Latest / Ask The Experts / Board Chair Brian Ziegler of Badger Honor Flight Joins Shawn and Katie

Transcript

Board Chair Brian Ziegler of Badger Honor Flight Joins Shawn and Katie · Ask The Experts

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Thirteen ten, Wiva and Madison in the morning, Sean Prible
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: and Katie along with you. This morning, we've got a
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: very special guest joining us, Brian Ziegler. Of course he
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: is with bad Your Honor Flight. Brian, how you doing
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: this week?
• 0:13
  Speaker 2: I'm doing great.
• 0:14
  Speaker 3: It's great to talk with you.
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: And Katie is going to be traveling with you on
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: an upcoming trip out to DC, traveling with you in
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: the vets, and it's going to be a great experience.
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: And we're going to talk with you and Katie a
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: little bit about about that day and what to expect.
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: But first and foremost, I do want to mention, of course,
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: bad Your Honorflight dot Org is your website and it's
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: a great resource for folks to learn more about Badge
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: your Honor Flight ways to help out. Also, the really
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: important thing right now is getting vets signed up, Brian.
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: I know this is a very important part of what
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: you do, is that outreach, getting vets on the list
• 0:48
  Speaker 1: to get on these flights. It's a really important step,
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: isn't it.
• 0:51
  Speaker 4: Yes, it is. We're actively recruiting veterans from World War
• 0:56
  Speaker 4: Two through the Vietnam era and then the other one.
• 1:00
  Speaker 4: We want to make sure that we get out there.
• 1:02
  Speaker 4: This is for those veterans who are terminally ill, cancer
• 1:08
  Speaker 4: or some other health and life expectancy is very short.
• 1:13
  Speaker 4: We can get them on a flight this fall, and
• 1:16
  Speaker 4: so if you know that, get in touch with us.
• 1:19
  Speaker 2: But there's there seems to be an increase.
• 1:21
  Speaker 4: And unfortunately amount of applicants we get for that, but
• 1:25
  Speaker 4: we want to make sure those veterans get their flight
• 1:27
  Speaker 4: as well.
• 1:28
  Speaker 3: And I know, I know, Brian.
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: There are honor flights throughout the country and for folks
• 1:31
  Speaker 1: that are wondering kind of what the for Bad Your
• 1:34
  Speaker 1: Honor flight, kind of what that territory, what that area is, obviously,
• 1:38
  Speaker 1: folks that can hear our boys definitely get signed up.
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: What's kind of the area that you guys are for
• 1:42
  Speaker 1: Bad Your Honor flights specifically that you guys are drawing from.
• 1:46
  Speaker 4: We serve eleven counties in basically southern Wisconsin, so we
• 1:51
  Speaker 4: go out to the Mississippi River. We have Grant County, Lafayette, Green.
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: Sock, Iowa, Gain.
• 2:02
  Speaker 4: Parts of Dodge, parts of Jefferson, and Rock County. So
• 2:07
  Speaker 4: I mean eleven eleven counties that we're serving, and but yeah,
• 2:13
  Speaker 4: it's a big area, but there's a lot of veterans there.
• 2:16
  Speaker 3: It's a big area and it's a great opportunity too.
• 2:18
  Speaker 1: As we talk about Badger Honor Flight and of course
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: the website Badger Honor Flight dot org. If you are
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: in any of those counties, have got a relative, definitely
• 2:25
  Speaker 1: make sure you let them know about Badger Honorflight dot
• 2:27
  Speaker 1: org and register and get that information right online. And
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: one of the things that we're going to talk about
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: specifically is, of course you recently announced your fall flight
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: schedule and they're going to be here in no time.
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: In the first one goes out September sixth and joining
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: us as she does on Madison in the morning, Katie
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: is with us, and Katie, you are going to be traveling,
• 2:49
  Speaker 1: aren't you.
• 2:49
  Speaker 5: That's right, and thank you for the opportunity, Brian. I'm
• 2:52
  Speaker 5: very very excited.
• 2:54
  Speaker 2: We're happy to your coming along.
• 2:55
  Speaker 1: Let's talk Brian about and for I had the opportunity
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: a couple of years agoob and also had an opportunity
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: to travel on an honor flight as well. Let's talk
• 3:04
  Speaker 1: a little bit with Katie about the day. Let's kind
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: of explain to her and others what exactly what actually
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: goes on during an honor flight.
• 3:11
  Speaker 4: First part of the day starts at sendoff, and that's
• 3:14
  Speaker 4: where Katie will get an opportunity to meet up with
• 3:17
  Speaker 4: her veteran who I don't believe they've yet or talked yet.
