Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:13):
It's seven o five here a fifty five caress and
talks Dagen in a very happy seed day. Team try
to make it so anyway, I admit to being a
little bit down in the aftermath of all that violence
we keep discussing in downtown Cincinnati by to talk about
something slightly more uplifting, of course, way more uplifting. Welcome
back to the fifty five Kroose Morning Show. I wish
I could say Congressman Orlando Sonza maybe someday, but welcome back, Orlando.
(00:37):
It's a pleasure to have you on the prayer and program.
It's been a while since we've talked. How have you
been lately, my friend, Orlando.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Brian, my gosh, it has been a while, but always
great to be on with you. We are doing well,
doing well.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Glad to hear that family all in good shape.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
We're gearing up for I think a wild and crazy season,
but as the sonss like to say, we're always.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Up for a challenge.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
So they are doing well and ready to go great.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
I wish you all the best and getting ready for school.
I suppose with the kids real quick, Orlando, I don't
want to throw a curveball out you put you on
the spot, and I know you're here to talk about
the Hamlin County Veterans Appreciation Day and parenthetically your appointment
to the Civil Rights Division with the US Department of
Justice under the Trump administration. Wonderful appointment and congratulations on that.
We'll get to that in a moment. Can I just
get your reactions to the violence on the twenty sixth
(01:27):
of July and downtown Cincinnati, And if you were in
elected capacity, you certainly would be put on the spot
on that. I'm just curious to know what you have
to say about it and what your reaction is and
if you think there are any solutions that could solve
what seems to be a broader societal breakdown problem.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, Brian, you know what. I first and foremost just
want to say that it really has been honored to
serve the Hamilton County Veterans over the past fifteen months,
you know, and I'm incredibly grateful now for the opportunity
to serve at the national level as counsel in the
Civil Rights Division. Well, I can't discuss specifics, you know,
of what's just been going on. I would just say
(02:05):
that I remain committed to defending constitutional freedoms for all Americans,
whether it's Cincinnati or across the country, and upholding our
rules law. That's all I'll say at the moment.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Fair enough, And your role as counselor for the Civil
Rights Division, I'm working on case law litigation. What will
you be taking on here, Orlando? Again?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
You know, the opportunity to focus on legal matters involving
civil rights litigation. I mean, Brian, you can't get more
tip of the spear than that, and helping implement the
administration's legal priorities. So it will be litigation heavy and
I'm excited to hit the ground running on day one.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Well, I hope you get a good staff. You know,
having been a litigation attorney for sixteen years, there's a
lot of work that goes into that and evidence gathering
and briefs and motion practice and all that. So you're
up for the challenge. I am certain of that, and
that's why the Trump administration turned you for that appointment.
So congratulations from me, and by listening audience on the apploytment,
we expect big things from you, Orlando, that's for damn sure.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Thanks.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
And as you're you're no longer in the role as
head of the Hemon County Veterans Service Commission. I guess
your last day was August thirteenth, if I read that correctly.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yeah, so coming up next Wednesday would be my final day.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
That's right, final day next Wednesday. Glenn Welling, I suppose
he's a commission member. He's going to be serving as
the interim director. I guess the veterans are in good
hands with Glenn Welling at the HELM after your absence.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Absolutely, I mean there's no better person I can think
of to leave the transition and continue the incredible momentum
that we've just seen. Brian. I mean, we went from
an office of six full time employees trying to service
thirty eight thousand veterans in Hamilton County and we've essentially
tripled that. We're now eighteen strong of all veterans or
(03:52):
dependent of veterans that are fully committed to serving the
over thirty eight thousand veterans that we have in Hamilton County.
So no better person to lead that than massa chief
Glenn Welling, who currently serves as the executive director of
the Xavier University, a Military and Veterans career center and
so I'm just excited to see him take the helm
(04:15):
and continue on the progress we've made and the transformation
we've seen just over the last year plus.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Wonderful news. Appreciate your optimism on that. And I guess
I suppose as you depart the role, one of your
final acts and duties is to coordinate this upcoming military
our Hamilton County Military and Veterans Appreciation Day, which has
taking place Saturday, August twenty third. And saw your point.
Let's talk about this what's going on on that day? Orlando?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah, I mean, you know no better I think thing
to kind of cap off the work that we've just
done and tried to do for Hamilton County veterans and
their families, right then, a huge celebration, a community celebration
to honor those that have served our country. You know, Brian,
you know that my wife and I Jessica, we donned
the uniform at one point, honored to have served. And
(05:04):
I can't tell you how much we appreciated just in
our time and service and out when the entire community
gets together and just honors the sacrifice of our brave
men and women that have wear the warned the uniform
or are currently serving. And so we've got a huge
military and Veterans Appreciation Day down at Sawyer Point coming
up in two weeks August twenty third. It's a Saturday,
(05:27):
two to ten pm. It's going to be an awesome
time to just celebrate our military members and veterans in
an extraordinary event open to the entire community. You do
not have to be military to join in on the fund.
