Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm Uncle Mike, and welcome to the podcast for Red
White and Blue Saturday Afternoons with Uncle Mike on one
O seven three w r w D. I'm going to
use this podcast each week to replay some of the
interviews I do on the show that you may have missed.
I hope you enjoy it. You're listening to Hudson Valley
Country on one O seven three w r w D.
(00:20):
I'm Uncle Mike and joining our Red White and Blue
Saturday Afternoon with Uncle Mike. Is a good friend one
of my personal heroes, Adam Roach. He is a marine
and he is the Director of Veterans Affairs for Dutchess County. Adam,
thanks for stopping by. This is going to be a
regular appearance for you. We're going to talk about every
time we can about what's going on in the veteran
community here in the Hudson Valley. So, first of all,
(00:42):
how are you, buddy. I'm doing well, Uncle Mike.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I appreciate you guys having me, you know, on board
here and looking forward to you know, continue this just
to get the word out on what's going on here
in Dutchess County for our veterans.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
So You did have a moving ceremony on September eleventh
right in front of the the County Courthouse, which was
well attended, which was nice to see. Adam. Let's talk
about veteran services here in Dutchess County. You know, every
veteran service leader for the county makes it their own,
and you've certainly made it your own now that you've
been there for You've been there for a few years,
(01:15):
now years, five years. We know about the Veterans one
Stop one hundred forty four. You have an office there
with the Veta VET. Some people don't know. Well, let's
tell so I'll say.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
You know, we have our through MHA of Dutchess County,
our veterans programs. We have the Dutchess County Veterans one
Stop where it's all the organizations here in Dutchess County
have to have to do with helping veterans are all
under one roof. Now, you know this is something when
I first started the Veta VET program in twenty sixteen,
Uncle Mike, you say, this is something we talked about
(01:45):
and finally coming through in twenty twenty two.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
I know you hear me say it all the time.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
But it truly is a game changer with our services
here in Dutchess County four our veterans literally, you know,
you have a veteran that comes to my office that
you know, we you know, do acclaim for and then
realize like, there's a lot more that this that this
person needs, as far as maybe you know, just vet
the vet help, maybe housing help, maybe employment help. And
(02:10):
instead of telling them or giving them a number to
call or to go to, we're literally walking them down
thirty feet down the pathway right there to the next
door and then doing those out. You know, we talk
about a warm handoff, and there's nothing warmer than that
right there to get all the services that they need.
And we're so proud of this, this entire building and
(02:31):
you know what what has you know, has has come
of it within the last three years now it existence sorry, well,
first of all.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
It's it's centrally located, and it's it's on a bus route,
which is huge. Yeah, we made sure it's on the
route right there, thirty forty four. A lot of our
veterans who are still trying to come all the way
home don't have vehicles or can't get around. They can
get there on a bus. So that's huge, and you've
taken it a step further, buddy, be because now you've
(03:01):
got an outreach program you're getting involved with where you're
taking it to the veterans. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
So we're so proud of this, and you know this
is this is coming from the blessing of our county
EXECUS Suit Serno with this this program is the Veterans
Outreach Coordinator.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
We just hired her.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
She's h Bethane Canaro, Lieutenant colonel, United States Marine Corps.
And you know, as soon as she got on board,
she took this program, you know, pretty much just it's.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
A brand new program.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
So she's really making hers as well with the guidance
of us. But you know, this program is is where
we come out to you. We realize that our office
is opened nine to five Monday through Friday, and there's
a lot of times where veterans, especially veterans that are
working those nine to five jobs, those with the families
and stuff, that it's just not feasible to come out
(03:52):
to us, you know, to submit a claim or any
of the services that we have. So we established this
program where we come out to you. We'll be going
out to the local vf w's. We're we're in process
right now meeting with all the town supervisors, all the
town boards, UH to let them know exactly what's happening
and what our vision is with this UH, with this program,
(04:15):
you know, with this position. But it's true because a
lot of times you have to take off a full
day of work to come to my office to you know,
to submit a claim because the claim takes about an
hour most of the time, and it's just not it's
just not fair for those ones, you know, ones working
nine to five are the ones with the families and stuff.
So we'll be going out to the f W is
(04:37):
opening our shop from five to seven, where you bring
the madterial that we asked for, your your discharge papers
if you're not registered with us, and we can literally
submit the claim on the spot for you right there.
So we're so excited about this and UH again, Beth
ann is UH is the right person for the job.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
I can tell you that. Well once again, Adam, it's
another game chan because when you think about it, a
lot of your veterans that are making their way all
the way home and they're trying to get back to
a normal life, have jobs, but they can't afford to
take a day off. No, they're just barely making it
with what they're doing. But yet they need to help.
You're giving them. So this is this is really a
game changer. And once again he Adam makes the point
(05:18):
when he when you get in his office, there's so
many other things available around him in that building that
if you do have a couple hours or a day
to spend there, you can accomplish a lot in a
day while you're there, get a lot of things lined
up and a lot of things going, and find out things
that you didn't know. How many veterans do you deal with, Adam,
that have no idea what they're entitled to?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Oh my gosh, so many, you know, especially a lot
with the Vietnam War veterans, you know, and the spouses.
It's not just the vets, it's the family members as
well as far as a veteran that passes away because
of agent orange a presumptive condition because of agent orange exposure,
that spouse is entitled to. It's called the IC dependent
(06:01):
in demnasty compensation, which my office we can provide that
there was a time it was at one of our
office of the Asian Picnics. It was at Boden Park
when I spoke to a Vietnam spouse and her husband
passed away in two thousand and three because of a
presumptive condition caused by Agent orange exposure. She had no
(06:21):
idea what she was entitled to or entitled to anything
at all. Came to my office and we were able
to submit a d IC claim for her on her behalf.
And you know now she's the recipient of over sixteen
hundred dollars a month tax free.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Wow. Yeah, And that's just you know, one of many
many stories. It really is. And the sad thing is, Adam,
every one of these heroes that served this country and
they deserve it, they're entitled to it. Oh yeah, it's
not you know what I mean. And a lot of
them don't even realize it. Especially you make the point
with a lot of the Vietnam heroes just were so
soured by what the government did to them that they
(06:57):
don't even they don't think they're entitled by anything. They've
been beaten down to a point where they and then
when they come and see you, so I will say,
I'm encouraging everybody to try and stop by the one
stop reach out and make an appointment and try to
see Adam, because that's why he's there, that's what he's doing.
You've made this your mission in life to help the veterans.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
It really is, you know, it's definitely a mission now,
it's not a job, and it's something that every single
day I absolutely.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Love coming to work and serving all of you out there.
So please thank you for you know. And it's funny, Adam,
we talk about it all the time. The DNA of
a soldier, of a marine and airman, a seaman, anybody
who has served. You know, in this your DNA is
to serve even after you get out of the service.
How many do you see not only a lot of
our organizations that we both help are run by veterans,
(07:46):
and most of a lot of your law enforcement, your firefighters,
your EMTs, your correction officers, they're veterans. They continue to
serve after they get out, which is I think that's
just the DNA of us. It really is.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
And that's one of the main thing these questions that
I get while we're there is it was like, how
can I serve?
Speaker 1 (08:04):
How can I be of help? What can I do?
Speaker 2 (08:07):
And that's constantly question we have when we bring them
right over to our VET to that office right there.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Well, that's the beauty of that building. Buddy. Hey, listen,
we got to take a quick break and pay a
few bills. We're gonna come back and finish our conversation.
We've got some exciting events coming up. We're going to
talk about. You're listening to Red, White and Blue Saturdays
with Uncle Mike on one O seven three w r
W d Adam Roach, the Director of Veterans Affairs for
Dutchess County. You're still in the studio with me. He's
(08:32):
going to be here probably weekly. I think we got
enough to talk about every week. But he'll be here
as much as he's The door has opened at him.
So when you want to be here, you're going to
be here. I appreciate it, Thank you, Uncle Mike. But
we've got some events coming up. One of the initiatives
that you and sous Serrino, our County executive, put out,
was the Honor of Vet program, where you're honoring a
deceased veteran from a local town here in Dutchess County.
(08:54):
And you've done four or four or five five five.
This is going to be our sixth Yeah, that's the
third Thursday of every month. Unless there's a holiday on
that Thursday, you move it to the Tuesday. But this
month it's going to be on the Thursday, next Thursday,
which is the eighteenth, eighteenth, correct, yep, yep. And it's
going to be at VFW one seventy right here at
(09:14):
thew Post one seventy one, Violet av right here in Poughkeepsie.
Nine am. They all start at nine am. And the
family of the first of all, the last one. I
got to talk about the last one quickly. It was
the first female veteran that you honored. And that's another
thing that you've been working on really hard with veterans affairs.
Our female veterans kind of got neglected over the years,
(09:37):
is I guess the best way to put it. Not
intentionally maybe, but they didn't get a lot of recognition
and a lot of help. And you put a focus
on that too as well.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Now, one, you know, if you served, you serve doesn't
matter you know who you are or what you are
or anything like that. You served our country and you
raised that right hand and you know, made that oath
to us uh, here into everybody, and you know it's
our duty to to assist you in any way possible,
(10:05):
no matter what you are. And that's, uh, that's exactly
what our mission is.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
And your experience, your personal experience. We know is heillo
well enough that coming all the way home is not
easy for a soldier, for any any service person. And
that's another part of this that you've you know, you
you really you you've got vet, the vet really going.
And that was really the mission behind it was to
bring everybody home. And you were a successful there and
(10:31):
you've carried it over into this office now. So but
next Thursday, VFW one seventy one Violet Avenue right here
at Poughkeepsie nine am, you're going to honor a local.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
VET, local Vietnam veteran, Donald Herring, right from Poughkeepsie's. He's
it's an amazing story what he has there. I don't
want to give it all away, but if you haven't
been to one of these honor of Vet ceremonies, I
strongly suggest, if it is possible, that you ten, because yeah,
it really is, Uncle Mike. You've been to a couple
(11:03):
and it's just amazing. You know, the entire ceremony. Our
county exec really pushed this, uh for this year. I
know Columbia County did it. And what we do, you
know what we did differently Instead of just having it
at the Legislative building, we we actually go out into
the community and where the community from, where where these
(11:24):
veterans are from, so the family and their entire community
can be involved with this as well. And I really
think that's made a big difference with this program.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
It really has. And it's been overwhelming, you know, it's
been you know, uh, no seats available, every one of them.
Maybe you plan, you try to plan for everything. And
thank god, the people in the towns, not only the
families and the people who knew the townspeople and the
other veterans, local veterans are coming out to be part
(11:53):
of this. It's a special It really is a special
ceremony in the morning. I really encourage you if you've
got time next Thursday, there's gonna be He's gonna do
it all the way in November, right, is that what
you're playing through November? Correct? After this? Yeah, we got
two more on him, but if you can get to one,
you've got to go out and check this out because
it is amazing and it hits home. I say it
all the time. Yes, the soldier, the service person is
(12:18):
who we want to focus on, but the family is
served right alongside them, it.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Really and that's the main point. Like you know what,
we have a lot of the times the h the
veteran doesn't really speak about their service at all, even
though their family to the family, and and that's why
you know, our our Honor of Veteran Committee, which is
absolutely amazing. We have Craig Elderkin who's our historian for that,
who actually goes in and finds details about the veterans,
(12:45):
the veterans unit, what what unit they were from, where
they served, some of the conflicts that they were involved in,
and really tells that story to the family. And and
that's one of the main things when they come up
to us afterwards, is is I never knew, you know,
We hear that all the time. I never knew, I
never knew. And it truly is a great experience for
the family.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
And I've seen it twice now. The last one I
saw was the connection with some of the leaders in
the community who last time it was Senator Rallison who
had known the individual very well, and he was able
to elaborate on his relationship with that person that things
that he found out he never knew even though he
(13:27):
knew the person so well. So it's an amazing ceremony.