• 3:21
  Speaker 4: I know we're we just did the pairing this week, and.
• 3:24
  Speaker 2: So it's send off. That's where we do the registration.
• 3:27
  Speaker 4: That's where veterans and families get a chance to meet
• 3:30
  Speaker 4: each other, meet our Badger Honor Flight volunteers, have some
• 3:33
  Speaker 4: coffee and donuts from the American Red Cross, and then
• 3:38
  Speaker 4: there we're going to do a small sit and send
• 3:40
  Speaker 4: off ceremony. We'll do, We'll have some guest speakers, we'll
• 3:44
  Speaker 4: talk about the flight itself. This particular flight is being
• 3:50
  Speaker 4: paid for by generous donations and funds raised by cop
• 3:54
  Speaker 4: Key's Greenhouse in Oregon.
• 3:57
  Speaker 2: And so after we're.
• 3:58
  Speaker 4: Done with that ceremony, we'll get on the plane at
• 4:01
  Speaker 4: seven o'clock and head on off to DC.
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: Yeah.
• 4:04
  Speaker 3: I see, And you mentioned that that first part.
• 4:06
  Speaker 1: And one of the things that and Katie get ready
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: for this is there is something and and Brian, I
• 4:13
  Speaker 1: know you guys work so hard at putting these together.
• 4:17
  Speaker 1: There's always it seems to be like every step along
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: the way there's something special and something memorable, and even
• 4:22
  Speaker 1: that before these these veterans leave Madison, leave Dane County,
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: it's such a special event taking place at Dane County Regional,
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: isn't it?
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: Yes? It is?
• 4:34
  Speaker 4: I mean, and I could there are so many details
• 4:38
  Speaker 4: and that I could go over, but I want I
• 4:41
  Speaker 4: don't want to ruin all the surprises for Katie and
• 4:43
  Speaker 4: the others going on the trip. But got to come
• 4:45
  Speaker 4: out and see it for yourself.
• 4:46
  Speaker 2: But it is a great way to start what is
• 4:49
  Speaker 2: the long day. But it's gonna be one of the
• 4:51
  Speaker 2: days that people won't forget.
• 4:53
  Speaker 1: Let's talk then about the flight out there, and I
• 4:55
  Speaker 1: know that's a somewhat of a downtime, but it's also
• 4:58
  Speaker 1: a great time for I know for a lot of vets.
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: It's it's a great time to connect or reconnect with
• 5:03
  Speaker 1: with folks that they that they've known or or get
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: to know some new new folks and share some experiences
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: and share some stories as well.
• 5:11
  Speaker 2: Right, it's a it's a too our flight.
• 5:13
  Speaker 4: It's an opportunity, uh folks can get up and stand
• 5:17
  Speaker 4: and talked around with each other on the flight.
• 5:20
  Speaker 2: We've this is this is some of the funny stuff
• 5:23
  Speaker 2: that's happened.
• 5:23
  Speaker 4: We've actually had veterans just here, quins thats be placed
• 5:28
  Speaker 4: next each other that haven't seen each other in years.
• 5:30
  Speaker 2: They served in basic training.
• 5:32
  Speaker 4: So those are the kind of things you can't plan
• 5:35
  Speaker 4: for that the meetups. But it's also a great way
• 5:39
  Speaker 4: for for the bedround and flight team to get around
• 5:42
  Speaker 4: and talk with it with the veterans medical team to
• 5:44
  Speaker 4: get around and introduce themselves to the veterans and uh
• 5:48
  Speaker 4: to our flight goes pretty quickly when you when you
• 5:50
  Speaker 4: have things like that, and then.
• 5:51
  Speaker 1: Once you get to d C, I know, it's an
• 5:53
  Speaker 1: action packed day and uh and it's pretty amazing to
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: see to see all of the all the monuments and
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: see the reaction and something Brian you had said the
• 6:02
  Speaker 1: last time we spoke and it really stuck with me,
• 6:05
  Speaker 1: which is, you know, for a lot of these servicemen
• 6:07
  Speaker 1: and women, they've had the opportunity to go go to
• 6:10
  Speaker 1: d C before, a lot of them have, thank goodness,
• 6:12
  Speaker 1: but this is a different experience and kind of playing
• 6:15
  Speaker 1: off that that camaraderie and and that is having a
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: chance to see it with fellow vets and from that perspective,
• 6:22
  Speaker 1: it adds a it adds a specialness, adds a uniqueness
• 6:25
  Speaker 1: to that, to that trip that that I obviously, as
• 6:28
  Speaker 1: somebody who hasn't served, I can't necessarily directly relate to.
