Flag Burner Duct-Taped to Flag Pole/Run for the Fallen/Maid Brigade

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-First this week, we discuss a story that's been in the news since last week. In Valley Falls, W. Va., at VFW Post 1938, a young man, after being refused alcohol due to the lack of proper identification, burned the flag that flew over the Post. The flag the young man burned once flew over a fox hole in Iraq; a fox hole several U.S. soldiers never made it out of alive. We talk with Post 1938 Commander, Nick Normile, about why they chose this punishment, and why the young man completely agreed to go along with it.
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-Next, we talk with commander of VFW Post 7829, Tony Wolusky, out of Monument, Colo. Tony tells us about Cadet Malcolm Strong and the "Run for the Fallen." The Run for the Fallen's mission is "one mile for every service member killed in OIF and OEF," and in a few months, Cadet Strong will be running in the Disney marathon, in full fatigues, to bring awareness to those killed overseas, and to raise money for the VFW's National Military Service programs.
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-Lastly, we speak with Don Hay, founder and chairman of Maid Brigade, a residential cleaning service with more than 420 locations in the U.S. and Canada. More than 10% of Maid Brigade franchise owners are veterans, and right now, Maid Brigade is awarding 100 qualified veterans with their own businesses by waiving the franchise fees and providing working capital. The contest winners will be announced on Veterans Day.
We also discuss the issues surrounding the GI Bill, and the VA's emergency check authorizations.
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Missouri Veterans Story Program/Mojave Desert Memorial/Post 56

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-First off this week, we speak with Dewey Riehn, VFW Department of Missouri Legislative Coordinator. Riehn is also involved with the Missouri Veterans Stories Program. With more than 500,000 veterans in Missouri, the goal of the program is to record and preserve the stories of veterans for Posterity. The state legislature appropriated $1 million in 2005 to launch the project, and currently there are 1,000 veterans on the wait list.
We also speak with VFW Post Commander 56, Lynn Rolf. Rolf talks about his Post's strong relationship with Ft. Leavenwroth MWR and the Adopt-A-Unit Program. We talk about his Family Readiness Group, and the recent Oktoberfest they held for deploying troops at Ft. Leavenworth.
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-Next, we speak with VFW Director of Public Affairs out of the Washington, D.C. office, Joe Davis. He talks about the recent press event the ACLU held, discussing the court case regarding the controversy surrounding the Mojave Desert Memorial. The ACLU is in favor of tearing the memorial cross down, since it is on federal land. The VFW is fighting to let it stand, and by doing so, save many other memorials around the country. Joe also discusses the new GI Bill, and the health care debate.
We also talk about Obama's suggestions on Middle East peace.
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POW/MIA Recognition Day

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-POW/MIA Recognition Day honors the commitments and the sacrifices made by our nation's prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action. First this week, we speak with Carol Jose, author of "You Are Not Forgotten," a book that relates in amazing detail the history of the National League of Families. Natalie Rauch, an MIA daughter of an Air Force pilot shot down in 1966, also joins us. After reading Carol's book, Natalie reached out to Carol, asking for help in finding any information about her dad, pictured above with Natalie's family. Within 48 hours, Carol had found a pilot who had known Natalie's dad, and saw him the very day he flew out of South Vietnam, never to be seen or heard from again. Natalie and Carol tell us about their emotional journey. We also discuss what our troops need to get the job done in Afghanistan.
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-Next, we speak with Ann Mills-Griffiths, Executive Director of the National League of POW/MIA Families, a position held since August 1978. The League is a non-profit, charitable organization, with voting membership comprised of Vietnam War returned POWs and POW/MIA and KIA/BNR family members. A humanitarian organization, the League is dedicated to securing the return of all prisoners, the fullest possible accounting for the missing and the return of remains of those who died serving our nation in Southeast Asia.
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September 11, 2001--A Day We Will Never Forget

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-Eight years ago today, thousands of Americans lost their lives as hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and as a hijacked plane crashed into a Pennsylvania field. First this week, we speak with David Paine, President and Founder of MyGoodDeed.org, a nonprofit group that was created to transform 9/11 into an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance. Paine discusses how they got this legislation passed, and why this is important.
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-Speaking of good deeds, next we talk to Gary DeHaan, Golf Committee Chairman for VFW Post 6444 out of Georgetown, S.C. This weekend they're holding their 8th Annual Golf Benefit, raising money for VFW's Operation Uplink, among other programs and organizations. DeHaan explains why they never hesitate to help our troops.
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-To finish up this week, Ellen Saracini joins us. Ellen is the wife of the late Victor Saracini, pilot of Flight 175 that flew into the south tower on September 11, 2001. Ellen talks about her late husband as a father, husband, and a United Airlines captain. She also talks about the Garden of Reflection in Bucks County, Pa. The memorial was created to remember and honor those killed on September 11, 2001. We also here from a listener about last week's discussion on health care reform.
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