting with money, whatever it is, do
the work. I love the work, so I'm always out
there trying to work and do different things. And so
(40:34):
being able to be involved with it, and for that
and for the DAV to let me be involved with
it is a blessing.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Paul, you've been I think the DAV almost from the beginning.
I mean he's right a long time, right, dan' knotting
his head up and down. We were you their first
food vendor.
Speaker 8 (40:51):
No, there were a couple of food vendors when we
came on board, but you know, again, they reached out
and we were able to support and I was able
to get some other restaurants of friends that I know,
because that's the one thing, you know, when something's going on,
the restaurants always jump in and and it's a great community.
And when we started doing this, it was really that
(41:14):
that thing that you know, we love being part of it,
and it gets in front, it gets us in front
of guests where we can actually see them face to
face when you go to these events, and so for
us to be involved, and like I said, it was
a blessing. And when when Bob Bob Lynch reached out
to me and said, hey, do you want to be
part of us, it was like absolutely.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
I know your mother is involved in a charity, correct
non profit Almacare's. Yeah, Almacare's.
Speaker 8 (41:41):
Alma Care's is a branch that that we've done and
started by my daughter and one of our friends from
you know, way back when, and we feed families at
Thanksgiving and it's just something that we do.
Speaker 1 (41:51):
So now, Paul, are you going to be running tomorrow
at the five K. I'm a watcher. I'm a watcher.
I'll be back.
Speaker 8 (42:02):
I'll be back toasting buns and assembling meat ball sliders.
But yes, I participate in my own special way.
Speaker 1 (42:12):
Paul, you're a big champion of the vets. God bless you.
If you don't mind me asking why the DAV I mean,
there's so many other charities. I mean I could name them,
you know, I could name you dozens of them, but
you love the DAV And I'm just curious.
Speaker 8 (42:27):
Why in the beginning, and it's gonna sound silly, but
they asked, he said, and really, and I can't put
it any other way. They said, hey, do you want
to be part of this? And the minute I, you know, obviously,
the minute I hear vets, I'm like absolutely. And then
once you once you see the work that they do,
(42:52):
that's what sticks. That's what it is, because it's not
just hey, we're out, we're out trying to you know,
make ourselves feel better. We are providing a service the DAV.
And this is not me, you know, I use the
Royal Wee kind of thing, but the DAV provides services
for these veterans that are so needed and the people
(43:15):
that are involved. It's and you know, a lot of
people get involved with for things for certain reasons, but
what keeps me coming back are the people that are involved,
the people the team, Dan and his group and Bob
Lynch and everybody that's involved, and then the veterans themselves,
that core of people that are there who know exactly
(43:38):
what they're you know, to understand what they're going through
and I have no concept of their day to day challenges,
but you know, it's again, we're so blessed to be
part of this, and and you know growing up it
was my dad was a veteran and all of his
brothers because it was that generation, and so we it
(44:01):
was drilled into us to say thank you. It was
drilled into us to be supportive of that, and we
want to make sure that we follow through on that.
Speaker 1 (44:11):
Paul, you know what's coming now, my friend. We do
this every year. You're more than generous. We always do
our auction. This is a very special thing. We always
give it to the highest bidder. Paul Wahlberg will come
to your home.
Speaker 8 (44:32):
I we're doing them in the restaurants.
Speaker 1 (44:35):
Oh you're doing yeah anymore?
Speaker 8 (44:38):
Yeah, I'm trying to what the hell happened? I'm a
menace on the roads, to be quite honest with you.
So that the less time I'm driving around, that's what
we want. I keep asking and saying, can you let me,
you know, help pick up some of the veterans like, no,
we've seen you drive. So I try to do it
in the restaurant as much as possible.
Speaker 1 (44:57):
All right, So this is going to be done at
your world famous restaurant. Eight people, yep, h and I
take it. This is a full course meal.
Speaker 8 (45:04):
This is yeah, six courses, you know. I come out
and we introduce everyone. I host it, and you know,
it's a very personal touch and and we we you know,
people you know ask you know a lot of times
people say, hey, what about this? What about that? In
terms of what we do for the food, and you know,
we want to be.
Speaker 1 (45:21):
Do whatever you want.
Speaker 8 (45:22):
We're there to make you happy and say thank you
for supporting the dav So we're talking steak, steak, whatever's available,
whatever you want, Tell me what you want, Tell tell
me what you want, Benison.
Speaker 1 (45:34):
If it's you know, we get some good game. We
can do this. We do a lot of seafood. We'll
do whatever you want, all right? And are you throwing
in wine as well? Or wine's wines included?