• 6:31
  Speaker 1: But you can see it, you can tell, you know
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: that it's something very special for them.
• 6:36
  Speaker 4: It is, and uh, yes, it's You can go out
• 6:40
  Speaker 4: there with your family, you can go out there with
• 6:42
  Speaker 4: a spouse or a close friend, but when you go
• 6:44
  Speaker 4: out there with fellow men and women that you've served with,
• 6:48
  Speaker 4: there is that bonding.
• 6:49
  Speaker 2: And uh, some.
• 6:51
  Speaker 4: Folks have served in conflict areas, some dents, some sort
• 6:57
  Speaker 4: of stateside, but pretty much everyone in the service.
• 7:01
  Speaker 2: Has known someone that they've known.
• 7:03
  Speaker 4: Either from their town or who they served with that
• 7:06
  Speaker 4: their name may be on that wall or at the
• 7:08
  Speaker 4: Vietnam And as you know now, Shanna, the names from
• 7:12
  Speaker 4: Korea or on a wall, that's the brand new addition
• 7:16
  Speaker 4: that was put into place about two to three years ago.
• 7:18
  Speaker 4: So there's a Korean conflict there, and there's the Vietnam.
• 7:21
  Speaker 4: And when you see someone's name, you know and that
• 7:24
  Speaker 4: I'm etched in.
• 7:26
  Speaker 2: Stone, it.
• 7:29
  Speaker 4: Brings out a different set of emotions with your fellow
• 7:32
  Speaker 4: men and women.
• 7:33
  Speaker 1: And as we talk about we talk about that day obviously,
• 7:36
  Speaker 1: the day in d C is there are a lot
• 7:38
  Speaker 1: of things to be seen, a lot of things to
• 7:40
  Speaker 1: be felt, a lot of things to be experienced. And
• 7:42
  Speaker 1: as we started this conversation off, you are definitely actively
• 7:46
  Speaker 1: looking for vets right now to get on future honor
• 7:48
  Speaker 1: flights again. Information and forums applications all available at Badger
• 7:53
  Speaker 1: Honor flight dot org. That's Badger Honor Flight dot org.
• 7:57
  Speaker 1: As we mentioned, Katie's going to be traveling out coming
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: up here on the six with you and Katie, one
• 8:01
  Speaker 1: of the cool things you're going to get to do
• 8:03
  Speaker 1: is get to document some of this and share your experience.
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: And I know that's something you're really looking forward to.
• 8:09
  Speaker 1: But for you, as we've kind of talked a little
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: bit about bad your honor flight, as you're getting ready
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: to go, what are you kind of looking most forward to?
• 8:17
  Speaker 5: Katie, I'm just very excited for the day in general,
• 8:20
  Speaker 5: very excited that I got this opportunity.
• 8:22
  Speaker 3: I absolutely love DC.
• 8:24
  Speaker 5: I've been before on family trips and class trips, but
• 8:27
  Speaker 5: it's been almost ten years since i've been there, so
• 8:29
  Speaker 5: very excited to.
• 8:30
  Speaker 3: Get back there.
• 8:31
  Speaker 5: I'm just a big fan of American history and things
• 8:34
  Speaker 5: like that, and I'm just excited for that more special
• 8:38
  Speaker 5: aspect of it. Like you said, I've heard it's a
• 8:41
  Speaker 5: very long day and that you have to get up early,
• 8:43
  Speaker 5: but for me, it's not any earlier than I have
• 8:45
  Speaker 5: to get up to be here. And so I'm it's
• 8:47
  Speaker 5: all going to be worth it, and I'm sure it's
• 8:49
  Speaker 5: going to be extremely rewarding. I'm excited to get to
• 8:51
  Speaker 5: meet my veteran and kind of form a little relationship.
• 8:54
  Speaker 1: And yeah, and that's and and Brian, that's one of
• 8:57
  Speaker 1: the as Katie mentions, you know, getting to know the uh,
• 9:00
  Speaker 1: the veterans, and and obviously if you're if you're volunteering,
• 9:03
  Speaker 1: and if you're if you're you know, as as a chaperone.
• 9:06
  Speaker 3: That's a that's a unique bond as well, isn't.
• 9:08
  Speaker 4: Yes, most of our veterans have selected their guardian to
• 9:14
  Speaker 4: go with him on the trip. And we do have
• 9:16
  Speaker 4: a very small select few who either don't have family
• 9:19
  Speaker 4: or they have too many family members that they don't
• 9:23
  Speaker 4: want to cause family favor right by choosing one by
• 9:26
  Speaker 4: choosing a favorite over another. So Katie, Katie is amongst
• 9:30
  Speaker 4: a very elaite group and uh, and we we use
• 9:34
  Speaker 4: folks such as in the media to help to go
• 9:37
  Speaker 4: along and experiences and help talk about what it's like
• 9:41
  Speaker 4: from the veteran and from a different perspective.