Please nine am next Thursday, the eighteenth, BFW one seventy
one Violet Avenue, right here in Poughkeepsie. If you can
be there, you don't have to, you know, we just
want you there. Try it's right, you know, if you
can RSVP, they appreciate that. But if you can be there,
be there and be part of it. And the biggest
thing is I tell everybody after you experience experiences, tell
(13:50):
all your friends and your family what you saw, because
you want to be This is going to be an
ongoing program. You're gonna build this. It's going to get
bigger and bigger. You're gonna you're gonna run out a month.
What you're gonna run out?
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Yeah, that's it. But the thing is, it's going to be,
like you said, ongoing program. So we encourage you to, uh,
you know, go to our Dutchess County, NY dot gov
website and sign up for if you have a deceased veedteran.
That's in your family that wants to be honored. We
absolutely love doing it. We really do. It's a it's
it's a lot, but you know, it's something that our
(14:23):
entire committee, and I know our county exact loves this
program so much.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
So another thing I'm going to encourage you is if
you have children, bring the children to this program because
there's the stories that are told are not into history books,
and they're the real deal about what happened, what this
soldier went through, and and you know that's the story.
I think that's one of the problems to disconnect over
the years of the of the military and veteran community
(14:49):
with the civilian community is the real stories aren't told.
You're only getting fed. But sometimes the government or the
media wants to feed you and these are the real stories.
This is what this guy went through. And you'll be
shocked when you hear some of these, some of these
the one with the river patrols. It was just incredible
what these guys were doing. Yeah, absolutely right. And even
someone like yourself, you're you're you're a combat veteran and
(15:11):
you've seen all kinds of things. But some of the
story you came to me after the one with the riverboats.
You're like, man, you imagine what these guys were doing. Yeah,
think about it.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
You're on the mic on delta and all of a sudden,
you know, you have no idea what's going on with
the brush and stuff, and.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
It's a cruef ire. Was four on that four four
on that boat and there you're out there for a
while too. It was four against the world at that point.
All of them didn't survive, but some did and they survived.
Tell it. Yeah. And the other thing that's coming up.
There's a lot of things coming up, but on October eighteenth,
one of the things that I love, and I've been
(15:45):
a party for a while now is the red white
and you.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Pick red white and you picnic. Yes, this is something
that we've done. This is our fourth year doing it.
Uncle Mike, you've been been there every every step of
the way with it. Again, it's it's just an awesome,
awesome experience. We're going to have it October eighteenth from
eleven to two pm at James Baird State Park. This
(16:08):
is going to be going out probably within the next
week as far as that to rs VP for that,
it's for veteran plus one catered by Tavern twenty three.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Let's talk about you know, he just it's just amazing
what he does. And he's done so much with VET,
the VET when you were running it, now with the County,
but so many other organizations. I go to a lot
of events and a lot of them he's there doing
the catering. Yeah, and he just he does it because
(16:41):
he loves our veterans, he really does, and he does that.
The food is incredible. I mean, the sunset picnics, the
food is just unreal.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
We're talking about Todd Zackett. Yeah, Yeah, Michelle and his
wife Michelle Michelle or your Angels on Earth, what they do.
They really are Because first of all, if you've never
been to Tavern twenty three, you should go there. Yeah,
because it's a phenomenal food. And you just told me
before we went on the.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Air as you mentioned it. Yeah, well, I mean I
think so too.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
It's a you know Todd uh, you know, he does
so much like we talked about just before, but he's
doing even more. You know, it's going to be a
raffle that he's you know, he talked to me about
and he really wants to do.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
But he's going to be donating.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
A free meal for one entire year. You can go
every single day. You know, drinks not included, but the
meal is included. For a one of the veterans at
the picnic, you're gonna we're gonna have raffle tickets and
then the drawing for that and we're going to make
sure that he's the one drawing that ticket.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
So everyone who is attends the the Red, White, and
New Picnic is going to get a ticket when they
get there. I don't want to call the door prize
because that's the meeting what he's doing, but that's what
it is. You're going to get a ticket for being there. Yeah,
and at the end of the event, Todd is going
to draw a name and you're going to get a
free meal every day. Now, there's a lot of restrictions here.
(18:08):
It's just a meal, no drinks, and it's once a day,
but for an entire year, which is just I blew
my mind when you talk you know what, you know what,
it doesn't surprise me with him, No, you're right, you're right,
it really doesn't. Todd Michelle is just that's the kind
of people they are. Yeah, So I encourage you to
support that that that restaurant where they are is. I've
(18:29):
been to. I've been to a couple add a couple
of artists that actually played there, and it's just a
it's a great way to spend an afternoon. Look at
it at twenty three Arizonto, Poughkeepsie, a little outdoor space
he does some shows in which is really nice and
very nice. So what else is going on, buddy? You
got anything else in the works that you want to
talk about, or we'll say that the next time you
come back.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Yeah, I think you know, let's say it for the
next time on that. Yeah, I think that'd be best.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
So we need you to be at VFW Post one
seventy next one next Thursday, September eighteenth, at nine am
for the next honor of it. Again. It's it's it's
in their hometown, their hometown. People are going to be
there now. You know, we talked about the family being there,
but a lot of their friends that have grown up
with them show up. Oh yeah, people haven't seen them,
(19:15):
and the family gets to see people they haven't seen
it years. It's just it's a it's a really cool environment.
You know you've got You've gotten really good at running
the program. You try to keep it to an hour
so you know you're in and out, or we understand
everybody's got to go to work and through things, so
you know it won't be it won't be longer.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Than it's definitely not longer than an hour. And we
pack a lot of a lot of points in that
time period that we do do it, and I can
guarantee you it's going to be an amazing experience for you.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I'd love to tell you more about what goes on,
but we're not gonna because we want you to come
and experience. There's a lot of special things that happen
during that during that ceremony. Adam, buddy, you know, you
know I love you, and you know how much you're
one of my personal heroes. But you're you're part of
my family and I appreciate you spend and some time
with me. And we're going to do this every week
and you're going to have more and more to talk
(20:06):
about with the Veteran services that you're you're in charge
of now and you've really made your own I mean,
I'm proud of what you've I was so proud of
what you did with VETA Vett and he just took
it to another level when you moved on to the county.
So thank you, Uncle Mike. Thanks for the same way
you too. Yeah, thanks for stopping my buddy, and we'll
talk to you next week. One absolutely, thank you all.
Next up from Veterans Sportsman's Association US Air Force veteran
(20:29):
Todd Dylon and from the Hudson Valley on a flight,
Amy Prodo, Hudson Valley Country one O seven to three
wrw D. It's Uncle Mike with you got two friends
in the studio with me. One is one of my
personal heroes and there both personal heroes for different reasons. Actually,
uh Todd Dylon twenty one years with the Air Force.
First of all, thanks for what she did for our
country and what you continue to do for our veterans. Todd,
(20:51):
welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Good Mary. Thanks for having me and Amy.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Prado from Hudson Valley on a flight which I do
a lot with. But she is one of my heroes
because she is one of the volunteers that does so
much for Honor Flight And we were talking before we
went on the air that Honor Flight is basically all volunteers.
There's one paid employee and you get to see the
emissions each well it's three a year now we do
two out of Stewart and one out of Westchester, and
(21:15):
you think, boy, this is fantastic if you only knew
what had to go on behind the scenes to get
these missions done with volunteers. Amy, thanks for stopping by,
and you know, we got on another flight coming up,
so I can see that look in your eye. You're
already under the gun. It's October eighteenth, it's the next flight,
and that seems like a long way away. But when
you're taking eighty veterans who some of them can't walk
(21:35):
to Washington for to day, there's a lot that goes
into that. So Amy, thanks for stopping by. Thanks hav
we're here to talk today about Actually Honor Flight is
part of the event we're going to talk about. But
the Veterans Sportsmen's Association got a big event coming up
next Saturday, September twentieth. It's happening American Legion Post thirteen
oh two, which dear friends of mine. But before we
(21:56):
get into the event, Todd, could you tell us a
little bit about Veterans Sportsmen Association and what their mission is.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Sure, So the Veterans Sportsman's Association. We're are one hundred
percent volunteer run organization. We started officially in twenty twenty
as a five one C three, but we actually start
in twenty sixteen, and we primarily provide sporting events for veterans,
of activities for veterans and their families here in Nutson Valley.
So we do a lot of like kayaking, canoeing, We
have a snowboard and skiing program called shread Vets, and
(22:24):
then we do a yearly whiskey fundraiser. In this year
we teamed up with Honor Flight to help raise money
for their missions.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
You'll hear say VSA.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
That's correct. Yeah, this is an acronym.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
That's an acronym. That's what VSA is. This is a
whiskey bourbon barbecue event, which everybody who knows me, no,
I'm a bourbon drinker, so I'm all over this. The
purpose of the event is raising money for the organization.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Correct, And you are a nonprofit? Oh yeah, we're five
on one C three.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Yeah. What is the website for people to find out more?
Speaker 3 (22:51):
It's Veterans Sportsman Association dot org.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
And of course HVANA Flight dot com is a site
you want to go to about Honor flight, Yes, and
we want you to go there for a lot of reasons.
On a flight side, if you're a veteran, we want
you to sign up for the flight. And if you
haven't been on a flight yet and you're a veteran,
shame on you because we want you on the flight.
If you want to be a guardian, you need to
go there. And I think almost as important, if you
(23:15):
want a volunteer and help on a flight, please go
to that website right. You need volunteers.
Speaker 5 (23:19):
Absolutely, and the thing we need most is drivers. Because
of the age of a lot of our veterans and
the health of a lot of our veterans, you can't
always they're not allowed to drive on flight day. So
I need people who are willing to go to their homes,
pick them up, bring them to us in Montgomery in
the morning, and then come back to Steward at night
(23:40):
and take them home safely. It's a very long day
and we don't want anything to happen to our heroes.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
So Todd, this is the sixth year you've done. This
is actually a fifth annual one because you had a
down year there because of a storm interacts yet. But
what goes on at the Whiskey Bourbon Barbecue event, what
happens that day.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
So what we do is we have local distilleries come
in and they set up like tasting tables, we have
live music. Normally we have Tavern twenty three come out
and provide the food, and they're providing it again this year.
And it's just a great opportunity for veterans to get
together and talk about different events coming up in the county.
