QC Veterans’ Roll Call Radio Show, November 20, 2016

Greetings All!

Today's show offers you a little bit of everything.  We start with Ms. Lola VanDewalle with The QC Veterans Outreach Center.  She stopped by the studios to chat about this new endeavor.  She shared with us that the inspiration for this center was her Father.  At seventeen, he enlisted and fought in the Pacific Theater of World War II, earning a Purple Heart.  The center celebrated their grand opening yesterday, November 19, 2016.

The QC Veterans Outreach Center has been established to fill a gap in the servicing of our Veterans.  Here's a link to the story that was run on WHBF-Channel 4 News.

QC Veterans Outreach Center is located at 250 West 35th Street in Davenport, Iowa.  If you would like to make a donation or learn more about how to support this great new addition to our community, please visit their webite.

Our second guest was Iowa Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds.  We started our discussion with the "Home Base Iowa" program.  Home Base Iowa is a great opportunity for Veterans either come home or relocate in Here is how you can learn more about Home Base Iowa.

Lt. Gov Reynolds is the Honorary Chair of the Million Women Mentors-Iowa.  This organization's goal is to empower young women to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or better known as STEM.  We discussed how Veterans could serve as mentors in Iowa and across the nation.  Here is the link to the Iowa website.

The Lt. Gov also offered some advice on the election and praised Iowa's inclusive tradition and problem-solving habits at the governmental level.  She also encouraged people to find a way to get involved with issues that matter to them.

You can read Lt. Governor Reynolds' bio here.

Our third guest was Mr Bill Christman with "The Thank The SEALs Motorcycle Ride."  This ride started two years ago when Bill, inspired to give back, rode to Dallas, Texas to present Rob O'Neill, the Navy SEAL credited with killing Bin Laden, a fund-raising check.  One year later, the ride had grown to 100 riders.  This year's ride is scheduled for July 29, 2017.

Bill explained that while motorcycle riders are certainly welcomed, one does not have to ride to participate.  Also, there will be ample opportunities in the coming year to contribute to the cause.  The theme for this year's ride is, "Veterans first, one family at a time."

Last week, we interviewed Navy SEALs Sonny and McB who were in town for the orgainational meeting for next year's ride.  To learn more about Thank The SEALs Motorcycle Ride, please visit the group's website.

We wrapped up our show with a book review, The Daily Stoic.  I have been a fan of Ryan Holiday's work for a while and find a LOT of applications to Stoicism and our daily lives.  The basic idea of this philosophy is one can truly only control two things:  Their thoughts and their actions.  One of the most famous Stoics is a veteran...in a loosely defined way.  Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor who kept a "battlefield journal."  This later became Meditations, arguably the most famous Stoic work.

Holiday and his co-author, Stephen Hanselman, give both a review of Stoicism and also provide daily guides on how to apply this philosophy on a daily basis.  I have listened to this audio book and find it to be worth the investment in both time and money.

Here is the website for The Daily Stoic.  You can also check out the book here from Amazon or Audible.

Just a bit of housekeeping, as always, when we feature an organization, or cause or book or "fill in the blank ______" there is no official endorsement from Townsquare Media.  The thoughts on the radio show are mine as the host and our guests.  We are able highlighting all the great stuff going on in the Quad Cities for our Veterans, military, their families, advocates and caregivers.  We welcome suggestions on guests, good causes, books, articles, just about anything.  If you are on Facebook, please swing by our page and ask to join, we would love to have you as a member.

Finally, our show will be taking a break for the Thanksgiving holiday.  We wish everyone a joyous holiday and go ahead, eat too much!  Celebrate all that is terrific about this most of American holidays.  I'd just ask that in between food, family and football, you take a moment to remember those who are eating their dinner on plastic trays.  There is no "day off," just a meal break.  They are are sibling citizens serving on active duty and yes, in harms' way.  Here's to an extra helping of "thanks" to these brave men and women.  May next year's Thanksgiving be with their loved ones.

Thanks for supporting "QC Veterans' Roll Call.  We'll be back on the air on December 4th.  In the meantime, "FALL OUT!"

Best rgs,

Jeno