Posted By: JJ Hayes May 6, 2021 @ 3:23 am Blogs, JJ Hayes Show Page
Today’s Star Spangled Salute honors Veteran U.S. Army Sergeant Vainuupo “AV” Avegalio. Vainuupo spent his income helping other Veterans fighting against PTSD and he did it with a passion for art. He’s an amateur poet and visual artist and he would travel the country volunteering at correctional facilities, he works with at risk youth to help prevent suicide, he would help Veterans in need and he would do all this while sleeping in his car. His work was recently featured on the HBO documentary We Are Not Done Yet. The other day, thanks to the organization “HeroHomes” Vainuupo was given the keys to a brand new home and he’s homeless no longer. Thank you Vainuupo for your important work and THANK YOU for your service.
Posted By: JJ Hayes May 5, 2021 @ 3:18 am Blogs, JJ Hayes Show Page
Today’s Star Spangled Salute honors Army Veteran Marlon Bounds. Marlon is just one of a few Veterans nationwide to receive a new type of prosthetic leg called “The Power Knee”. It features a motor-powered microprocessor prosthetic knee that uses artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technology. Marlon says the new leg feels almost human. The Power Knee is the world’s first motor-powered microprocessor prosthetic knee. The prosthetic uses artificial intelligence to detect and aid human movement patterns such as speed and cadence when walking, kneeling, standing and sitting. Congratulations on your new leg Marlon and THANK YOU for your service.
Posted By: JJ Hayes May 4, 2021 @ 3:41 am Blogs, JJ Hayes Show Page
Today’s Star Spangled Salute honors disabled Veteran Richard Melching. The physical and mental pain after service was almost too much for Richard to bear. He suffered from migraines for weeks at a time and at one point he came close to taking his own life. Richard got help for his depression and then decided to go one step further. He turned his property into a place called “Dude’s Playground”, named after Richard’s dog. Now he hosts several retreats a year for Veterans to come and find relief from their PTSD. They can enjoy a day of fishing, a hot meal, and the company of others looking for relief. One Veteran, Bob Weigand said, “You hear the waterfall, the birds, the smell of the lake and the peacefulness here, It’s just like therapy for me.” Thank you Richard for welcoming people into your home and THAN
Posted By: JJ Hayes May 3, 2021 @ 3:44 am Blogs, JJ Hayes Show Page
Today’s Star Spangled Salute honors West Point Graduate, non-profit founder and Veteran Greg Washington. This past Friday, Greg left his home in Mississippi to begin an 1800-mile journey to West Point, and he’s doing it on foot. Greg struggled with his mental health after losing two close friends in combat. He said he had survivors guilt and wished it would have been him instead of them. His mental health declined, he drank a lot and nearly succeeded at taking his own life. His hope is to finish this walk, and raise money and awareness about defeating Veteran suicide. Thank you Greg for helping and THANK YOU for your service.
Posted By: JJ Hayes April 30, 2021 @ 3:46 am Blogs, JJ Hayes Show Page
Today’s Star Spangled Salute honors Veteran Bobby DeVito. Bobby liked visiting pawn shops and looking around. One day in October of last year, he came across a shadow box filled with patches and pins from a soldiers uniform and he knew a pawn shop was no place for these memories. He paid $50 for it and then began the search to try and locate the family of this mystery soldier. He started with the last name on one of the patches, Meiners, a U.S. Army Veteran from Operation Enduring Freedom. Following the trail of other clues, he finally found the sister of Alex Meiners, who lost his battle with PTSD. The shadowbox now sits next to Alex’s ashes. Thank you Bobby for your determination and THANK YOU BOBBY AND ALEX for your service.