This year, we've got I think fourteen different veterans nonprofits
coming and setting up tables as well. This year, for
(24:21):
the first time, we have the Purple Heart Museum. They're
going to be there, and so it's an opportunity for
veterans just to get together, spend an afternoon enjoying music,
enjoining some bourbon, enjoying each other's company, and then also
seeing all the different types of things that are offered
to veterans here in our local area.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
And one of the most fascinating things that happens all
the events I do a lot of veterans events, and
the on a Flight is the same way we do
the meet and greet two weeks before and if there's
eighty veterans on the flight, there's eighty strangers that come
into that room for them, and by the end of
that event, eighty brothers and sisters.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Correct.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
And that's the beauty of any veterans of the picnics
we do. You know, you said hours from five to
seven or whatever the hours are the picnics, and we're
there at eight o'clock at night. They're still sitting there
talking at each other because all of a sudden they've
made that connection. And that's what these events are. Really,
the beauty of these events something like this, because you're
going to get veterans that probably have never met each
(25:17):
other that will realize that they do have the commonality
of being a veteran. But a lot of times, when
were you and you know, when when you were in
nom or when when you were there and all why
was there at the same time, and that conversation. So
it's beautiful when it happens, and that happens that the
Honor Flight always, you know, you take off in the
morning with all these veterans and by the time you
come home, you've got a band of brothers and sisters
(25:38):
on the plane with you.
Speaker 5 (25:39):
Well, In one of our meet and greets, two of
the veterans that were at the table across from each
other went to Great school together and hadn't seen each
other in seventy years and their reunion was phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Wow. And that happens every flight.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Yeah, on a flight magic?
Speaker 1 (25:57):
What's that?
Speaker 6 (25:57):
On a flight?
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Magic on a flight? Magic And of course at the
Veterans Sportsman's Association events, that happens all the time.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
Does Yes.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
You have guys that didn't realize they were in the
same place at the same time, and then they start
telling stories and I'm like, oh my god, I was
there too, and get guys and girls. So we got
to remember to involve our women.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Yeah, female veterans because it's funny like that.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
They had a Romstock event last year that I attended
and I finally got to meet Congress and Ryan and
come to find out him and I were both interact
together at the same time in two thousand and seven
at the same base.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
So yeah, it does happen. And it was out of
veterans event that I happened to run into him.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
And that it's interesting all the all the events that
that wall comes down with the veterans when they realize,
you know, I do a lot in the veteran community,
but I never had the honor of serving, and I
know my being around the military, I stay in my lane.
I know, you know, I understand that. But a veteran
will open up to another veteran, and that's why the VET.
The VET program works so well. The peer to peer mentoring,
(26:53):
that's why it works so well well.
Speaker 5 (26:55):
Also with the flight, veterans don't talk to their family
about their experience, So while they're with a grandson or
a child or whatever, they're talking to a veteran and
the family member learns so much about their service on
that day that they would have never heard if they
weren't there.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Yeah, absolutely, we've heard that. And I interview a veteran
on the flight every flight afterwards, and it's usually pretty
much the same story about the day, But every now
and then a story will come up where they you know,
they ran. And the other beauty of honor flight when
you're down in Washington, there's honor flights from all around
the country coming to Washington, so our chapter is there
(27:34):
and they'll run into people from Oregon or from Hawaii
or someplace that they you know, didn't realize they even knew,
and all of a sudden that happens at the monuments
where those connections happen, So it's incredible.
Speaker 5 (27:47):
It is usually five different hubs on the World War
Two Memorial at the same time.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
So we've got this event coming up next Saturday, September twentieth.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
It starts at one and we're going to be wrapping
out VR six A wrap up around five, so from
one to.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Five, and you'll be there after five before.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
I'm sure there'll be people late into the evening.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
It's at American Legion Post thirteen oh two right over
here on fifty five overlook. I've got a lot of
friends there. I go to a lot of events there.
It's a great facility. That's where the event's going to happen. Correct,
We're all going to be there. For tickets and info,
go to Veterans Sportsmen's Association dot org. That's the website again,
Veterans Sportsmen. That's a long title, Veterans Sportsman's Association and
(28:29):
that sportsman with an S. But yes, there Veterans Sportsman's
Association dot org. To find out more about the event
and more about the organization. But to get your tickets,
you've got to go to the website.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Act yes, and.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
We'ill be available tickets.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Yeah, we'll sell tickets at the door.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
I think it absolutely okay, And uh, this year we're
gonna have a small military vehicle display, so listen to me.
Military vehicles there. I think there's at least three World
War two jeeps that are.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Going to be there. Oh, buddy, Tommy mash is going
to have it.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
Tommy's playing vehicle over. Yes, I spoke to Tommy. Yep,
Tommy does a lot with me.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
He does.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
He's a great guy. Is great. But tastings, food, music, vendors,
and all the proceeds will be equally split between the
VSA and Hudson Valley on a Flight, which is really cool.
How did Hudson Valley on a Flight and VSA get together?
How did that happen?
Speaker 6 (29:14):
All?
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Right, so this is interesting. Well, we have we have
people on our board that are also participants in volunteers
with Honor Flight. Obviously I knew about Honor Flight because
I spent my twenty one years at Stewart when I
wasn't overseas somewhere, so I'm very familiar with the honor
Flight program and.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Backtrack a little bit.
Speaker 4 (29:34):
In twenty twenty three, we had a grant from Dutchess
County to start a veterans kayaking program. And back in
the nineties, I was a member of the Scuba Club
that was running the Wappingers Creek water Derby, so I
helped run that event for many many years. That event
was started in nineteen seventy by Wild War two vets,
but they just became too old and just weren't able
to do it anymore in the nineties, so they.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
Turned it over the Scuba Club.
Speaker 4 (29:53):
Well, the Scuba Club were ran all wait till twenty nineteen,
then it shut it down for COVID. So when we
got our grant from the county, we react shout to
them and said, hey, we want to restart this program.
It was originally a veterans program, and we want to
turn it back into a veterans centric program raise money
for local veterans using our kayaking program. And then we
started reaching out to some of the local nonprofits and
(30:14):
Amy was one of the groups that we would reach
out to to come out set up a table. So
they came out, set up a table. It was pouring
it was April twenty sixth of this year, pouring rain,
driving rain, but we still had seventy six boats in
the water and more than one hundred paddlers. We had
a really good turnout. Yeah, and Amy and I spoke
about it that and she's like, hey, what else do
you guys have coming up? And I said, well, you know,
we have a skiing snowboarding program we do in the
(30:35):
winter called shread Vets, and then we also want a
whiskey event every fall. And she's like, oh, tell me
about your whisky event. And so we said, well, let's
talk about maybe putting something together and doing something together
on that, and so that's kind of how it fell
into place.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
Well I had come to the one, not last year
because I was at the wall, yes, but the year
before I was at it also, So yeah, it was
a great day. We met lots of people, and that's
our goal. We need to recruit veterans, volunteers and volunteer guardians.
So if you're not doing anything, come see me.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Yeah you're going to have a booth hat to you.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Yeah, oh absolutely, Oh definitely.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
And again it's September twentieth, that's next Saturday. A week
from today and one to five of the hours, but
they're not going to hold you to the hours. Now,
it's going to be I'm going to be there. Of course,
Todd and Amy will be there, the organizations will be there,
a lot of organizations that can help veterans will be there,
a lot of information will be exchanged. We're just going
(31:32):
to have a good time, you know.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
Right after that, it's a salute event over at the
walkway over the hotpel So we have people that are
coming to our event that are going to leave from
our event and go right over to the walkway on tour. Yeah,
and then they'll be right there for the salute event.
So the timing is perfect.
Speaker 5 (31:45):
And I have boots on both sides of the walkway
for the night.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
So there's gon be a lot of veteran stuff going
on that day.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
I'm convinced Amy has a helicopter.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Oh yeah, very busy.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
Last year I work well because we have a weekend
and walk kill that morning also, well, last year I
did walkkill and then I went to the walkway on
the Ulster County side. But this year I have staff
volunteers on both sides because I can't get there again.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
The VSA, the Veterans Sportsmen's Association. That website is very simple.
It's Veterans Sportsman's Association dot org. Go to that site
about their organization, about the event coming up next Saturday,
Whiskey Bourbon Barbecue event, which I really recommend you go to.
I'm gonna be there. I hope I see you there
and Amy will be there as well, representing Honor Flight.
(32:33):
And to find out more about Honor flight's hv onor
flight dot com. That's HV on a flight dot com.
Everything is on there about Honor Flight. There's there's videos
that are Don Kelly are videographer does He does a
video of every flight and you can go on a
virtual flight. Really. He does a great job at from
early in the morning having breakfast till at night. He
(32:53):
gets me at the end at night you're interviewing the veterans.
So if you want.
Speaker 5 (32:57):
To, if you live on Facebook all day and there.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
Live on Facebook all day, yeah, it's amazing. Uh. And
in October eighteenth, we need you in the main terminal
of Stuart International Airport. Be there by six thirty in
the morning for the send off and be back there
by eight o'clock. At night for the welcome home, because
that's one of the beauties of honor flight is to
have a big crowd in that terminal sending these heroes off,
(33:20):
and when they get back, they never expect the crowd
they have there. There is a huge crowd giving them
the welcome home they never got but they so truly deserve.
And that's what we do, that's why we do what
we do to get that there. So both of you,
thanks so much for coming in and spending time with me.
We're going to get this. This will be all over
our social media's and we really want to see everybody there.
There's there's plenty of room. There'll be plenty of whiskey
(33:41):
and bourbon and food and great music. And if you're
a veteran, especially the camaraderie that you will get out
of this event, well it's well worth well worth the
price of admission. Right, Oh, absolutely, all right, Todd, Thank you, Amy.
Always great to see you and.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
Always a pleasure and thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Yeah, and Amy has got a lead because she's got
to start getting busy for October eighteenth, right, and we
have the Lunch of Honor is coming up in December
up at Resort December seventh, Pearl Harbor Day. That's interesting
this year up at the Resorts World, and we're gonna
be talking a lot about that as we get closer.
But thanks, thank you both for coming and I'm looking
forward to see you on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Yeah, absolutely, thanks Mike.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
And last but not least, this week, my part time
co host Frankie right, talking about addiction and recovery and
whatever you can do to help. I'm Uncle Mike and
you're listening to Red, White and Blue Saturdays on Hudson
Valley Country one O seven three w RWD. And when
they first told me I was going to have this show,
the first guy I thought of was my brother Frankie. Right,
Frankie is going to be on every week with me.
(34:41):
Frankie's going to tell you a little bit about his history.
He's a recovering addict who wants to help everybody you can. Frankie,
I'm really looking forward to this partnership. We got other
things we're working on, but thanks for taking a little
time today or get you introduced to everybody, and then
next week you'll be with me at four o'clock.
Speaker 6 (34:55):
Hey, Mike, how you doing today? Yeah, thank you for
having me on. Like you said, my name's Frankie, right.
I am a local guy. I grew up here in
Orange County. About four and a half years ago, I
made the decision to finally get sober and live the
life of recovery. I was an addict and an alcoholic
for a very long time and lived a very selfish
(35:17):
and destructive life. Now I try to live a very
very different life. Like I said, I've been sober for
over four years, but it's a lot more than that.
For me. It's a lot more than just not drinking
and not doing drugs. It is a life of service.
