Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, it's a man that we all dearly love because
he does a lot of things for lovable people, our veterans.
Of course, Jeff Tolki is joining us from the Honor
Flight of the Bluegrass. I want to tell you, Jeff,
it's been an honor and a privilege to be a
part of an honor flight with you and what you
have done for our veterans and all the people that
(00:21):
work with you with Auto Flight blue Grass. It's outstanding.
It's a privilege, and I thank you for your service
to our service members. What I got to put on
the right mike there we go, Yes.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Well, yeah, thanks so much, Tony, and I'm honored to
be here. But you know, I tell people that we
as Americans veterans don't owe us anything, but we owe
them everything. They allow us to do what we do
here today, such as you and I speaking, and our
veterans have done so much for us for their service
and sacrifice. So's the least thing we can do is
(00:57):
get them on the honor flight. But first I want
to thank you for all you've done for Honor Flight.
You've been on an honor flight every time I've requested
to come on your show, you said, come on in.
I get calls after I've been on your show from
veterans maybe Litsfield, Danville, Bowling Green, Hey I heard you
on the show this morning. They call and say, hey,
how can I get on an Honor Flight? And you
(01:18):
guys go so far out across Kentucky and we just
can't reach veterans in that way. And I just can't
thank you enough for all your support for Honor Flight
Bluegrass and all the veterans, because I hear you talk
to mister gall Ryan and veterans, and you're just a
great supporter of all the veterans out there. Thanks.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Thanks talking to Ed and Mike Lyons who's now with
CNN doing some reporting there. Yeah, and all the veterans.
You know, I like the guys at the VFWS all
around and ladies who have served our country well really
do appreciate.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
And with that in mind, I have a couple of
things I'm going to give you. Just say, you know, yes,
here is an Adventure edition road at Last. I brought
this in for you, Okay, So that's that's yours. Brought you.
You mentioned reading books earlier, brought you some Honor Flight
bookmarks all right there, gell you that and then truly
(02:17):
our appreciation for all that you've done is I have
a challenge coin, a fight challenge coin I like to
give you. So I'm going to leave that here with you.
Oh thanks, as I'm very appreciab It's a way to
let us let you know how much we appreciate all
what you've done.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
For well, it's it's really an honor and a privilege.
For sure, I got to get my wife on one
of those flights that you know, and so I.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Think she would really I'm not sure she enjoy that.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
And maybe we can be a couple of sponsors on
one sure. So you I'm not asking you, I'm just saying,
you know, because how do you become a sponsor For
those who don't know.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
You go to on a Fight bluegrass dot org. If
you want to be a guardian, a sponsor, a volunteer,
or if you're a veteran, go to on a Flight
bluegrass dot org. Sign up. We love encourage you know veterans, Vietnam,
Korean World War Two veterans. But if you want to
go as a guardian, I did that twice, just go
to our website and you sign up as a guardian.
It's very easy to see at the top of our
(03:12):
website and go on a flight and it's six hundred
dollars to go. All veterans don't pay a dime to go.
We get donations to pay for the veterans.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
It's a what is it about a fourteen hour day
or sixteen hour days?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Oh my gosh, you know we get there at five
and we're on the plane by seven thirty and we're
back in about nine. Thur is a year, right, you're right,
fourteen hour day.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
It's a long day, but it's something that if you've
never been, can change your life many fronts. I mean,
if you haven't been in some of these places in
d C. There is that obviously, but when you see
these veterans come off and they have, you know, singing
towards towards them patriotic songs when they're coming into at
(04:00):
the airport and then taken around by bus at all
these different places, Arlington National Park and all the other locations,
it's kind of amazing to be a part of that.
And it's very solemn too. It's one of those things
that makes you feel good for the people who have
protected us in years past, and you know those who
(04:24):
will be you know, protecting us as well.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Yeah, and the emotions changed from memorial to memoril. I
don't know if you remember World War Two, it's very patriotic,
it's very grand with the War II veterans. You go
to the Korean War a little bit more low key
with the soldiers haunting. It is haunting, I.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Mean respectfully, you know what I mean with the way
the statues are.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
When we were there last week or on the thirteenth,
there was raining and a lot of the Korean War
veterans that this is just exactly the way it was,
you know, seventy two years ago. And then you get
to the Vietnam Memorial and it's really emotion Most of
our flights have Vietnam veterans on them. A lot of
them are dealing with Agent Orange and so forth. And
(05:06):
there are some veterans who can't even get to the memorial.
