October 17, 2025 • 7 mins
Saturday, November 8th is a day to honor the men and women of our military! Our guest is Ann Houk, Chief Operating Officer of Home Health and Hospice of Kansas. Ann tells us about the Veterans Day Parade downtown and the special "Freedom Under The Stars" Gala that evening at Crestview Country Club. Complete information on both events is available on Facebook.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is the Wichita Weekend podcast from iHeartRadio stations ninety
seven point nine, B, ninety eight one oh two to one,
The Bowl Channel nine six three, and All one oh
seven three. I'm your host, Don Guidas. Thanks for joining us,
and welcome to a special Veterans Day Salute edition of
Wichita Weekend. Our guest today is Ann Hawk. She is
the chief operating officer of Home Health and Hospice of
(00:26):
Kansas and welcome back to Wichita Weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Well, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
It's really great to see you. You know, Veterans Day
is Saturday, November eighth, and that is a huge day
for Wichita. Explain what we've got to tell the folks
about today.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Well, we have a huge day planned for our veterans
in our community. It is our annual Veterans Day Parade
and it will kick off downtown at eleven am, but
we will be starting the festivities as early as seven
am at Thomas Hopkins Post four downtown with a pancake feed.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Oh man, nice, Okay, let's hope for great weather that day.
I'm sure we'll have it. You know, it's been a
beautiful fall so far. So starting out with a pancake
feed and then the parade begins.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
When it'll begin at eleven am.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Okay, and the route would.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Be it's a crazy route.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
We did post the route on our Facebook event page
and our Facebook page just because I don't know the
exact locations, but it is pretty similar to last year.
We haven't tried to change that up. We're trying to
stay pretty consistent right on, we do. We are offering
the bus route again, so the busses will be going
and traveling people back and forth, just to kind of
(01:39):
help out.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
All right, Well, Facebook's the place to go for all
absolutely all that factual information about the Veterans Day Parade. Yes,
and then later on that day, something very special is
going to happen.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Well, at the end of the Veterans Day Parade, we will.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Have a post parade party at Exploration Place that will
be from one to three, and during that time we're
going to have the presentation of the awards from the parade.
And if you haven't had an opportunity to sign up
to be in the parade, you can also find that
information on Facebook. Then we're going to present the awards
at that one to three post party parade, and then
(02:17):
at the same time, we're going to be honoring our
Grand Marshal. Our Grand Marshal this year is Warren Pierce.
He is one of our survivors from the Frozen Chosen.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Okay, wow, I bet he's got a great story.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
He does. He has an amazing story, all right.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Grand Marshal of the Veterans Day Parade, And of course
that's coming up on Saturday, November eighth, starting at eleven am.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Eleven am. That is the parade at eleven am.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Okay, and get all the info on Facebook about that event,
and then later on that evening later activities continue.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Absolutely, we are having an inaugural galap yes, and it
is called Freedom under the Stars and it is an
event that you can also find on Facebook. But our
keynote speaker, we're very honored to have Benjamin Sledge, who
is a Bronze Star Purple Heart recipient, who is a
(03:11):
wounded combat veteran who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Holy moly, and he is the author of the book
Where Cowards Go to Die, which I was just reading
about here on the website. And man, oh man, this
guy's got a great story to share. And whether you're
a veteran or no a veteran or related to a veteran,
or appreciate what veterans do. I'm sure you're going to
find some value in what Benjamin has.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
To share with Absolutely, we're very happy that he was
able to make it to this event and be able
to share his story with us. We have several opportunities
on the eighth to participate in activities for our veterans
in this one. Here was one of my probably my favorite.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
The Freedom under the Stars Inaugural Gala, and that's at
Crestview Country Club correct November eighth. That's happening from six
pm to ten pm. And again we could invite you
to check out Facebook to learn more about it and
how to get your tickets. And all proceeds are going
to benefit benefit veterans and their military families, which is huge.
(04:15):
You guys, This is important. This is important stuff, and
what a great day that's going to be. Can I
ask you Anne and how Coo of Home Health and
Hospice of Kansas, what's your connection to Veterans Day.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I have a wavering love for my veterans. I have
a wavering love for my community and our country.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I know we're struggling right now.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
But this is a country where I know I can
wake up every morning and I have the freedom to
choose what I do for the day.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
And the men and women that gave.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Me the opportunity to do that are my veterans and
my active military. I love my people.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Now, are you yourself a veteran.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I unfortunately am not. But my grandfather, my uncle, my
ex husband, I would have loved to have, but unfortunately,
when you're a little short and you're a.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Little round, and oh yeah, nope, nope, loved it.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Okay, Well, you know what, it's not required that you
have been a veteran to appreciate what veterans are doing
and want to get behind something like this. And we
we thank you for all that you've done, all your
great efforts on This is going to be great.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
We're exciting, huge day.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Don't forget just to review. Saturday, November eighth, it is
Veterans Day, and we've got several activities the parade.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
We've got the parade, We've got the pancake feed, we've
got live entertainment, we've got the parade, post party parade,
we've got the Grand Marshall presentations. We are just excited
and ecstatic to be able to have the community's commitment
to celebrating our veterans on November eighth.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Right on, and don't forget the inaugural gala or gala
if you prefer freedom under the stars. We've been going
back and forth on that pronuncia, so uh, I'm pretty
sure you know what we're talking about. It's going to
be a fantastic evening with our keynote speaker Benjamin Sledge,
author of Where Cowards Go to Die. This will be
a once in a lifetime chance to catch this man
(06:14):
and understand and hear what he has to say. So,
by all means and how can COO of Health, Home
Health and Hospice of Kansas, thank you so much for
being with us today on Wichita Weekend. Really looking forward
to Veterans Day this year. It's going to be outstanding.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
This has been the Wichita Weekend podcast produced by iHeartRadio Wichita,
This is the Wichita Weekend podcast from iHeartRadio stations ninety
seven point nine, B, ninety eight one oh two to one,
The Bowl Channel nine six three, and All one oh
seven three. I'm your host, Don Guidas. Thanks for joining us,
and welcome to a special Veterans Day Salute edition of
Wichita Weekend. Our guest today is Ann Hawk. She is
the chief operating officer of Home Health and Hospice of
(00:26):
Kansas and welcome back to Wichita Weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Well, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
It's really great to see you. You know, Veterans Day
is Saturday, November eighth, and that is a huge day
for Wichita. Explain what we've got to tell the folks
about today.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Well, we have a huge day planned for our veterans
in our community. It is our annual Veterans Day Parade
and it will kick off downtown at eleven am, but
we will be starting the festivities as early as seven
am at Thomas Hopkins Post four downtown with a pancake feed.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Oh man, nice, Okay, let's hope for great weather that day.