And when I first got sober, I learned that. You know,
I wouldn't have gotten That's what I try to do
(35:37):
every day. So now I do things like I speak
in schools and I help other addicts and alcoholics get
off the street and try to get into rehab or
whatever services they might need, mental health services. I do
this all out of acts of kindness and just trying
to help another because that's what was done for me.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
You know, Frankie, it's interesting that, first of all, the
battle to get sober is real, and you're one of
my heroes because you're a warrior and you fight. You'll
fight this every day to the rest of your for
the rest of your life. But that was just the
first step getting sober. You tell me that all the
time that it sounds kind of crazy, but sometimes that's
the easiest part getting sober, and when you look at
the big picture, because now you have to stay sober,
(36:18):
and there's things that happen in life that can be
triggers that you've got to be ready for and be
able to handle. And I think it's beautiful that one
of the things that you and I have made a decision.
We've got other stuff we're working on. We've got a
podcast we're working on, and we're going to have our
buddy Joe Defino join us at some point in one
of these weeks with the Hoope Rocks movement because we're
going to help him as well. But you decided that
(36:38):
because you were blessed and you got sober, you've got
your kids back, you've got your life back, that you
want to be able to help other people get to
where you are. And I think that's fantastic.
Speaker 6 (36:47):
Yeah, I mean that's what it's all about for me.
Like you said, getting sober for the first step for
me was just trying to figure out how to live
without drugs and alcohol. But living a life of recovery
is so much more than that. And you know, I've
been pretty much ever since I got sober. I started
looking around and seeing the people with long term sobriety.
(37:08):
One of the keys to it is service to others
and helping other people, and man, I just ran with that.
So what I found is, you know, it's crazy. People
started believing in me again, and now people want to
hear my story and then me and you, man, we're
we're a team now, Mike, Like you said, we're gonna
start doing a bunch of things together. But I'm just
(37:30):
trying to get the word out that people in recovery
are good people. People in recovery can do amazing things,
and we are resilient as anything. So you know, this life,
this life of sobriety for me, is an every day
It's an everyday maintenance and part of that maintenance is
helping others. And you're helping me do that and I
(37:50):
appreciate you so much.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Well, one other things that's gonna happen, Frankie, We're gonna
figure this all out next week when you're on we're
gonna have the phone lines open so they'll be able
to call us, and we're gonna fire. You're out of
way for people to get to you, people that hear
us and hear what you're doing and need your help.
I don't know, do you want to give your phone
number out or you want to wait till next week,
or what do you want to do.
Speaker 6 (38:10):
I'd like to give it out right now, so I
give out my personal phone number anybody whoever needs help,
if they think they have a relative that might need
help finding recovery, or they need help themselves. You know,
I give out my personal number for people to just
even if you just need to talk, if you're hurting
on the street or anything like that, you can call me.
We could talk it through my numbers eight four five
(38:30):
three three two seven zero five nine at eight eight
four five three three two seven zero five nine.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
And I'm going to double down because if you don't
get a hold of Frankie right away, my phone number
is eight four five four zero one two five nine
eight eight four five four zero one two five nine
and eight. Now I can't help you, but if you're
having trouble getting through to Frankie, I will get through
to them again eight four five, four oh one two
five nine eight. You can call me twenty four hours
a day because I want to see you get to Frankie,
(39:01):
and I want to see you get healthy.
Speaker 6 (39:02):
I couldn't agree more. I mean, you know, we do
this together. Peeping help people, helping people, That's what we do.
Like it is okay to not be okay. It is
nothing to be ashamed of. I was. I was homeless
and lived on the street. I had nothing. I lost
my kids, I lost my job, I lost my where
I live, and now I have all of that back
(39:25):
and more. I am a high school football coach. I
work in schools with kids. If they have drug issue, drugging,
alcohol problems. I will do anything in my power to
help another person find this better life.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
Frankie, we've got to take a quick break, but when
we come back to finish it, and it's really brief
this week because both of us are schedules are screwing.
But the next week, I promise Frankie's going to be
on at four o'clock with me for you know, the
balance of the show. We'll have the ability to take
phone calls, and we're going to figure out another way
to get to Frankie, either through texting. I'll get that
figured out. But one of the things when we come back, Frankie,
(39:56):
you and I have a common passion. We've got to
erase stick. Stigma is one another one of the things
that really is deadly for recovering addicts. And you've got
a great theory and strategy what you went through when
you came to the realization about stigma. So we're going
to take a quick break and we'll be back right
after these words. One O seven three w RWD. This
(40:17):
is Hudson Valley Country. I'm Uncle Mike, my brother. Frankie
writes on with me again next week and from then
on out, he'll be on the starting at four o'clock,
and we're gonna he's gonna be with me most of
the show, all the time, helping me out with a
lot of different things we're doing. But his main purpose
here is to help people make it to recovery and
stay sober, which he's been able to do for over
(40:38):
four years now. And you heard her earlier in the
last segment how his life just turned around. I know
you personally Frankie, I know your aunt had a lot
to do with it, but you had a lot of
help from a lot of other people.
Speaker 6 (40:48):
Yeah, so here's I'll give you a quicker version. We
talk more about this when I'm on the show for longer.
But I was living homeless in the street. No one
would talk to me. Everyone who I engage with I
wanted to, you know, you for money or find a
way I could get my substance. So when I was
on the street, I remember the feeling of people looking
at me with disgust. Stigma is the judgment of another
(41:12):
person without even knowing them. You're stigmatizing them for an
idea of what they may be. The problem is an
attict who's in active use. That's not who they really are.
They are taken over by the drug or alcohol. So
I'm here to tell you like I wear my recovery
with a badge of honor. I respect anyone who would
(41:34):
like to remain anonymous with their recovery, but that's not
what I do. I wear it out loud. I wear
it as a badge of honor, and I really try
to be an example of people in recovery that we
can be amazing amazing human beings. I have so many
beautiful things in my life. I have two amazing sons,
(41:56):
ten and sixteen. They are my absolute best friend. And
there was a time when my sixteen year old wanted
nothing to do with me rightfully, So I have a
beautiful girlfriend. I have an amazing career. I get to
help people like I'm honored to be able to help
people every single day. But I still get judged for
all the work that I do, and for as much
(42:18):
people as I try to help, there are people in
this world who still look at me like I'm garbage
because I have that history of drug use and it's
just not right, and that can kill people. For someone
who's trying to get help and they're looked at with disgust,
that could actually make them turn around and give up.
And I don't want people to give up. I want
people to know I don't care what you've done or
(42:41):
where you've been. I want you to reach out for
help and have this better life.
Speaker 1 (42:47):
Yeah, that's one of the big things that you and
I talk about all the time, Frankie, is addiction or
alcoholism is a disease and it has to be treated.
It's a disease. If you have your appendix burst or
your break your arm, or you break your leg, you
go to a doctor and you get treatment. Well, alcoholism
and drug addiction is a sickness that needs treatment, and
(43:08):
if you don't treat it, it will kill you. And
that's the problem. Don't worry, Like, yeah, I know you
told me several times now that when you finally realize
that there was no reason to be ashamed of what
happened to you, what you went through, that was kind
of one of the turning points when you know, you
wore it as a badge of honor. Like you said,
(43:29):
it really helped you. And that's one of the things
I think you can help a lot of people with
when they because anybody going through this. So I've never
had an addiction and I've never been an alcoholic, so
I can't relate to what Frankie went through. I understand it.
I do everything I can to help people, but I
don't have that Frankie has it. He made it through,
he knows how he made it through, and he wants
(43:50):
to help you. And I think that's the beauty of
what our involvement on this show and all the other
stuff we do. I think that's where the help is
going to come from.
Speaker 6 (43:57):
Yeah, Mike, And it helps me as much as helps
another I don't like, I don't get paid for any
of this. I do this as part of my recovery.
I go out of my way to help another person
because also it's how I got here. There's so many
people up in Saugerties that you know the there's a
(44:19):
place called Ryan House up there, and that organization has
a has a house where there's meetings all the time
and it's a recovery it's just a recovery house. It's
free to the community. And you know, they didn't judge me.
They didn't know me, and they didn't judge me. And
I tell you that was really what like really helped
(44:41):
get me through at certain times because they just knew
I was a person trying to get help. And that's
exactly what I'm trying to do, just trying to help
people and let them know it is okay. I don't
care what you have done. There is so much better
life that we can have ahead of us.
Speaker 1 (44:55):
So as we get into this more and more, Frankie,
one of the things that we're gonna do is some
point We're gonna have your son on with us and
let him explain what he went through as a child
of an addict. And I think that'll help because one
of the things you tell me all the time, sometimes
the addict or the alcoholic is so bad they don't
really know what they're doing and they don't understand the
(45:17):
trap that they're in. Sometimes it takes family members to
come forward and get that ball rolling. And that's another
thing you can help with is you know, you not
only need to if someone is struggling with drugs or alcohol,
you want to talk to them and help them. But
if you said earlier, if you have a family member
who doesn't know what to do, Frankie wants to talk
to you, there are options, if even for the family,
(45:40):
that may be a catalyst to get that person sober
and clean. So that's one of the things we're going
to pursue. And Frankie's got a lot of other ideas
about people he wants to bring in. So Frankie, unfortunately
we're going to run out of time here. Both of
us got a lot of stuff going on today. But
from now on, Frankie's going to be my co host
from four to seven every week as long as he's available, and.
Speaker 6 (46:04):
Uh, nothing will stop me, Mike.
Speaker 1 (46:07):
And uh, you know, again, I never had an addiction
or an alcoholism problem, but I lost some very dear
people in my life to it. And I went through
it with somebody we both know very well, a very
famous person, and it was crushing to watch him just
kill himself. Really, that's what ended up happening. And until
you experience that on a personal level, you don't understand it.
(46:30):
And that's one of the things that Frankie is going
to bring the light here. And again, Uh, further down
the road here our buddy Joe Defino, who was in
charge of one of the leaders with Hope Rox. He's
going to be on with us. We got so much
stuff going ahead of us here, buddy. I'm looking forward
to it, and I really appreciate you spending time with
me on the air, and uh, and you know we've
become family and I look forward to this.
Speaker 6 (46:51):
Yeah, Mike, the love I have for you is undescribable.
The way we met and the I mean the way
I mean talk about fighting stigma. Right, Yeah, you didn't
know me and now me and you are like family
and you're bringing me on to do this. I'm truly,
truly honored, man.
Speaker 1 (47:07):
I'm honored to do it, buddy, and I pray if
we help one person, I'm gonna feel great about it.
And I know we're gonna help a lot more.
Speaker 6 (47:12):
So that's what it's all about. Brother.
Speaker 1 (47:14):
All Right, buddy, I'll talk to you during the week
and next Saturday from four to the end of the show.
Frankie's gonna be in here with me doing what we're
doing right now, and he's got some other jobs for him.
We're gonna do it. We're gonna make him a radio guys.
So we'll look forward to that next week. Frankie. God
bless you, buddy, stay well, Love you and I'll talk
to you soon.
Speaker 6 (47:31):
Love you to brother, Bless you and I'll see you soon.
Speaker 1 (47:34):
Thanks for listening to the podcast for Red, White, and
Blue Saturday Afternoons with Uncle Mike. I'd love it if
you tune in each Saturday from two to seven pm
on one O seven three WRWD for the show. See
you next week.
