VFW News from Washington/Outstanding Post 27

Click here for the full show.

-First this week, we hear from commander of Post 27 out of Wiesbaden, Germany, Steve Slauson. Slauson tells us how a $10,000 VFW Unmet Needs grant helped his Post provide shoes and clothing for the wounded soldiers at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. We also discuss the VFW NASCAR program's success, as Ron Hornaday is crowned the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion.
Click here to listen.

-Next, we talk to VFW's own Chris Needham from Washington, D.C. Needham discusses the recent veterans benefits bill, and also assures us that the health care bill will not hurt veterans. We also talk about Obama's decision on whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, which he plans to announce on December 1.
Click here to listen.

VFW National Home/Harleysville Insurance/VFW Commander-in-Chief Tommy Tradewell

Click here for the full show.

-Executive Director of the VFW National Home for Children Patrice Green and Program Director Molly Studinger join us this week to discuss how the National Home assists American servicemen and women by providing help and resources for their children or spouse during a period of deployment. They can provide a temporary safe, secure, and loving home for families on its village-like campus of homes.
Click here to listen.

-Next, we speak with VFW Commander-in-Chief, Thomas J. Tradewell, Sr., who has been traveling around the United States and the world. Tradewell talks about his trip to the Republic of China, where he believes progress was made in regards to opening POW/MIA archives. He also tells us about his recent trip to Russia on a similar mission.
Click here to listen.

-Finally, we speak with Harleysville Insurance Senior Vice President Ted Majewski. This year, once again, Harleysville is sponsoring VFW's Thanksgiving "Free Call Day" for troops stationed overseas. Funding for this Free Call Day is made possible by their "2 for the Troops" program, in which every new personal auto or homeowners policy sold by Harleysville's agents generates a $2 donation to VFW's Operation Uplink.
Click here to listen.

USAA/TodaysGIBill.org/Burger King

Click here for the full show.

-First this week, we speak with Mike Kelly with USAA. Kelly tells us why the fiancial service provider, founded by military officers in 1922, decided to sponsor the VFW Operation Uplink "Free Call Day" this Veteran's Day. USAA is a diversified financial service group among the leading providers of financial planning, insurance, investments, and banking products for members of the U.S. military and their families.
Click here to listen.

-Next, we have Jim Selbe, assistant vice president of Lifelong Learning, about the American Council on Education's new website, www.TodaysGIBill.org. ACE launded this website on Veteran's Day in order to provide clear and concise information on all aspects of preparing veterans to enter or return to college.
Click here to listen.

-After finishing up with Jim Selbe, we talk to Dan Fitzpatrick, Quality Dining CEO and Burger King franchisee, about Burger King restaurants' "buy a burger; donate a buck" campaign raising money for VFW Unmet Needs through November 30. Fitzpatrick owns 116 Burger King restaurants, and last year his group alone raised more than $100,000.
Click here to listen.

-We finish talking to Fitzpatrick with a request we hope he can't turn down: shaving his head for VFW Unmet Needs.
Click here to listen.

Veterans Day/"Back from Iraq"/1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team

Click here for the full show.

-First this week, we tell you about all the Veterans Day specials and events going on at nationwide chains across the country such as Lowe's, Applebee's, SportClips, Golden Corral, Burger King, and more! We also talk with Nathan Tobey, the creator of the Penn State program, "Back from Iraq." This course is aimed specifically to Iraq War veterans to teach them how to use video and web technologies in order to chronicle the stories and experiences of the Iraq War.

Click here to listen.

-Next, we discuss the latest Pentagon figures that say 35%, or more than one-third of the roughly 31.2 million Americans aged 17 to 24 are unqualified for military service because of physical and medical issues. According to the Pentagon's director of accessions, Curt Gilroy, the major component of those numbers is obesity.

Click here to listen.

-Lastly, we speak with Joel Hamilton, Lieutenant Colonel Commander of the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery. He talks to us about the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team and their homeland defense mission that has been going on for the past year. He tells us how their role in that mission parallels their upcoming mission in Iraq as a support role.

Click here to listen.