I'm sure we'll have it. You know, it's been a
beautiful fall so far. So starting out with a pancake
feed and then the parade begins.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
When it'll begin at eleven am.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Okay, and the route would.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Be it's a crazy route.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
We did post the route on our Facebook event page
and our Facebook page just because I don't know the
exact locations, but it is pretty similar to last year.
We haven't tried to change that up. We're trying to
stay pretty consistent right on, we do. We are offering
the bus route again, so the busses will be going
and traveling people back and forth, just to kind of
(01:39):
help out.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
All right, Well, Facebook's the place to go for all
absolutely all that factual information about the Veterans Day Parade. Yes,
and then later on that day, something very special is
going to happen.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Well, at the end of the Veterans Day Parade, we will.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Have a post parade party at Exploration Place that will
be from one to three, and during that time we're
going to have the presentation of the awards from the parade.
And if you haven't had an opportunity to sign up
to be in the parade, you can also find that
information on Facebook. Then we're going to present the awards
at that one to three post party parade, and then
(02:17):
at the same time, we're going to be honoring our
Grand Marshal. Our Grand Marshal this year is Warren Pierce.
He is one of our survivors from the Frozen Chosen.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Okay, wow, I bet he's got a great story.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
He does. He has an amazing story, all right.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Grand Marshal of the Veterans Day Parade, And of course
that's coming up on Saturday, November eighth, starting at eleven am.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Eleven am. That is the parade at eleven am.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Okay, and get all the info on Facebook about that event,
and then later on that evening later activities continue.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Absolutely, we are having an inaugural galap yes, and it
is called Freedom under the Stars and it is an
event that you can also find on Facebook. But our
keynote speaker, we're very honored to have Benjamin Sledge, who
is a Bronze Star Purple Heart recipient, who is a
(03:11):
wounded combat veteran who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Holy moly, and he is the author of the book
Where Cowards Go to Die, which I was just reading
about here on the website. And man, oh man, this
guy's got a great story to share. And whether you're
a veteran or no a veteran or related to a veteran,
or appreciate what veterans do. I'm sure you're going to
find some value in what Benjamin has.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
To share with Absolutely, we're very happy that he was
able to make it to this event and be able
to share his story with us. We have several opportunities
on the eighth to participate in activities for our veterans
in this one. Here was one of my probably my favorite.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
The Freedom under the Stars Inaugural Gala, and that's at
Crestview Country Club correct November eighth. That's happening from six
pm to ten pm. And again we could invite you
to check out Facebook to learn more about it and
how to get your tickets. And all proceeds are going
to benefit benefit veterans and their military families, which is huge.
(04:15):
You guys, This is important. This is important stuff, and
what a great day that's going to be. Can I
ask you Anne and how Coo of Home Health and
Hospice of Kansas, what's your connection to Veterans Day.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I have a wavering love for my veterans. I have
a wavering love for my community and our country.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I know we're struggling right now.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
But this is a country where I know I can
wake up every morning and I have the freedom to
choose what I do for the day.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
And the men and women that gave.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Me the opportunity to do that are my veterans and
my active military. I love my people.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Now, are you yourself a veteran.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I unfortunately am not. But my grandfather, my uncle, my
ex husband, I would have loved to have, but unfortunately,
when you're a little short and you're a.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Little round, and oh yeah, nope, nope, loved it.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Okay, Well, you know what, it's not required that you
have been a veteran to appreciate what veterans are doing
and want to get behind something like this. And we
we thank you for all that you've done, all your
great efforts on This is going to be great.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
We're exciting, huge day.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Don't forget just to review. Saturday, November eighth, it is
Veterans Day, and we've got several activities the parade.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
We've got the parade, We've got the pancake feed, we've
got live entertainment, we've got the parade, post party parade,
we've got the Grand Marshall presentations. We are just excited
and ecstatic to be able to have the community's commitment
to celebrating our veterans on November eighth.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Right on, and don't forget the inaugural gala or gala
if you prefer freedom under the stars. We've been going
back and forth on that pronuncia, so uh, I'm pretty
sure you know what we're talking about. It's going to
be a fantastic evening with our keynote speaker Benjamin Sledge,
author of Where Cowards Go to Die. This will be
a once in a lifetime chance to catch this man
(06:14):
and understand and hear what he has to say. So,
by all means and how can COO of Health, Home
Health and Hospice of Kansas, thank you so much for
being with us today on Wichita Weekend. Really looking forward
to Veterans Day this year. It's going to be outstanding.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
This has been the Wichita Weekend podcast produced by iHeartRadio Wichita,
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