They just can't because they know they're going to see
the names of some of their buddies there on the wall.
So it really runs the gam And of course you
were there to witness all that.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Yeah, I was, and it was a privilege. And we
also got to go, you know, just to what do
they call the mall and see the Washington Monument, all
of the different you know.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Air Force, Air Force regima.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
The thing that surprised me a few years back was
that the World War Two Memorial was not created till
decades later.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Yeah, two thousand and four, two thousand and five it opened. Yeah,
you know, it's a long time and at that point,
sixty one years after the war. Oh, yeah, long time.
And I don't know, at that point, there were maybe
four or five million WLDAR two veterans left of the
sixteen million who served. Now, believe it or not, Tony's
(06:05):
only sixty six thousand World War two veterans left. Yeah,
the youngest would be about ninety eight years old right now.
So we try to fly that. We had three on
our last flight and our last September flight, we had
three and they're all gone. They all passed away since
last September. So they're disappearing rapidly. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Indeed, So again, if people want to get involved, they can.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
On our flight Bluegrass dot org. Just all the information
is right there.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
All right, Well, then we'll just come out to the
country and go visit with you and your wife.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Now you do that, we'll get together. Okay, great, And
thanks for having me on. I really appreciate it. Thanks
for all you've done for all the entire community here
in Kentucky and you.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
As well, and for all of the people that have
served our country throughout Kentucky. And you've been a big
part of that. And I know it makes you feel
good because you know, when you do things for other people,
you know, it's kind of why what we're built for.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
It's, you know, one small way to give back. I'm
not a veteran, but as I said, we owe everything
to our veteran.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
That's right, all right, appreciate it, Jeff Tolki, Ladies, gentlemen,
Honor Fly Bluegrass just you could just google it on
a fly Bluegrass or Honorflight Bluegrass dot org. More coming
up here on Kentuck And is Morning News and News
Radio eight forty w h A S.
Well, it's a man that we all dearly love because
he does a lot of things for lovable people, our veterans.
Of course, Jeff Tolki is joining us from the Honor
Flight of the Bluegrass. I want to tell you, Jeff,
it's been an honor and a privilege to be a
part of an honor flight with you and what you
have done for our veterans and all the people that
(00:21):
work with you with Auto Flight blue Grass. It's outstanding.
It's a privilege, and I thank you for your service
to our service members. What I got to put on
the right mike there we go, Yes.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Well, yeah, thanks so much, Tony, and I'm honored to
be here. But you know, I tell people that we
as Americans veterans don't owe us anything, but we owe
them everything. They allow us to do what we do
here today, such as you and I speaking, and our
veterans have done so much for us for their service
and sacrifice. So's the least thing we can do is
(00:57):
get them on the honor flight. But first I want
to thank you for all you've done for Honor Flight.
You've been on an honor flight every time I've requested
to come on your show, you said, come on in.
I get calls after I've been on your show from
veterans maybe Litsfield, Danville, Bowling Green, Hey I heard you
on the show this morning. They call and say, hey,
how can I get on an Honor Flight? And you
(01:18):
guys go so far out across Kentucky and we just
can't reach veterans in that way. And I just can't
thank you enough for all your support for Honor Flight
Bluegrass and all the veterans, because I hear you talk
to mister gall Ryan and veterans, and you're just a
great supporter of all the veterans out there. Thanks.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Thanks talking to Ed and Mike Lyons who's now with
CNN doing some reporting there. Yeah, and all the veterans.
You know, I like the guys at the VFWS all
around and ladies who have served our country well really
do appreciate.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
And with that in mind, I have a couple of
things I'm going to give you. Just say, you know, yes,
here is an Adventure edition road at Last. I brought
this in for you, Okay, So that's that's yours. Brought you.
You mentioned reading books earlier, brought you some Honor Flight
bookmarks all right there, gell you that and then truly
(02:17):
our appreciation for all that you've done is I have
a challenge coin, a fight challenge coin I like to
give you. So I'm going to leave that here with you.