I'm Uncle Mike, and welcome to the podcast for Red
White and Blue Saturday Afternoons with Uncle Mike on one
O seven three w r w D. I'm going to
use this podcast each week to replay some of the
interviews I do on the show that you may have missed.
I hope you enjoy it. You're listening to Hudson Valley
Country on one O seven three w r w D.
(00:20):
I'm Uncle Mike and joining our Red White and Blue
Saturday Afternoon with Uncle Mike. Is a good friend one
of my personal heroes, Adam Roach. He is a marine
and he is the Director of Veterans Affairs for Dutchess County. Adam,
thanks for stopping by. This is going to be a
regular appearance for you. We're going to talk about every
time we can about what's going on in the veteran
community here in the Hudson Valley. So, first of all,
(00:42):
how are you, buddy. I'm doing well, Uncle Mike.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I appreciate you guys having me, you know, on board
here and looking forward to you know, continue this just
to get the word out on what's going on here
in Dutchess County for our veterans.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
So You did have a moving ceremony on September eleventh
right in front of the the County Courthouse, which was
well attended, which was nice to see. Adam. Let's talk
about veteran services here in Dutchess County. You know, every
veteran service leader for the county makes it their own,
and you've certainly made it your own now that you've
been there for You've been there for a few years,
(01:15):
now years, five years. We know about the Veterans one
Stop one hundred forty four. You have an office there
with the Veta VET. Some people don't know. Well, let's
tell so I'll say.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
You know, we have our through MHA of Dutchess County,
our veterans programs. We have the Dutchess County Veterans one
Stop where it's all the organizations here in Dutchess County
have to have to do with helping veterans are all
under one roof. Now, you know this is something when
I first started the Veta VET program in twenty sixteen,
Uncle Mike, you say, this is something we talked about
(01:45):
and finally coming through in twenty twenty two.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
I know you hear me say it all the time.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
But it truly is a game changer with our services
here in Dutchess County four our veterans literally, you know,
you have a veteran that comes to my office that
you know, we you know, do acclaim for and then
realize like, there's a lot more that this that this
person needs, as far as maybe you know, just vet
the vet help, maybe housing help, maybe employment help. And
(02:10):
instead of telling them or giving them a number to
call or to go to, we're literally walking them down
thirty feet down the pathway right there to the next
door and then doing those out. You know, we talk
about a warm handoff, and there's nothing warmer than that
right there to get all the services that they need.
And we're so proud of this, this entire building and
(02:31):
you know what what has you know, has has come
of it within the last three years now it existence sorry, well,
first of all.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
It's it's centrally located, and it's it's on a bus route,
which is huge. Yeah, we made sure it's on the
route right there, thirty forty four. A lot of our
veterans who are still trying to come all the way
home don't have vehicles or can't get around. They can
get there on a bus. So that's huge, and you've
taken it a step further, buddy, be because now you've
(03:01):
got an outreach program you're getting involved with where you're
taking it to the veterans. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
So we're so proud of this, and you know this
is this is coming from the blessing of our county
EXECUS Suit Serno with this this program is the Veterans
Outreach Coordinator.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
We just hired her.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
She's h Bethane Canaro, Lieutenant colonel, United States Marine Corps.
And you know, as soon as she got on board,
she took this program, you know, pretty much just it's.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
A brand new program.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
So she's really making hers as well with the guidance
of us. But you know, this program is is where
we come out to you. We realize that our office
is opened nine to five Monday through Friday, and there's
a lot of times where veterans, especially veterans that are
working those nine to five jobs, those with the families
and stuff, that it's just not feasible to come out
(03:52):
to us, you know, to submit a claim or any
of the services that we have. So we established this
program where we come out to you. We'll be going
out to the local vf w's. We're we're in process
right now meeting with all the town supervisors, all the
town boards, UH to let them know exactly what's happening
and what our vision is with this UH, with this program,
(04:15):
you know, with this position. But it's true because a
lot of times you have to take off a full
day of work to come to my office to you know,
to submit a claim because the claim takes about an
hour most of the time, and it's just not it's
just not fair for those ones, you know, ones working
nine to five are the ones with the families and stuff.
So we'll be going out to the f W is
(04:37):
opening our shop from five to seven, where you bring
the madterial that we asked for, your your discharge papers
if you're not registered with us, and we can literally
submit the claim on the spot for you right there.
So we're so excited about this and UH again, Beth
ann is UH is the right person for the job.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
I can tell you that. Well once again, Adam, it's
another game chan because when you think about it, a
lot of your veterans that are making their way all
the way home and they're trying to get back to
a normal life, have jobs, but they can't afford to
take a day off. No, they're just barely making it
with what they're doing. But yet they need to help.
You're giving them. So this is this is really a
game changer. And once again he Adam makes the point
(05:18):
when he when you get in his office, there's so
many other things available around him in that building that
if you do have a couple hours or a day
to spend there, you can accomplish a lot in a
day while you're there, get a lot of things lined
up and a lot of things going, and find out things
that you didn't know. How many veterans do you deal with, Adam,
that have no idea what they're entitled to?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Oh my gosh, so many, you know, especially a lot
with the Vietnam War veterans, you know, and the spouses.
It's not just the vets, it's the family members as
well as far as a veteran that passes away because
of agent orange a presumptive condition because of agent orange exposure,
that spouse is entitled to. It's called the IC dependent
(06:01):
in demnasty compensation, which my office we can provide that
there was a time it was at one of our
office of the Asian Picnics. It was at Boden Park
when I spoke to a Vietnam spouse and her husband
passed away in two thousand and three because of a
presumptive condition caused by Agent orange exposure. She had no
(06:21):
idea what she was entitled to or entitled to anything
at all. Came to my office and we were able
to submit a d IC claim for her on her behalf.
And you know now she's the recipient of over sixteen
hundred dollars a month tax free.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Wow. Yeah, And that's just you know, one of many
many stories. It really is. And the sad thing is, Adam,
every one of these heroes that served this country and
they deserve it, they're entitled to it. Oh yeah, it's
not you know what I mean. And a lot of
them don't even realize it. Especially you make the point
with a lot of the Vietnam heroes just were so
soured by what the government did to them that they
(06:57):
don't even they don't think they're entitled by anything. They've
been beaten down to a point where they and then
when they come and see you, so I will say,
I'm encouraging everybody to try and stop by the one
stop reach out and make an appointment and try to
see Adam, because that's why he's there, that's what he's doing.
You've made this your mission in life to help the veterans.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
It really is, you know, it's definitely a mission now,
it's not a job, and it's something that every single
day I absolutely.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Love coming to work and serving all of you out there.
So please thank you for you know. And it's funny, Adam,
we talk about it all the time. The DNA of
a soldier, of a marine and airman, a seaman, anybody
who has served. You know, in this your DNA is
to serve even after you get out of the service.
How many do you see not only a lot of
our organizations that we both help are run by veterans,
(07:46):
and most of a lot of your law enforcement, your firefighters,
your EMTs, your correction officers, they're veterans. They continue to
serve after they get out, which is I think that's
just the DNA of us. It really is.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
And that's one of the main thing these questions that
I get while we're there is it was like, how
can I serve?
Speaker 1 (08:04):
How can I be of help? What can I do?
Speaker 2 (08:07):
And that's constantly question we have when we bring them
right over to our VET to that office right there.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Well, that's the beauty of that building. Buddy. Hey, listen,
we got to take a quick break and pay a
few bills. We're gonna come back and finish our conversation.
We've got some exciting events coming up. We're going to
talk about. You're listening to Red, White and Blue Saturdays
with Uncle Mike on one O seven three w r
W d Adam Roach, the Director of Veterans Affairs for
Dutchess County. You're still in the studio with me. He's
(08:32):
going to be here probably weekly. I think we got
enough to talk about every week. But he'll be here
as much as he's The door has opened at him.
So when you want to be here, you're going to
be here. I appreciate it, Thank you, Uncle Mike. But
we've got some events coming up. One of the initiatives
that you and sous Serrino, our County executive, put out,
was the Honor of Vet program, where you're honoring a
deceased veteran from a local town here in Dutchess County.
(08:54):
And you've done four or four or five five five.
This is going to be our sixth Yeah, that's the
third Thursday of every month. Unless there's a holiday on
that Thursday, you move it to the Tuesday. But this
month it's going to be on the Thursday, next Thursday,
which is the eighteenth, eighteenth, correct, yep, yep. And it's
going to be at VFW one seventy right here at
(09:14):
thew Post one seventy one, Violet av right here in Poughkeepsie.
Nine am. They all start at nine am. And the
family of the first of all, the last one. I
got to talk about the last one quickly. It was
the first female veteran that you honored. And that's another
thing that you've been working on really hard with veterans affairs.
Our female veterans kind of got neglected over the years,
(09:37):
is I guess the best way to put it. Not
intentionally maybe, but they didn't get a lot of recognition
and a lot of help. And you put a focus
on that too as well.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Now, one, you know, if you served, you serve doesn't
matter you know who you are or what you are
or anything like that. You served our country and you
raised that right hand and you know, made that oath
to us uh, here into everybody, and you know it's
our duty to to assist you in any way possible,
(10:05):
no matter what you are. And that's, uh, that's exactly
what our mission is.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
And your experience, your personal experience. We know is heillo
well enough that coming all the way home is not
easy for a soldier, for any any service person. And
that's another part of this that you've you know, you
you really you you've got vet, the vet really going.
And that was really the mission behind it was to
bring everybody home. And you were a successful there and
(10:31):
you've carried it over into this office now. So but
next Thursday, VFW one seventy one Violet Avenue right here
at Poughkeepsie nine am, you're going to honor a local.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
VET, local Vietnam veteran, Donald Herring, right from Poughkeepsie's. He's
it's an amazing story what he has there. I don't
want to give it all away, but if you haven't
been to one of these honor of Vet ceremonies, I
strongly suggest, if it is possible, that you ten, because yeah,
it really is, Uncle Mike. You've been to a couple
(11:03):
and it's just amazing. You know, the entire ceremony. Our
county exec really pushed this, uh for this year. I
know Columbia County did it. And what we do, you
know what we did differently Instead of just having it
at the Legislative building, we we actually go out into
the community and where the community from, where where these
(11:24):
veterans are from, so the family and their entire community
can be involved with this as well. And I really
think that's made a big difference with this program.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
It really has. And it's been overwhelming, you know, it's
been you know, uh, no seats available, every one of them.
Maybe you plan, you try to plan for everything. And
thank god, the people in the towns, not only the
families and the people who knew the townspeople and the
other veterans, local veterans are coming out to be part
(11:53):
of this. It's a special It really is a special
ceremony in the morning. I really encourage you if you've
got time next Thursday, there's gonna be He's gonna do
it all the way in November, right, is that what
you're playing through November? Correct? After this? Yeah, we got
two more on him, but if you can get to one,
you've got to go out and check this out because
it is amazing and it hits home. I say it
all the time. Yes, the soldier, the service person is
(12:18):
who we want to focus on, but the family is
served right alongside them, it.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Really and that's the main point. Like you know what,
we have a lot of the times the h the
veteran doesn't really speak about their service at all, even
though their family to the family, and and that's why
you know, our our Honor of Veteran Committee, which is
absolutely amazing. We have Craig Elderkin who's our historian for that,
who actually goes in and finds details about the veterans,
(12:45):
the veterans unit, what what unit they were from, where
they served, some of the conflicts that they were involved in,
and really tells that story to the family. And and
that's one of the main things when they come up
to us afterwards, is is I never knew, you know,
We hear that all the time. I never knew, I
never knew. And it truly is a great experience for
the family.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
And I've seen it twice now. The last one I
saw was the connection with some of the leaders in
the community who last time it was Senator Rallison who
had known the individual very well, and he was able
to elaborate on his relationship with that person that things
that he found out he never knew even though he
(13:27):
knew the person so well. So it's an amazing ceremony.
