Where Patriotism Becomes Action

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Mira la izquierda, mira la derecha, ¿qué ves? ¿Dónde estás? In a world that seems to change daily, what will you do next? Welcome to The Next Steps Show with Peter Vazquez, a starting point for discussion y un poco de dirección.

Another beautiful Friday, ladies and gentlemen. Absolutely, positively beautiful outside. God, country, and family are always a reason to get up, look out in the morning, and say, “Man, I love waking up.” You know that I truly believe that.

Ladies and gentlemen, there are some sacrifices this country sees clearly. We know that, right? The uniform. The deployment that our soldiers, Marines, airmen, and women go on. The ceremonies we love to have around this nation. Almost every month we see something. Those ceremonies are wonderful: the flag folded with trembling hands and handed to families who lost their loved one defending this nation, defending God, country, y familia.

But there are other sacrifices that we often miss. We do not see them at the celebrations as often. That is the spouse or the child holding the house together after the flag was handed, or during deployment. That is the child sitting there, counting the days at seven years old, wondering when Dad or Mom is going to come back from this war being fought to ensure that life, liberty, and justice are something everybody can experience.

That is the parent praying through the night so their son or daughter does not die before them. That is the veteran who comes home with wounds that never appear in photographs.

Check it out, ladies and gentlemen. This is an old American truth we need to remember. Never forget, although sometimes it seems that we do. When one person serves, the whole family serves. I can tell you that with firsthand experience, mi amigos. And when that service leaves wounds, burdens, and silence behind, la comunidad has a deep responsibility and duty to step in and help.

To have this conversation today, I invited somebody who reached out and said, “Mira, I want everybody to know the help that they can provide.” She chose to do it, and that is the honorable Lauren Coe, Founder of One Soldier at a Time. Lauren, bienvenida to The Next Steps Show.

Thank you so much for having me here, Peter. Thank you so much.

No, the pleasure is mine. Briefly, tell our listeners who you are. Who is Lauren Coe, and what brought you to the point where you decided to help veterans and their families?

That is a pretty weighty question, believe it or not. I come from a military family. My dad served in World War II and the Korean War. He loved our country with his whole heart. He gave, even after he was done serving. He was still giving.

He never talked about it. I did not actually learn about everything he did and his sacrifices until we read his log after he passed away. In his log, I found out that he was actually at Normandy. He talked about the carnage they had to pull out of the water, loading people up, and trying to have as much respect for them as possible during wartime. It was gut-wrenching to read that.

I always had more of a heart for the military, but then when the Iraq War started, a dear friend of mine had her son overseas. He was slated to come home in two weeks, and instead of coming home, he came home in a box two weeks before he was supposed to return. It was absolutely gut-wrenching.

They started something called a Molly Fund, and I did not have a lot of money. This was over twenty years ago. I said, “I can at least give ten percent of my income for that month.” So I did that to start because his daughter was only five years old.

Shortly after that, another friend had her son go into the military. He came home safe and sound, but she was really struggling. She started a project called Full Circle Home, which was amazing. I said, “More people need to be doing something like that.” I just felt like the Holy Spirit said, “Why not you?”

I said, “I could never do what she does.” And I felt like the Lord said, “You just do you, and do not profit.” I said, “Okay.”

You shared that publicly in November of 2023, when ESL was presenting your organization with recognition. You said that. Explain “Why not me?” Many people would ask that question, but so many people do not answer it in the affirmative.

I did not feel qualified. Back then, finances were really tight. I was a single mom. I had just gotten remarried, but I was still in that single-mom mentality. I did not really know a lot of people. I did not have a lot of connections. But I knew God. I knew that if He was going to bring me to it, He was going to bring me through it. So I said, “Okay, I am going to do this.”

We started by sponsoring 22 military moms with gifts. It was Valentine’s Day at that point. Shortly after that, we saw the need to send care packages overseas. We ended up sending 250 care packages overseas to those with boots on the ground who were really struggling.

Everyone thinks that anyone who is serving has someone sending them gifts, love, and cards, but that is not the case. There are so many who are there all by themselves, and their family becomes their military family. We would send gifts to people we knew overseas, and they would give the rest to the chaplains to hand out to those who were not getting love from home.

Then our biggest project, which is what we are really going to talk about the most, is our veteran project. Over those first couple of years, I started talking to a lot of veterans. We found all the holes that were there. Veterans were not being treated the way they needed to be. They are suffering with PTSD so difficult that they cannot get out the door.

Twenty-two suicides a day is an understatement. It is an understatement. We are not just talking about veterans. We are talking about active duty taking their own lives. That is heartbreaking to me. Where are the systems? Where is the support?

I said, “What can I do?” If we can just take one obstacle out of their way, just one, maybe we can start to end that twenty-two suicides a day. Let us see what we can do.

By doing the Hygiene Packages of Hope, we are making it so that when they are ready to walk out the door, they can walk out clean from head to toe. We are not just giving them anything for hygiene. Hair and body shampoo, cleansers, moisturizers, deodorant, razors, shaving foam, things that help them feel human.

The things we all take for granted, they do not have. The veterans we serve are homeless, impoverished, living in PTSD homes, or in VA hospitals. They are struggling day to day just to get up and make a decision to face the day, let alone face other people, face their family, or get a job. We are trying to do what we can to stand in the gap.