• 9:43
  Speaker 1: And we think about that unique experiences is the guardians
• 9:46
  Speaker 1: that are that are there. And and the other thing
• 9:49
  Speaker 1: too is we think too about the unique opportunity and
• 9:52
  Speaker 1: and uh, you know, we're we're losing veterans every day,
• 9:55
  Speaker 1: and and we think about the opportunity for for younger
• 9:58
  Speaker 1: folks to to get to meet some of these veterans.
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: And that brings us to the welcome back ceremony. Obviously,
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: the day is action packed. We could probably spend hours
• 10:07
  Speaker 1: and hours talking about that about that day because there's
• 10:10
  Speaker 1: just so much that goes on the return flight, there's
• 10:12
  Speaker 1: stuff going on, and then there's a big welcome back
• 10:15
  Speaker 1: reception at Dane County Regional. Let's talk about that and
• 10:19
  Speaker 1: also talk about the importance I think of bringing younger
• 10:21
  Speaker 1: folks out to meet the veterans, to shake their hand,
• 10:25
  Speaker 1: to experience and appreciate firsthand.
• 10:27
  Speaker 3: That's a heck of an event, isn't it.
• 10:28
  Speaker 2: Brian.
• 10:29
  Speaker 4: It's hard to describe and just the emotion the righteousness.
• 10:35
  Speaker 4: I mean, there's going to be a badger game, and
• 10:37
  Speaker 4: you're going to hear that crowd sharing. That's the loudness
• 10:41
  Speaker 4: that you get at Dean County Airport with thousands of
• 10:43
  Speaker 4: people that go from one end of the airport all
• 10:46
  Speaker 4: the way down to almost baggage claim. We have a
• 10:49
  Speaker 4: ban plane, we'll have a cheer squaw that's there. We'll
• 10:54
  Speaker 4: have a color guard that we'll lead off and lead
• 10:57
  Speaker 4: the veteran pary down the middle of the airport, and
• 11:01
  Speaker 4: we invite our flight alumni or prior veterans to come
• 11:05
  Speaker 4: on out. And so when our veterans come down the escalator,
• 11:08
  Speaker 4: that's the first group. It's kind of like you know,
• 11:10
  Speaker 4: they're being inducted into a very elite group, and they
• 11:15
  Speaker 4: meet them, and then the families are there. And as
• 11:19
  Speaker 4: you said, it is important not only for the families
• 11:22
  Speaker 4: come on out, but also the members of the community
• 11:24
  Speaker 4: to come on out and thank these men and women
• 11:28
  Speaker 4: for putting the uniform on, whether they enlist it or not.
• 11:33
  Speaker 4: And they have served this great nation and given us
• 11:36
  Speaker 4: the liberties and the freedoms and all the great things
• 11:40
  Speaker 4: we enjoy as Americans. And I encourage families to bring
• 11:45
  Speaker 4: out their young kids. We have a poster making area,
• 11:47
  Speaker 4: we have face painting, We have a lot of great
• 11:50
  Speaker 4: activities to occupy families and for everyone just to enjoy themselves.
• 11:56
  Speaker 4: And the flight will land about nine fifteen on Saturday night.
• 12:00
  Speaker 1: And and you mentioned, of course it's it's right at
• 12:04
  Speaker 1: Dane County Regional. And with that, with that too, Brian
• 12:08
  Speaker 1: is is I know you guys keep a complete, complete
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: schedule of events up at Badger Honor Flight dot org.
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: You mentioned though you mentioned of course with football season underway,
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: and one of the big things that that I like
• 12:21
  Speaker 1: to always ask you about is other ways that folks
• 12:23
  Speaker 1: can help out. And and an area car dealership has
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: stepped up in a big way. And I know you
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: guys get a lot of a lot of fantastic businesses
• 12:33
  Speaker 1: that come and help out, whether it's sponsoring flight altogether
• 12:36
  Speaker 1: or separate parts or or certain events. One of the
• 12:40
  Speaker 1: car dealerships is doing something with a great tie in.
• 12:43
  Speaker 1: Not only can you can you help badge your honor flight,
• 12:45
  Speaker 1: but you may win some fantastic football related prizes.
• 12:49
  Speaker 3: Let's talk about about this this raffle that's going on.