Please nine am next Thursday, the eighteenth, BFW one seventy
one Violet Avenue, right here in Poughkeepsie. If you can
be there, you don't have to, you know, we just
want you there. Try it's right, you know, if you
can RSVP, they appreciate that. But if you can be there,
be there and be part of it. And the biggest
thing is I tell everybody after you experience experiences, tell
(13:50):
all your friends and your family what you saw, because
you want to be This is going to be an
ongoing program. You're gonna build this. It's going to get
bigger and bigger. You're gonna you're gonna run out a month.
What you're gonna run out?
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Yeah, that's it. But the thing is, it's going to be,
like you said, ongoing program. So we encourage you to, uh,
you know, go to our Dutchess County, NY dot gov
website and sign up for if you have a deceased veedteran.
That's in your family that wants to be honored. We
absolutely love doing it. We really do. It's a it's
it's a lot, but you know, it's something that our
(14:23):
entire committee, and I know our county exact loves this
program so much.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
So another thing I'm going to encourage you is if
you have children, bring the children to this program because
there's the stories that are told are not into history books,
and they're the real deal about what happened, what this
soldier went through, and and you know that's the story.
I think that's one of the problems to disconnect over
the years of the of the military and veteran community
(14:49):
with the civilian community is the real stories aren't told.
You're only getting fed. But sometimes the government or the
media wants to feed you and these are the real stories.
This is what this guy went through. And you'll be
shocked when you hear some of these, some of these
the one with the river patrols. It was just incredible
what these guys were doing. Yeah, absolutely right. And even
someone like yourself, you're you're you're a combat veteran and
(15:11):
you've seen all kinds of things. But some of the
story you came to me after the one with the riverboats.
You're like, man, you imagine what these guys were doing. Yeah,
think about it.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
You're on the mic on delta and all of a sudden,
you know, you have no idea what's going on with
the brush and stuff, and.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
It's a cruef ire. Was four on that four four
on that boat and there you're out there for a
while too. It was four against the world at that point.
All of them didn't survive, but some did and they survived.
Tell it. Yeah. And the other thing that's coming up.
There's a lot of things coming up, but on October eighteenth,
one of the things that I love, and I've been
(15:45):
a party for a while now is the red white
and you.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Pick red white and you picnic. Yes, this is something
that we've done. This is our fourth year doing it.
Uncle Mike, you've been been there every every step of
the way with it. Again, it's it's just an awesome,
awesome experience. We're going to have it October eighteenth from
eleven to two pm at James Baird State Park. This
(16:08):
is going to be going out probably within the next
week as far as that to rs VP for that,
it's for veteran plus one catered by Tavern twenty three.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Let's talk about you know, he just it's just amazing
what he does. And he's done so much with VET,
the VET when you were running it, now with the County,
but so many other organizations. I go to a lot
of events and a lot of them he's there doing
the catering. Yeah, and he just he does it because
(16:41):
he loves our veterans, he really does, and he does that.
The food is incredible. I mean, the sunset picnics, the
food is just unreal.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
We're talking about Todd Zackett. Yeah, Yeah, Michelle and his
wife Michelle Michelle or your Angels on Earth, what they do.
They really are Because first of all, if you've never
been to Tavern twenty three, you should go there. Yeah,
because it's a phenomenal food. And you just told me
before we went on the.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Air as you mentioned it. Yeah, well, I mean I
think so too.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
It's a you know Todd uh, you know, he does
so much like we talked about just before, but he's
doing even more. You know, it's going to be a
raffle that he's you know, he talked to me about
and he really wants to do.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
But he's going to be donating.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
A free meal for one entire year. You can go
every single day. You know, drinks not included, but the
meal is included. For a one of the veterans at
the picnic, you're gonna we're gonna have raffle tickets and
then the drawing for that and we're going to make
sure that he's the one drawing that ticket.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
So everyone who is attends the the Red, White, and
New Picnic is going to get a ticket when they
get there. I don't want to call the door prize
because that's the meeting what he's doing, but that's what
it is. You're going to get a ticket for being there. Yeah,
and at the end of the event, Todd is going
to draw a name and you're going to get a
free meal every day. Now, there's a lot of restrictions here.
(18:08):
It's just a meal, no drinks, and it's once a day,
but for an entire year, which is just I blew
my mind when you talk you know what, you know what,
it doesn't surprise me with him, No, you're right, you're right,
it really doesn't. Todd Michelle is just that's the kind
of people they are. Yeah, So I encourage you to
support that that that restaurant where they are is. I've
(18:29):
been to. I've been to a couple add a couple
of artists that actually played there, and it's just a
it's a great way to spend an afternoon. Look at
it at twenty three Arizonto, Poughkeepsie, a little outdoor space
he does some shows in which is really nice and
very nice. So what else is going on, buddy? You
got anything else in the works that you want to
talk about, or we'll say that the next time you
come back.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Yeah, I think you know, let's say it for the
next time on that. Yeah, I think that'd be best.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
So we need you to be at VFW Post one
seventy next one next Thursday, September eighteenth, at nine am
for the next honor of it. Again. It's it's it's
in their hometown, their hometown. People are going to be
there now. You know, we talked about the family being there,
but a lot of their friends that have grown up
with them show up. Oh yeah, people haven't seen them,
(19:15):
and the family gets to see people they haven't seen
it years. It's just it's a it's a really cool environment.
You know you've got You've gotten really good at running
the program. You try to keep it to an hour
so you know you're in and out, or we understand
everybody's got to go to work and through things, so
you know it won't be it won't be longer.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Than it's definitely not longer than an hour. And we
pack a lot of a lot of points in that
time period that we do do it, and I can
guarantee you it's going to be an amazing experience for you.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I'd love to tell you more about what goes on,
but we're not gonna because we want you to come
and experience. There's a lot of special things that happen
during that during that ceremony. Adam, buddy, you know, you
know I love you, and you know how much you're
one of my personal heroes. But you're you're part of
my family and I appreciate you spend and some time
with me. And we're going to do this every week
and you're going to have more and more to talk
(20:06):
about with the Veteran services that you're you're in charge
of now and you've really made your own I mean,
I'm proud of what you've I was so proud of
what you did with VETA Vett and he just took
it to another level when you moved on to the county.
So thank you, Uncle Mike. Thanks for the same way
you too. Yeah, thanks for stopping my buddy, and we'll
talk to you next week. One absolutely, thank you all.
Next up from Veterans Sportsman's Association US Air Force veteran
(20:29):
Todd Dylon and from the Hudson Valley on a flight,
Amy Prodo, Hudson Valley Country one O seven to three
wrw D. It's Uncle Mike with you got two friends
in the studio with me. One is one of my
personal heroes and there both personal heroes for different reasons. Actually,
uh Todd Dylon twenty one years with the Air Force.
First of all, thanks for what she did for our
country and what you continue to do for our veterans. Todd,
(20:51):
welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Good Mary. Thanks for having me and Amy.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Prado from Hudson Valley on a flight which I do
a lot with. But she is one of my heroes
because she is one of the volunteers that does so
much for Honor Flight And we were talking before we
went on the air that Honor Flight is basically all volunteers.
There's one paid employee and you get to see the
emissions each well it's three a year now we do
two out of Stewart and one out of Westchester, and
(21:15):
you think, boy, this is fantastic if you only knew
what had to go on behind the scenes to get
these missions done with volunteers. Amy, thanks for stopping by,
and you know, we got on another flight coming up,
so I can see that look in your eye. You're
already under the gun. It's October eighteenth, it's the next flight,
and that seems like a long way away. But when
you're taking eighty veterans who some of them can't walk
(21:35):
to Washington for to day, there's a lot that goes
into that. So Amy, thanks for stopping by. Thanks hav
we're here to talk today about Actually Honor Flight is
part of the event we're going to talk about. But
the Veterans Sportsmen's Association got a big event coming up
next Saturday, September twentieth. It's happening American Legion Post thirteen
oh two, which dear friends of mine. But before we
(21:56):
get into the event, Todd, could you tell us a
little bit about Veterans Sportsmen Association and what their mission is.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Sure, So the Veterans Sportsman's Association. We're are one hundred
percent volunteer run organization. We started officially in twenty twenty
as a five one C three, but we actually start
in twenty sixteen, and we primarily provide sporting events for veterans,
of activities for veterans and their families here in Nutson Valley.
So we do a lot of like kayaking, canoeing, We
have a snowboard and skiing program called shread Vets, and
(22:24):
then we do a yearly whiskey fundraiser. In this year
we teamed up with Honor Flight to help raise money
for their missions.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
You'll hear say VSA.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
That's correct. Yeah, this is an acronym.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
That's an acronym. That's what VSA is. This is a
whiskey bourbon barbecue event, which everybody who knows me, no,
I'm a bourbon drinker, so I'm all over this. The
purpose of the event is raising money for the organization.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Correct, And you are a nonprofit? Oh yeah, we're five
on one C three.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Yeah. What is the website for people to find out more?
Speaker 3 (22:51):
It's Veterans Sportsman Association dot org.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
And of course HVANA Flight dot com is a site
you want to go to about Honor flight, Yes, and
we want you to go there for a lot of reasons.
On a flight side, if you're a veteran, we want
you to sign up for the flight. And if you
haven't been on a flight yet and you're a veteran,
shame on you because we want you on the flight.
If you want to be a guardian, you need to
go there. And I think almost as important, if you
(23:15):
want a volunteer and help on a flight, please go
to that website right. You need volunteers.
Speaker 5 (23:19):
Absolutely, and the thing we need most is drivers. Because
of the age of a lot of our veterans and
the health of a lot of our veterans, you can't
always they're not allowed to drive on flight day. So
I need people who are willing to go to their homes,
pick them up, bring them to us in Montgomery in
the morning, and then come back to Steward at night
(23:40):
and take them home safely. It's a very long day
and we don't want anything to happen to our heroes.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
So Todd, this is the sixth year you've done. This
is actually a fifth annual one because you had a
down year there because of a storm interacts yet. But
what goes on at the Whiskey Bourbon Barbecue event, what
happens that day.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
So what we do is we have local distilleries come
in and they set up like tasting tables, we have
live music. Normally we have Tavern twenty three come out
and provide the food, and they're providing it again this year.
And it's just a great opportunity for veterans to get
together and talk about different events coming up in the county.