Speaker 8 (45:43):
Now, what we should really do is get you down
there as well, and you can you can host, but
I'm sure you'll keep the bidding down if you're you know,
miss mister personality over here.
Speaker 3 (45:56):
All right.
Speaker 1 (45:56):
You always put the screws to me every time I
show up here. It's going to give you a hat.
But I think I'm gonna keep that given well, I'm
trying to raise the auction.
Speaker 9 (46:05):
I guess I'm trying to sweeten the poddle little your
ear of pot sweetener. Absolutely so, an incredible hold on, Bob,
I'm wanna get you, I promise. Uh so, an incredible
meal at Paul Wahlberg's restaurant for eight people, six courses,
wine included.
Speaker 1 (46:23):
I'm assuming dessert, right, I mean.
Speaker 8 (46:25):
No, no, we we we we cut you off. Yeah,
that's what that's where we draw the line. Yes, we
we have uh we have great desserts made in house.
We have it's and everything's it's just from scratch kitchen.
So we're very very proud, you know, over there. And
and the same with Wahburgers. You know, so much of
that stuff is made freshly, and you know, we love
(46:48):
what we do and we want to be able to share.
Speaker 1 (46:51):
We're going to start the bidding at one thousand dollars.
We'll start at one thousand dollars, and we're gonna keep hopefully,
we're gonna keep this open throughout the entire day. And
trust me, this will be a meal you will never
ever forget. It's an experience. You're gonna meet Paul, You're
gonna meet his wonderful team. You're gonna eat like you've
(47:13):
never eaten. You're gonna drink like you've never drunk before.
This is really and it's for an incredible cause. What
are you selling?
Speaker 3 (47:22):
Jeez?
Speaker 1 (47:22):
I think I want to be pot Wow, so really
good at that. So we'll start it off one thousand
dollars nine seven eight six three two nineteen eighty five
nine seven eight six three two one nine eight five.
You can also DAV five K dot Boston obviously if
(47:43):
you want to donate, that's the number to call as well. Uh, Paul,
Before we say bye to you, my friend Bob Lynch
from the DAV I know you want to add something
as well.
Speaker 10 (47:53):
I just wanted to give you some feedback from there.
Was a winner from last year's auction and he called
me about a month ago. He had just had his
dinner at Almanova, and I have to say he couldn't
have been more complimentary about what he got.
Speaker 8 (48:13):
Oh, I was that was excellent. I remember that because
I was sick that day, they didn't have to they
didn't have to deal with me.
Speaker 1 (48:20):
That was all. Yeah. The staff said, wow, they had
a really good time last night. Sorry you missed it.
Speaker 10 (48:28):
But as a as a highlight for that family, they
couldn't say enough good things and I just wanted to say,
anybody out there bidding is going to have they He said,
this was in the top three of anything that they
have ever experienced as a family, aside from weddings and births,
and well they don't get out much, they don't, but
(48:50):
they were delighted.
Speaker 1 (48:51):
It was just no, I know, it's it look really
it is. And and Paul has been you know, he's modest,
but he goes out of his way, his team goes
out of his way. And how do people bid? Call?
Nine seven eight six three two, nineteen eighty five. So
the current, we'll go for it. We'll start off at
one thousand dollars and then we'll keep raising it and
raising it throughout the day, and we'll announce the bids
(49:15):
throughout the day, right, that's how we usually do it,
and then by the end of the day we'll announce
a winner. So we're getting a lot of calls already.
Nine seven eight six three two, nineteen eighty five. Paul,
we've only got about a minute left. Any final words,
any parting thoughts, any how's Mark, How's how's everybody? You
(49:37):
know what? Everybody's good? So we're we're we're blessed.
Speaker 8 (49:41):
And and you know, you know, every day on the
right side of the grass is a good day. So
but again, you know, I want to say thank you
to all of the members for the dav Massachusetts. It's
such an amazing team and for them to let us
be part of this is truly amazing.
Speaker 1 (49:58):
Anything a coonerspeck on the menu coming up? I know
we've been talking about that for a while.
Speaker 8 (50:04):
Yeah, well you haven't given me enough input, you know,
because you're.
Speaker 1 (50:08):
Really quite quiet about that.
Speaker 8 (50:11):
Yeah, we're still we're still working on that that Coomer special.
But yeah, I mean we're getting we're getting close, very
very close, very very close.
Speaker 1 (50:21):
We're talking, we've been talking with Paul Wahlberg. Okay, my friends,
please let's be there for disabled American veterans. They've been
there for us. Again the number nine seven eight six
three two nineteen eighty five,
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