Passing the Colors: Focus on the National Convention and our Change of Command
#StillServing: The VFW Podcast
Release Date: 08/03/2021
Remember the Ramrods: A Discussion with David Bellavia
#StillServing: The VFW Podcast
Welcome to the new season of the VFW podcast. The new season will spotlight the recent changes within the veteran community from new initiatives to books being released to new laws that have been passed and updates to benefits. Host Rob Couture is pleased to welcome back David Bellavia to the podcast. David is a Medal of Honor recipient from the Iraq War. Since the last time he was on the show he released his new book, Remember the Ramrods: An Army Brotherhood in War and Peace. In this book, he talks about his brothers-in-arms. The ones he served with over in Iraq, and how the medal of...
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Medal of Honor Recipient Earl Plumlee
#StillServing: The VFW Podcast
Happy Veterans Day. As veterans, we all have our war stories, but none are greater than the ones that come from our Medal of Honor recipients. For this Veterans Day, we have a very special interview. Rob had the privilege of recording earlier this year with Medal of Honor recipient Army Master Sergeant Earl Plumlee, a Special Forces Operations Team sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan in August of 2013. Earl Plumlee, Army Master Sergeant, Medal of Honor Recipient The idea that Special Forces are elite teams who...
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Hispanic Heritage Month
#StillServing: The VFW Podcast
The observance of National Hispanic Heritage month goes on every year from September 15th to October 15th to honor the lives of American citizens with Hispanic heritage. That goes the same for the VFW as we are just a melting pot, a reflection of the greater society of our great nation. Although we are all different strands, America is much stronger when we are braided together, and nothing does that more than military service. Through the camaraderie, we are unidos, or joined together. Rob’s guests on today’s episode are two gentlemen who have very different Hispanic backgrounds,...
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Landmark Legislation: a Discussion About the PACT Act with Jon Stewart
#StillServing: The VFW Podcast
A little more than a month has passed since the landmark legislation of the PACT Act was signed into law by President Biden at the White House. It was a much-celebrated win for many of the VSOs and for veteran advocates who worked hard for so long to get a bill passed in Congress to finally award veterans the benefits and care they need after suffering for so long with the effects of toxic exposure during their military service. Recently, Host Rob Couture had the unique opportunity to host and moderate a discussion on the PACT Act with Director of National Legislative Service, Pat...
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On Location: The VFW 123rd National Convention in Kansas City
#StillServing: The VFW Podcast
The 123rd VFW National Convention just concluded at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City Missouri. It was the first time the convention has been back in full swing since 2019. One of the new things was an exhibit sound stage in the exhibit hall where #StillServing Podcast Host Rob Couture had the pleasure of interviewing sponsors, exhibitors, comrades, and special guests. Ryan Gallucci, Director of the VFW’s National Veteran Service Ryan describes all of the available services at the convention including the Claims Clinic and Health Fair provided by the NVS. [2:29] ...
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Giving Veterans A Fighting Chance: Focus on Charity through Mixed Martial Arts
#StillServing: The VFW Podcast
Ever since the invention of war, combat sports seem to have been part of the military community. It is something integral to the warrior class. Whether it be wrestling, grappling, boxing, martial arts, or even modern-day combatives, veterans, for the most part, across generations love a good fight. Or, at least, love watching them. In this episode, Host Rob Couture welcomes back to #StillServing Extreme Sports Enthusiast, Veterans Advocate, and MMA Fighter Ricky Folse. He’ll tell us about the charity MMA fight event he’s putting together down in Louisiana called Summer Salute, as he...
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Why We Are Still Serving: Finding Your Place in the VFW
#StillServing: The VFW Podcast
Each of us has a different reason for why we joined the VFW or why we joined a veterans service organization. Maybe it's because we needed help with our veterans’ claim, and we found a service officer that offered us to be part of their organization? Maybe we were looking for the comradery we missed when we left the military? Or, maybe, we were just looking for a way that we could still serve even though we were no longer in uniform? In this episode, Host Rob Couture is joined by VFW Assistant Adjutant General Dan West. A proud Texan who tells us about his long and illustrious career...