And we've got you know, family fund zoned for kids
that's just going to be Cincinnati Circus is going to
be there, a rock wall display of military equipment and vehicles,
(05:49):
and then free food for Hamilton County veterans and their
family members. Food trucks are going to be out there,
ConA ice truck's going to be out there. But you
got to register. That's what we're trying to press is
you've got to go onto our website that's HCVSC dot
org hcvsc dot org to register so you can get
your meal voucher and get your free food. We'll have
(06:12):
live music and Brian I do want to highlight I
think the most important thing about this event is a
Veterans resource fare from PM on August twenty third, I mean,
we're gonna have over eighty organizations representing all veterans service,
whether it's employment, health and wellness, education, financial counseling, legal services.
(06:34):
The VA is going to be out there answering your
VA claims questions. So it's going to be awesome. And
it's just a build off of what we did for
our inaugural event last year when we had over two thousand,
five hundred veterans at the ballpark show up for our
inaugural Appreciation Day. So we're doing it again and we're
gonna do it even bigger.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Well, of course, we appreciate your service and your wife
service to our country. You did allude to it. You
appreciate the veterans, and you were active do you in
your time and when you went into events like this
and the community came out in support of veterans. It
truly means a lot to the service members and the
veterans when we do show or support you enjoy and
appreciate that. And I'm happy that you did say that
(07:17):
out loud, because I want to encourage people to come
out and do that. You know, it's like police officers.
When I see a police officer on the street, I
thank them for their service to their community. You know,
it's an easy thing to do, and you know, sometimes
you get a really you know, happy reaction. Sometimes it's
like a little you know, kind of like I appreciate
it and then move on. But I mean, it's got
to mean a lot to you to know that we
do care and we were coming out and to pat
(07:39):
you on the back in essence by our mere presence there.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
That's right. It's a thank you for your service. And
we've seen it time and time again at the Veteran
Service Commission, Brian, where someone will come in and say,
you know, I'm not a veteran. You know I didn't
deploy or you know, thank god I didn't get injured,
and so I don't think I fit the death finished
definition of veteran. No, no, you are a veteran. You
(08:03):
raise your right hand. You swore to protect and defend
this constitution. You wore the uniform, you were ready at
moments notice to serve this great country. You are a veteran,
and we are here to serve you, and we are
here to say thank you for your service, no matter
what era, no matter what branch of service. Although you
know the just and I are army bias, right, Brian, Yes,
(08:25):
it's one fight and we honor the service of all
of our veterans.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Well, the event begins at two pm and it lasts
till ten PM. And I did see you do have
musical entertainment going on during the day on addition to
the food trucks and the eighty organizations for there, for
the for the veterans, and career opportunities, et cetera, of
the military equipment. But you have music, that's right.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
We got four cover bands that are that are gonna
be awesome. They're going to be playing from two to
eight pm, you know Varner Netherton Revival. We've got PM
I never sent Price in the all star band the Menus,
Zal Gonzalez and Stephen Cochrane. And then we're going to
cap off the night with how else do you end
a celebration, Brian, Nine to thirty pm. We're gonna have
fireworks by Rossie Fireworks. Oh, it's gonna be an awesome event.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Well, you see, I specifically asked you Orland about the
musical acts because I know the Menus are a huge draw,
and I know the lead singer, Tim Goldringer, he and
I went to high school together, and he used to
perform at my dad's Alzheimer's Memory facility when my dad
was there, and my dad absolutely loved him. He is
such a great entertainer. But the menus is a huge draw,
(09:34):
so you're gonna get a lot of folks showing up
for that and then saluting the veterans while they're there
as well. Orlando Sonza, thank you for your work, your
hard work and tireless work on behalf of the American
veterans and your role with the Hamlin County Veteran Services Commission.
Of course, congratulations again on your appointment to the Council
for the Civil Rights Division. I'm looking forward to the
work that you do for the Trump administration, and I
(09:55):
thank you again for all that you've done for the
veterans in your capacity at the Hamlin County Veterans Services
It's HCV HCVSC dot org, HCVSSE. My veteran friends in
the audience, make sure you register so you can get
the free food and free parking and uh well, you'll
also be eligible for door prizes by entering as well.
Or Land to thank you again for your time and
(10:17):
spending some time today this morning with my listeners and me.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
I appreciate it, Brian, always a pleasure. Take care of
my friend and we'll talk soon.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Always here for you. Anything you got to talk about,
you can feel free to speak your voice on the
morning show, my friend. Good luck in d C too.
You hope you're getting you get in combat. Pay for that.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
I wish, I wish. It's an honor to serve. I said,
you got it, you got it.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
You are going to be serving. I don't envy you
for having to live in the swamp, but I know
you're going to do a great job. Take care, buddy.
We'll talk again. Seven sixteen fifty five KARSD Talk stations.
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