This year, we've got I think fourteen different veterans nonprofits
coming and setting up tables as well. This year, for
(24:21):
the first time, we have the Purple Heart Museum. They're
going to be there, and so it's an opportunity for
veterans just to get together, spend an afternoon enjoying music,
enjoining some bourbon, enjoying each other's company, and then also
seeing all the different types of things that are offered
to veterans here in our local area.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
And one of the most fascinating things that happens all
the events I do a lot of veterans events, and
the on a Flight is the same way we do
the meet and greet two weeks before and if there's
eighty veterans on the flight, there's eighty strangers that come
into that room for them, and by the end of
that event, eighty brothers and sisters.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Correct.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
And that's the beauty of any veterans of the picnics
we do. You know, you said hours from five to
seven or whatever the hours are the picnics, and we're
there at eight o'clock at night. They're still sitting there
talking at each other because all of a sudden they've
made that connection. And that's what these events are. Really,
the beauty of these events something like this, because you're
going to get veterans that probably have never met each
(25:17):
other that will realize that they do have the commonality
of being a veteran. But a lot of times, when
were you and you know, when when you were in
nom or when when you were there and all why
was there at the same time, and that conversation. So
it's beautiful when it happens, and that happens that the
Honor Flight always, you know, you take off in the
morning with all these veterans and by the time you
come home, you've got a band of brothers and sisters
(25:38):
on the plane with you.
Speaker 5 (25:39):
Well, In one of our meet and greets, two of
the veterans that were at the table across from each
other went to Great school together and hadn't seen each
other in seventy years and their reunion was phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Wow. And that happens every flight.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Yeah, on a flight magic?
Speaker 1 (25:57):
What's that?
Speaker 6 (25:57):
On a flight?
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Magic on a flight? Magic And of course at the
Veterans Sportsman's Association events, that happens all the time.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
Does Yes.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
You have guys that didn't realize they were in the
same place at the same time, and then they start
telling stories and I'm like, oh my god, I was
there too, and get guys and girls. So we got
to remember to involve our women.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Yeah, female veterans because it's funny like that.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
They had a Romstock event last year that I attended
and I finally got to meet Congress and Ryan and
come to find out him and I were both interact
together at the same time in two thousand and seven
at the same base.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
So yeah, it does happen. And it was out of
veterans event that I happened to run into him.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
And that it's interesting all the all the events that
that wall comes down with the veterans when they realize,
you know, I do a lot in the veteran community,
but I never had the honor of serving, and I
know my being around the military, I stay in my lane.
I know, you know, I understand that. But a veteran
will open up to another veteran, and that's why the VET.
The VET program works so well. The peer to peer mentoring,
(26:53):
that's why it works so well well.
Speaker 5 (26:55):
Also with the flight, veterans don't talk to their family
about their experience, So while they're with a grandson or
a child or whatever, they're talking to a veteran and
the family member learns so much about their service on
that day that they would have never heard if they
weren't there.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Yeah, absolutely, we've heard that. And I interview a veteran
on the flight every flight afterwards, and it's usually pretty
much the same story about the day, But every now
and then a story will come up where they you know,
they ran. And the other beauty of honor flight when
you're down in Washington, there's honor flights from all around
the country coming to Washington, so our chapter is there
(27:34):
and they'll run into people from Oregon or from Hawaii
or someplace that they you know, didn't realize they even knew,
and all of a sudden that happens at the monuments
where those connections happen, So it's incredible.
Speaker 5 (27:47):
It is usually five different hubs on the World War
Two Memorial at the same time.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
So we've got this event coming up next Saturday, September twentieth.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
It starts at one and we're going to be wrapping
out VR six A wrap up around five, so from
one to.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Five, and you'll be there after five before.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
I'm sure there'll be people late into the evening.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
It's at American Legion Post thirteen oh two right over
here on fifty five overlook. I've got a lot of
friends there. I go to a lot of events there.
It's a great facility. That's where the event's going to happen. Correct,
We're all going to be there. For tickets and info,
go to Veterans Sportsmen's Association dot org. That's the website again,
Veterans Sportsmen. That's a long title, Veterans Sportsman's Association and
(28:29):
that sportsman with an S. But yes, there Veterans Sportsman's
Association dot org. To find out more about the event
and more about the organization. But to get your tickets,
you've got to go to the website.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Act yes, and.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
We'ill be available tickets.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Yeah, we'll sell tickets at the door.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
I think it absolutely okay, And uh, this year we're
gonna have a small military vehicle display, so listen to me.
Military vehicles there. I think there's at least three World
War two jeeps that are.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Going to be there. Oh, buddy, Tommy mash is going
to have it.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
Tommy's playing vehicle over. Yes, I spoke to Tommy. Yep,
Tommy does a lot with me.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
He does.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
He's a great guy. Is great. But tastings, food, music, vendors,
and all the proceeds will be equally split between the
VSA and Hudson Valley on a Flight, which is really cool.
How did Hudson Valley on a Flight and VSA get together?
How did that happen?
Speaker 6 (29:14):
All?
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Right, so this is interesting. Well, we have we have
people on our board that are also participants in volunteers
with Honor Flight. Obviously I knew about Honor Flight because
I spent my twenty one years at Stewart when I
wasn't overseas somewhere, so I'm very familiar with the honor
Flight program and.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Backtrack a little bit.
Speaker 4 (29:34):
In twenty twenty three, we had a grant from Dutchess
County to start a veterans kayaking program. And back in
the nineties, I was a member of the Scuba Club
that was running the Wappingers Creek water Derby, so I
helped run that event for many many years. That event
was started in nineteen seventy by Wild War two vets,
but they just became too old and just weren't able
to do it anymore in the nineties, so they.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
Turned it over the Scuba Club.
Speaker 4 (29:53):
Well, the Scuba Club were ran all wait till twenty nineteen,
then it shut it down for COVID. So when we
got our grant from the county, we react shout to
them and said, hey, we want to restart this program.
It was originally a veterans program, and we want to
turn it back into a veterans centric program raise money
for local veterans using our kayaking program. And then we
started reaching out to some of the local nonprofits and
(30:14):
Amy was one of the groups that we would reach
out to to come out set up a table. So
they came out, set up a table. It was pouring
it was April twenty sixth of this year, pouring rain,
driving rain, but we still had seventy six boats in
the water and more than one hundred paddlers. We had
a really good turnout. Yeah, and Amy and I spoke
about it that and she's like, hey, what else do
you guys have coming up? And I said, well, you know,
we have a skiing snowboarding program we do in the
(30:35):
winter called shread Vets, and then we also want a
whiskey event every fall. And she's like, oh, tell me
about your whisky event. And so we said, well, let's
talk about maybe putting something together and doing something together
on that, and so that's kind of how it fell
into place.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
Well I had come to the one, not last year
because I was at the wall, yes, but the year
before I was at it also, So yeah, it was
a great day. We met lots of people, and that's
our goal. We need to recruit veterans, volunteers and volunteer guardians.
So if you're not doing anything, come see me.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Yeah you're going to have a booth hat to you.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Yeah, oh absolutely, Oh definitely.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
And again it's September twentieth, that's next Saturday. A week
from today and one to five of the hours, but
they're not going to hold you to the hours. Now,
it's going to be I'm going to be there. Of course,
Todd and Amy will be there, the organizations will be there,
a lot of organizations that can help veterans will be there,
a lot of information will be exchanged. We're just going
(31:32):
to have a good time, you know.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
Right after that, it's a salute event over at the
walkway over the hotpel So we have people that are
coming to our event that are going to leave from
our event and go right over to the walkway on tour. Yeah,
and then they'll be right there for the salute event.
So the timing is perfect.
Speaker 5 (31:45):
And I have boots on both sides of the walkway
for the night.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
So there's gon be a lot of veteran stuff going
on that day.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
I'm convinced Amy has a helicopter.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Oh yeah, very busy.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
Last year I work well because we have a weekend
and walk kill that morning also, well, last year I
did walkkill and then I went to the walkway on
the Ulster County side. But this year I have staff
volunteers on both sides because I can't get there again.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
The VSA, the Veterans Sportsmen's Association. That website is very simple.
It's Veterans Sportsman's Association dot org. Go to that site
about their organization, about the event coming up next Saturday,
Whiskey Bourbon Barbecue event, which I really recommend you go to.
I'm gonna be there. I hope I see you there
and Amy will be there as well, representing Honor Flight.
(32:33):
And to find out more about Honor flight's hv onor
flight dot com. That's HV on a flight dot com.
Everything is on there about Honor Flight. There's there's videos
that are Don Kelly are videographer does He does a
video of every flight and you can go on a
virtual flight. Really. He does a great job at from
early in the morning having breakfast till at night. He
(32:53):
gets me at the end at night you're interviewing the veterans.
So if you want.
Speaker 5 (32:57):
To, if you live on Facebook all day and there.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
Live on Facebook all day, yeah, it's amazing. Uh. And
in October eighteenth, we need you in the main terminal
of Stuart International Airport. Be there by six thirty in
the morning for the send off and be back there
by eight o'clock. At night for the welcome home, because
that's one of the beauties of honor flight is to
have a big crowd in that terminal sending these heroes off,
(33:20):
and when they get back, they never expect the crowd
they have there. There is a huge crowd giving them
the welcome home they never got but they so truly deserve.
And that's what we do, that's why we do what
we do to get that there. So both of you,
thanks so much for coming in and spending time with me.
We're going to get this. This will be all over
our social media's and we really want to see everybody there.
There's there's plenty of room. There'll be plenty of whiskey
(33:41):
and bourbon and food and great music. And if you're
a veteran, especially the camaraderie that you will get out
of this event, well it's well worth well worth the
price of admission. Right, Oh, absolutely, all right, Todd, Thank you, Amy.
Always great to see you and.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
Always a pleasure and thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Yeah, and Amy has got a lead because she's got
to start getting busy for October eighteenth, right, and we
have the Lunch of Honor is coming up in December
up at Resort December seventh, Pearl Harbor Day. That's interesting
this year up at the Resorts World, and we're gonna
be talking a lot about that as we get closer.
But thanks, thank you both for coming and I'm looking
forward to see you on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Yeah, absolutely, thanks Mike.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
And last but not least, this week, my part time
co host Frankie right, talking about addiction and recovery and
whatever you can do to help. I'm Uncle Mike and
you're listening to Red, White and Blue Saturdays on Hudson
Valley Country one O seven three w RWD. And when
they first told me I was going to have this show,
the first guy I thought of was my brother Frankie. Right,
Frankie is going to be on every week with me.
(34:41):
Frankie's going to tell you a little bit about his history.
He's a recovering addict who wants to help everybody you can. Frankie,
I'm really looking forward to this partnership. We got other
things we're working on, but thanks for taking a little
time today or get you introduced to everybody, and then
next week you'll be with me at four o'clock.
Speaker 6 (34:55):
Hey, Mike, how you doing today? Yeah, thank you for
having me on. Like you said, my name's Frankie, right.
I am a local guy. I grew up here in
Orange County. About four and a half years ago, I
made the decision to finally get sober and live the
life of recovery. I was an addict and an alcoholic
for a very long time and lived a very selfish
(35:17):
and destructive life. Now I try to live a very
very different life. Like I said, I've been sober for
over four years, but it's a lot more than that.
For me. It's a lot more than just not drinking
and not doing drugs. It is a life of service.