• 12:53
  Speaker 4: Yes, So Simden Chevrolet of Manticello. They themselves and also
• 12:57
  Speaker 4: some other Fellows associates are working with us and we're
• 13:02
  Speaker 4: having a raffle. We're selling one thousand tickets ten dollars
• 13:06
  Speaker 4: a piece or three for twenty five and we have
• 13:08
  Speaker 4: some great prizes two sets of two tickets to the
• 13:13
  Speaker 4: Packers Bengals game, fifty yard line tickets, and two sets
• 13:18
  Speaker 4: of two tickets to the Badger Ohio State game in October,
• 13:22
  Speaker 4: and then we have some other prizes. And if you're
• 13:25
  Speaker 4: interested in those buying raffle tickets, we can we can
• 13:31
  Speaker 4: work with you, contact you, meet you. So reach out
• 13:36
  Speaker 4: to Treasure at Badger Honorflight dot org if you're interested,
• 13:41
  Speaker 4: or you can call us at six oh eight six
• 13:45
  Speaker 4: one six zero two four three and we will have
• 13:47
  Speaker 4: one of our volunteers get in.
• 13:49
  Speaker 2: Touch with you and get you those tickets.
• 13:51
  Speaker 4: And the other thing that they're doing too is for
• 13:53
  Speaker 4: the entire month of September, they're doing for every test
• 13:56
  Speaker 4: drive that you do, they are giving us twenty dollars
• 14:00
  Speaker 4: and then if you do buy a vehicle, they're going
• 14:02
  Speaker 4: to give us even more money. Oh wow, So they
• 14:04
  Speaker 4: are really stepping.
• 14:05
  Speaker 3: Up is substantial. That is amazing.
• 14:08
  Speaker 1: So again, of course treasurer at Badger Honorflight dot org.
• 14:12
  Speaker 1: You can email. Of course you can buy the tickets
• 14:14
  Speaker 1: as well. I'm assuming if you stop into the simd
• 14:17
  Speaker 1: in location they would they've got those available there as well.
• 14:21
  Speaker 1: And Brian as we as we kind of wrap things up,
• 14:24
  Speaker 1: we mentioned, of course website Badger Honorflight dot org. Social
• 14:27
  Speaker 1: media has been a big thing, but also you guys
• 14:29
  Speaker 1: got a great mailing list as well, and folks should
• 14:32
  Speaker 1: get on that because it keeps them posted as far
• 14:33
  Speaker 1: as all the different events and at different flights and
• 14:36
  Speaker 1: different ways folks can help out, can't they.
• 14:38
  Speaker 4: Yeah, it's a great way to find out about the
• 14:40
  Speaker 4: events we got coming out the world. So it's a
• 14:42
  Speaker 4: great way to find out how you can get involved
• 14:44
  Speaker 4: with us as a volunteer. We're always looking for administration, medical,
• 14:49
  Speaker 4: and just folks that will work any of the fundraising
• 14:52
  Speaker 4: events we got coming up.
• 14:53
  Speaker 3: So it'll be a great place to go.
• 14:55
  Speaker 1: Bad Your Honorflight dot or Katie's going to be taking
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: the flight out there should be documented as well. I'll
• 14:59
  Speaker 1: make sure following on and Katie. Folks don't know this,
• 15:01
  Speaker 1: by the way, I don't even know I Brian knows this.
• 15:03
  Speaker 1: You have a side hustle, which is what do you do?
• 15:07
  Speaker 5: Photography is uh pobby of mine but also another part
• 15:10
  Speaker 5: time job of mine.
• 15:11
  Speaker 1: Yes, so she'll we taking some great pictures of post
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: clips Katie as well. So, Brian, thank you so much
• 15:16
  Speaker 1: for your time, thank you for joining us this morning,
• 15:18
  Speaker 1: and look forward to seeing you on the sixth and
• 15:21
  Speaker 1: seeing you guys when you all get back from that
• 15:24
  Speaker 1: fantastic day. Thank you for all the great working you,
• 15:26
  Speaker 1: thank you for your service, and we'll talk real soon,
• 15:28
  Speaker 1: my friend, thank you, and again that website Badger Honor
• 15:31
  Speaker 1: flight dot org. That's Badger Honor Flight dot org. Katie,
• 15:35
  Speaker 1: get some comfortable shoes because you're gonna need it.
• 15:37
  Speaker 5: We'll do, and looking forward to seeing you on the
• 15:40
  Speaker 5: fifth for training Brian and flight on the sixth.
• 15:42
  Speaker 3: News comes your way next right here on thirteen ten
• 15:45
  Speaker 3: wu ib A