Oh thanks, as I'm very appreciab It's a way to
let us let you know how much we appreciate all
what you've done.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
For well, it's it's really an honor and a privilege.
For sure, I got to get my wife on one
of those flights that you know, and so I.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Think she would really I'm not sure she enjoy that.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
And maybe we can be a couple of sponsors on
one sure. So you I'm not asking you, I'm just saying,
you know, because how do you become a sponsor For
those who don't know.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
You go to on a Fight bluegrass dot org. If
you want to be a guardian, a sponsor, a volunteer,
or if you're a veteran, go to on a Flight
bluegrass dot org. Sign up. We love encourage you know veterans, Vietnam,
Korean World War Two veterans. But if you want to
go as a guardian, I did that twice, just go
to our website and you sign up as a guardian.
It's very easy to see at the top of our
(03:12):
website and go on a flight and it's six hundred
dollars to go. All veterans don't pay a dime to go.
We get donations to pay for the veterans.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
It's a what is it about a fourteen hour day
or sixteen hour days?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Oh my gosh, you know we get there at five
and we're on the plane by seven thirty and we're
back in about nine. Thur is a year, right, you're right,
fourteen hour day.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
It's a long day, but it's something that if you've
never been, can change your life many fronts. I mean,
if you haven't been in some of these places in
d C. There is that obviously, but when you see
these veterans come off and they have, you know, singing
towards towards them patriotic songs when they're coming into at
(04:00):
the airport and then taken around by bus at all
these different places, Arlington National Park and all the other locations,
it's kind of amazing to be a part of that.
And it's very solemn too. It's one of those things
that makes you feel good for the people who have
protected us in years past, and you know those who
(04:24):
will be you know, protecting us as well.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Yeah, and the emotions changed from memorial to memoril. I
don't know if you remember World War Two, it's very patriotic,
it's very grand with the War II veterans. You go
to the Korean War a little bit more low key
with the soldiers haunting. It is haunting, I.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Mean respectfully, you know what I mean with the way
the statues are.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
When we were there last week or on the thirteenth,
there was raining and a lot of the Korean War
veterans that this is just exactly the way it was,
you know, seventy two years ago. And then you get
to the Vietnam Memorial and it's really emotion Most of
our flights have Vietnam veterans on them. A lot of
them are dealing with Agent Orange and so forth. And
(05:06):
there are some veterans who can't even get to the memorial.
They just can't because they know they're going to see
the names of some of their buddies there on the wall.
So it really runs the gam And of course you
were there to witness all that.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Yeah, I was, and it was a privilege. And we
also got to go, you know, just to what do
they call the mall and see the Washington Monument, all
of the different you know.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Air Force, Air Force regima.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
The thing that surprised me a few years back was
that the World War Two Memorial was not created till
decades later.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Yeah, two thousand and four, two thousand and five it opened. Yeah,
you know, it's a long time and at that point,
sixty one years after the war. Oh, yeah, long time.
And I don't know, at that point, there were maybe
four or five million WLDAR two veterans left of the
sixteen million who served. Now, believe it or not, Tony's
(06:05):
only sixty six thousand World War two veterans left. Yeah,
the youngest would be about ninety eight years old right now.
So we try to fly that. We had three on
our last flight and our last September flight, we had
three and they're all gone. They all passed away since
last September. So they're disappearing rapidly. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Indeed, So again, if people want to get involved, they can.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
On our flight Bluegrass dot org. Just all the information
is right there.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
All right, Well, then we'll just come out to the
country and go visit with you and your wife.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Now you do that, we'll get together. Okay, great, And
thanks for having me on. I really appreciate it. Thanks
for all you've done for all the entire community here
in Kentucky and you.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
As well, and for all of the people that have
served our country throughout Kentucky. And you've been a big
part of that. And I know it makes you feel
good because you know, when you do things for other people,
you know, it's kind of why what we're built for.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
It's, you know, one small way to give back. I'm
not a veteran, but as I said, we owe everything
to our veteran.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
That's right, all right, appreciate it, Jeff Tolki, Ladies, gentlemen,
Honor Fly Bluegrass just you could just google it on
a fly Bluegrass or Honorflight Bluegrass dot org. More coming
up here on Kentuck And is Morning News and News
Radio eight forty w h A S.
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