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Command Visit — Hawaii and a Discussion with DPAA
#StillServing: The VFW Podcast
This episode of the #StillServing podcast aptly drops on the National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, April 9th. During the podcast, Rob speaks with Tim Borland, VFW Senior Vice Commander-In-Chief, and Duane Sarmiento, VFW Junior Vice Commander-In-Chief, about their informative trip to Hawaii to discover how the VFW can better support troops in the field. During their visit to the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, they see firsthand how the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) works to bring back the remains of POW/MIA service members. To describe the mission of the DPAA in detail...
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Poised, Polished and Empowered: Focus on Female Competitive Fitness
#StillServing: The VFW Podcast
The month of March is Women’s History Month and National Nutrition Month. To recognize them both in one episode, Host Rob Couture speaks with two women who are the epitome of poise, polish, and empowerment. Rachelle Cannon and Julia Waring are both veterans and professional bodybuilders. During the interview, Rob inquires about their respective military academies, their military service, and how they maintain their physical prowess for competitions and beyond. Rachelle Cannon, U.S. Coast Guard Veteran, Prevention & Wellness Program Manager and IFBB Pro Physique Competitor + Julia...
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Everyone Has A Story To Tell: Focus on Black History Month
#StillServing: The VFW Podcast
February is a significant month when it comes to black history. The 13th amendment, which abolished slavery, was passed by the House of Representatives on January 31, 1865, and the following day President Lincoln approved a joint resolution of congress submitting it to the state legislature for ratification. Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’s birthdays are also in February. It's no wonder that the second week of February was chosen as National Negro History week back in 1926. Other important dates like the founding of the NAACP on Feb 12th, 1909 was the centennial anniversary of the...
info_outlineant is a present reminder that this pandemic is not quite over. Nevertheless, we must press on with life and continue to get after business even if we've got to make adjustments in the way we do things. The VFW's 2021 National Convention is proof that our organization can and will make things happen.
During this episode of the #StillServing podcast, Host Rob Couture speaks with the three leaders guiding the VFW through this time of transition. First, he speaks to the Adjutant General of the VFW, Kevin Jones, to learn about the tough decisions and hard work that brought about this year's business-only convention. Then the VFW's outgoing Commander-In-Chief Hal Roesch looks back at this year in the chair, and finally he introduces us to the VFW's incoming Commander-In-Chief, Fritz Mihelcic to understand his priorities and vision for this next year.
Kevin Jones, VFW Adjutant General —
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Kevin shares his Air Force service story. [2:47]
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Looking back at the 2020s VFW virtual convention and ahead to the 2021s business-only convention. [5:55]
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Kevin gives an audible tour of the logistics and safety protocols of the VFW convention. [14:33]
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The VFW gave everything they had during the difficult time during COVID. [19:53]
Hal Roesch, Outgoing Commander-in-Chief, VFW —
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In the Air Force, Hal was part of the most successful US military campaign, Desert Shield/Desert Storm. [24:05]
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How Hal became a member of the VFW during his active-duty service. [29:24]
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The fellowship and benefit of a VFW membership at the Post level. [33:35]
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A pandemic, the end of a war, and racial strife, how Hal led the VFW during the difficult days. [39:58]
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What veterans and community members need to keep in mind during the political process. [45:42]
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Hal speaks his final comments for the VFW organization. [54:49]
Fritz Mihelcic, VFW Commander-In-Chief—
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Born in Germany, Fritz started his service story in the National Guard because he is proud to serve this country. [1:00:31]
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The future of the VFW is to make the world a better place for all military generations. [1:05:47]
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Fritz traveled physically and virtually to perform as much member outreach as possible as Vice Commander during 2020. [1:12:24]
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How to leverage social media to tell the VFW story. [1:16:05]
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To break the cycle of PTSD, a service dog named Mama is Fritz’s partner. [1:25:31]
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The time is now to focus on veterans’ service and legislation. [1:32:44]
For more information or continue the conversation, please visit:
Veterans of Foreign Wars Website
Call 1-888-JOIN-VFW
Text “NEEDS” to 20222 to donate to the Unmet Needs Program