And when I first got sober, I learned that. You know,
I wouldn't have gotten That's what I try to do
(35:37):
every day. So now I do things like I speak
in schools and I help other addicts and alcoholics get
off the street and try to get into rehab or
whatever services they might need, mental health services. I do
this all out of acts of kindness and just trying
to help another because that's what was done for me.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
You know, Frankie, it's interesting that, first of all, the
battle to get sober is real, and you're one of
my heroes because you're a warrior and you fight. You'll
fight this every day to the rest of your for
the rest of your life. But that was just the
first step getting sober. You tell me that all the
time that it sounds kind of crazy, but sometimes that's
the easiest part getting sober, and when you look at
the big picture, because now you have to stay sober,
(36:18):
and there's things that happen in life that can be
triggers that you've got to be ready for and be
able to handle. And I think it's beautiful that one
of the things that you and I have made a decision.
We've got other stuff we're working on. We've got a
podcast we're working on, and we're going to have our
buddy Joe Defino join us at some point in one
of these weeks with the Hoope Rocks movement because we're
going to help him as well. But you decided that
(36:38):
because you were blessed and you got sober, you've got
your kids back, you've got your life back, that you
want to be able to help other people get to
where you are. And I think that's fantastic.
Speaker 6 (36:47):
Yeah, I mean that's what it's all about for me.
Like you said, getting sober for the first step for
me was just trying to figure out how to live
without drugs and alcohol. But living a life of recovery
is so much more than that. And you know, I've
been pretty much ever since I got sober. I started
looking around and seeing the people with long term sobriety.
(37:08):
One of the keys to it is service to others
and helping other people, and man, I just ran with that.
So what I found is, you know, it's crazy. People
started believing in me again, and now people want to
hear my story and then me and you, man, we're
we're a team now, Mike, Like you said, we're gonna
start doing a bunch of things together. But I'm just
(37:30):
trying to get the word out that people in recovery
are good people. People in recovery can do amazing things,
and we are resilient as anything. So you know, this life,
this life of sobriety for me, is an every day
It's an everyday maintenance and part of that maintenance is
helping others. And you're helping me do that and I
(37:50):
appreciate you so much.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Well, one other things that's gonna happen, Frankie, We're gonna
figure this all out next week when you're on we're
gonna have the phone lines open so they'll be able
to call us, and we're gonna fire. You're out of
way for people to get to you, people that hear
us and hear what you're doing and need your help.
I don't know, do you want to give your phone
number out or you want to wait till next week,
or what do you want to do.
Speaker 6 (38:10):
I'd like to give it out right now, so I
give out my personal phone number anybody whoever needs help,
if they think they have a relative that might need
help finding recovery, or they need help themselves. You know,
I give out my personal number for people to just
even if you just need to talk, if you're hurting
on the street or anything like that, you can call me.
We could talk it through my numbers eight four five
(38:30):
three three two seven zero five nine at eight eight
four five three three two seven zero five nine.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
And I'm going to double down because if you don't
get a hold of Frankie right away, my phone number
is eight four five four zero one two five nine
eight eight four five four zero one two five nine
and eight. Now I can't help you, but if you're
having trouble getting through to Frankie, I will get through
to them again eight four five, four oh one two
five nine eight. You can call me twenty four hours
a day because I want to see you get to Frankie,
(39:01):
and I want to see you get healthy.
Speaker 6 (39:02):
I couldn't agree more. I mean, you know, we do
this together. Peeping help people, helping people, That's what we do.
Like it is okay to not be okay. It is
nothing to be ashamed of. I was. I was homeless
and lived on the street. I had nothing. I lost
my kids, I lost my job, I lost my where
I live, and now I have all of that back
(39:25):
and more. I am a high school football coach. I
work in schools with kids. If they have drug issue, drugging,
alcohol problems. I will do anything in my power to
help another person find this better life.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
Frankie, we've got to take a quick break, but when
we come back to finish it, and it's really brief
this week because both of us are schedules are screwing.
But the next week, I promise Frankie's going to be
on at four o'clock with me for you know, the
balance of the show. We'll have the ability to take
phone calls, and we're going to figure out another way
to get to Frankie, either through texting. I'll get that
figured out. But one of the things when we come back, Frankie,
(39:56):
you and I have a common passion. We've got to
erase stick. Stigma is one another one of the things
that really is deadly for recovering addicts. And you've got
a great theory and strategy what you went through when
you came to the realization about stigma. So we're going
to take a quick break and we'll be back right
after these words. One O seven three w RWD. This
(40:17):
is Hudson Valley Country. I'm Uncle Mike, my brother. Frankie
writes on with me again next week and from then
on out, he'll be on the starting at four o'clock,
and we're gonna he's gonna be with me most of
the show, all the time, helping me out with a
lot of different things we're doing. But his main purpose
here is to help people make it to recovery and
stay sober, which he's been able to do for over
(40:38):
four years now. And you heard her earlier in the
last segment how his life just turned around. I know
you personally Frankie, I know your aunt had a lot
to do with it, but you had a lot of
help from a lot of other people.
Speaker 6 (40:48):
Yeah, so here's I'll give you a quicker version. We
talk more about this when I'm on the show for longer.
But I was living homeless in the street. No one
would talk to me. Everyone who I engage with I
wanted to, you know, you for money or find a
way I could get my substance. So when I was
on the street, I remember the feeling of people looking
at me with disgust. Stigma is the judgment of another
(41:12):
person without even knowing them. You're stigmatizing them for an
idea of what they may be. The problem is an
attict who's in active use. That's not who they really are.
They are taken over by the drug or alcohol. So
I'm here to tell you like I wear my recovery
with a badge of honor. I respect anyone who would
(41:34):
like to remain anonymous with their recovery, but that's not
what I do. I wear it out loud. I wear
it as a badge of honor, and I really try
to be an example of people in recovery that we
can be amazing amazing human beings. I have so many
beautiful things in my life. I have two amazing sons,
(41:56):
ten and sixteen. They are my absolute best friend. And
there was a time when my sixteen year old wanted
nothing to do with me rightfully, So I have a
beautiful girlfriend. I have an amazing career. I get to
help people like I'm honored to be able to help
people every single day. But I still get judged for
all the work that I do, and for as much
(42:18):
people as I try to help, there are people in
this world who still look at me like I'm garbage
because I have that history of drug use and it's
just not right, and that can kill people. For someone
who's trying to get help and they're looked at with disgust,
that could actually make them turn around and give up.
And I don't want people to give up. I want
people to know I don't care what you've done or
(42:41):
where you've been. I want you to reach out for
help and have this better life.
Speaker 1 (42:47):
Yeah, that's one of the big things that you and
I talk about all the time, Frankie, is addiction or
alcoholism is a disease and it has to be treated.
It's a disease. If you have your appendix burst or
your break your arm, or you break your leg, you
go to a doctor and you get treatment. Well, alcoholism
and drug addiction is a sickness that needs treatment, and
(43:08):
if you don't treat it, it will kill you. And
that's the problem. Don't worry, Like, yeah, I know you
told me several times now that when you finally realize
that there was no reason to be ashamed of what
happened to you, what you went through, that was kind
of one of the turning points when you know, you
wore it as a badge of honor. Like you said,
(43:29):
it really helped you. And that's one of the things
I think you can help a lot of people with
when they because anybody going through this. So I've never
had an addiction and I've never been an alcoholic, so
I can't relate to what Frankie went through. I understand it.
I do everything I can to help people, but I
don't have that Frankie has it. He made it through,
he knows how he made it through, and he wants
(43:50):
to help you. And I think that's the beauty of
what our involvement on this show and all the other
stuff we do. I think that's where the help is
going to come from.
Speaker 6 (43:57):
Yeah, Mike, And it helps me as much as helps
another I don't like, I don't get paid for any
of this. I do this as part of my recovery.
I go out of my way to help another person
because also it's how I got here. There's so many
people up in Saugerties that you know the there's a
(44:19):
place called Ryan House up there, and that organization has
a has a house where there's meetings all the time
and it's a recovery it's just a recovery house. It's
free to the community. And you know, they didn't judge me.
They didn't know me, and they didn't judge me. And
I tell you that was really what like really helped
(44:41):
get me through at certain times because they just knew
I was a person trying to get help. And that's
exactly what I'm trying to do, just trying to help
people and let them know it is okay. I don't
care what you have done. There is so much better
life that we can have ahead of us.
Speaker 1 (44:55):
So as we get into this more and more, Frankie,
one of the things that we're gonna do is some
point We're gonna have your son on with us and
let him explain what he went through as a child
of an addict. And I think that'll help because one
of the things you tell me all the time, sometimes
the addict or the alcoholic is so bad they don't
really know what they're doing and they don't understand the
(45:17):
trap that they're in. Sometimes it takes family members to
come forward and get that ball rolling. And that's another
thing you can help with is you know, you not
only need to if someone is struggling with drugs or alcohol,
you want to talk to them and help them. But
if you said earlier, if you have a family member
who doesn't know what to do, Frankie wants to talk
to you, there are options, if even for the family,
(45:40):
that may be a catalyst to get that person sober
and clean. So that's one of the things we're going
to pursue. And Frankie's got a lot of other ideas
about people he wants to bring in. So Frankie, unfortunately
we're going to run out of time here. Both of
us got a lot of stuff going on today. But
from now on, Frankie's going to be my co host
from four to seven every week as long as he's available, and.
Speaker 6 (46:04):
Uh, nothing will stop me, Mike.
Speaker 1 (46:07):
And uh, you know, again, I never had an addiction
or an alcoholism problem, but I lost some very dear
people in my life to it. And I went through
it with somebody we both know very well, a very
famous person, and it was crushing to watch him just
kill himself. Really, that's what ended up happening. And until
you experience that on a personal level, you don't understand it.
(46:30):
And that's one of the things that Frankie is going
to bring the light here. And again, Uh, further down
the road here our buddy Joe Defino, who was in
charge of one of the leaders with Hope Rox. He's
going to be on with us. We got so much
stuff going ahead of us here, buddy. I'm looking forward
to it, and I really appreciate you spending time with
me on the air, and uh, and you know we've
become family and I look forward to this.
Speaker 6 (46:51):
Yeah, Mike, the love I have for you is undescribable.
The way we met and the I mean the way
I mean talk about fighting stigma. Right, Yeah, you didn't
know me and now me and you are like family
and you're bringing me on to do this. I'm truly,
truly honored, man.
Speaker 1 (47:07):
I'm honored to do it, buddy, and I pray if
we help one person, I'm gonna feel great about it.
And I know we're gonna help a lot more.
Speaker 6 (47:12):
So that's what it's all about. Brother.
Speaker 1 (47:14):
All Right, buddy, I'll talk to you during the week
and next Saturday from four to the end of the show.
Frankie's gonna be in here with me doing what we're
doing right now, and he's got some other jobs for him.
We're gonna do it. We're gonna make him a radio guys.
So we'll look forward to that next week. Frankie. God
bless you, buddy, stay well, Love you and I'll talk
to you soon.
Speaker 6 (47:31):
Love you to brother, Bless you and I'll see you soon.
Speaker 1 (47:34):
Thanks for listening to the podcast for Red, White, and
Blue Saturday Afternoons with Uncle Mike. I'd love it if
you tune in each Saturday from two to seven pm
on one O seven three WRWD for the show. See
you next week.
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