You said you chose 22 military moms or military families. I assume that is because of the Stop the 22 movement, the idea that 22 veterans die by suicide on average every day. Dave Lippa is out there doing great work. The thing that dumbfounds me is that you are not in the military yourself. You were part of a military family, but Dave was not either. Yet you are doing what you do because you care so much about this nation and the people who protected it, even when some of these people you do not even know.

I do not know most of them.

Today they shared a story with us where he would get calls in the middle of the night from veterans contemplating suicide, and he would go sit with them. That is the same kind of heart your organization has. Your organization provides around 3,500 packages a year to local veterans across 11 counties and supports six local PTSD homes.

Let me share some numbers with our listeners for perspective. The ACS 2024 Census profile shows Monroe County has about 28,907 veterans. That represents almost five percent of Monroe County’s nearly 750,000 residents. How many of those people do you think you touch in a year?

This year, we are supplying 3,600 Hygiene Packages of Hope across 11 counties. I do not know the full reach. We could do so much more, but it costs money to do so much more. We are doing what we can. I am hoping that maybe someone hearing this is saying, “You know something? I could do that,” or, “I want to be part of it. I want to sponsor. I want to volunteer.” Everyone has time, talent, and treasure. We will take all of them.

The Department of Veterans Affairs reported this past February that there were over 6,000 veteran suicides. That is approximately 22 a day. That is insane. Let us talk about the funds, because you keep saying it is not cheap. I have to assume, especially because of the population you are serving, the numbers and statistics around homelessness, drug addiction, depression, and everything else are not in their favor.

How can people help? You already have a list of people helping you.

I do have a list in front of me.

Let us expose them.

First, I want to give Vital Signs a huge shout-out because they do all of our signage. They have not taken a penny for eight years. Not one penny, because they want to make sure they can help get the word out.

That is a commitment they have made. With the work that you do, that has to be a really big penny they are not taking because signage is not inexpensive.

No, and they do a lot of work. We are not talking about ten posters. We are talking about hundreds every year.

Skip’s in Fairport and Skip’s on the Ridge provide all the meats for our event so every veteran who comes to our event can get a fabulous meal at no cost.

Free?

Free.

And when you say Skip’s provides the meal, are we talking no charge?

No charge.

So these are local businesses saying, “We can do this because we care about God, country, and family.” Please continue.

John Wright Law Firm has supported us for four or five years now. Just amazing. Top Shelf Exhibits. Native Haze. Native Haze is very near and dear to my heart because my son served in the Navy. After he got out of the Navy, he was hit by a semi-truck while on his motorcycle and was paralyzed from the waist down.

As a mom, getting that phone call is literally gut-wrenching. They had him on all this medication. I will tell you now, he is walking. They said he would never walk. I said, “I rebuke that in the name of Jesus. He is going to walk. He is going to run. He is going to dance.”

He is walking. He is even into some martial arts now, learning better balance. He is off all the meds. The reason I love Native Haze being part of this is because he is able to use medical marijuana to relieve the pain and stress. It is phenomenal.

When we get back from break, we are going to continue with that list. Ladies and gentlemen, here in studio I have Lauren Coe, Founder of One Soldier at a Time. Lines are open: 585-346-3000 or 866-552-1009. Talk to us. Call in. How can I help? I will be right back, right here on WYSL, WLEA, Voice of Liberty’s Next Steps Show.

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The youth of our city are in a new crisis. Criminal justice reform has created the consequences of no consequences and generated a whole new generation of 12- to 17-year-old kids committing serious crimes. Never before have we had this level of youthful offenders. But 90 percent of these kids are just trying to do the right thing and need a safe sanctuary to retreat to. That is Rochester Youth for Christ. You can be part of this solution by giving generously and regularly at yfcrochester.org/donate.

Peter Vazquez and The Next Steps Show on the Voice of Liberty.

Appropriate music in celebration of those wonderful 6,287 veterans just in the City of Rochester, representing almost four percent of where I grew up. I am so proud to be part of that number.

Check this out, though. Rochester’s poverty rate is 29.1 percent. Sad news. It is double the state and national rates, and that impacts an enormous number of veterans.

VA also reported that 61 percent of veterans who died by suicide in 2023 alone were not able to receive VA health care in the last year of their life. The only question I have to that is why? ¿Por qué? What is going on in our nation?

Before we get back to the list, ladies and gentlemen, we have the honorable Lauren Coe, Founder of One Soldier at a Time. In that same ESL Q&A from November 2023, you said many suffer with survivor’s guilt. Can you talk to us a little bit about that and tell us what you meant?

Angel is one of our military moms. We now serve 300 moms and wives per year. One of our moms had a son overseas with some other guys. They went into a very bad situation where there was a young boy strapped with bombs. They had a choice. They had to either take him out or they would be taken out, and everyone with them. They had to take him out because they needed to protect the rest of their unit.

Sadly, to this day, all four who had to go in and do that have taken their lives. The first three went, and then Angel’s son was last year. It is gut-wrenching to deliver a gift and ask, “How come they are not here?” Then you go back on Mother’s Day and find out why. She had to bury her son because he had survivor’s guilt and guilt over what happened.

That is just one example. Survivor’s guilt happens because they have gone into a situation and lost multiple brothers and sisters in arms. They are gone, and the person still alive does not feel worthy to be alive. They think, “Why am I alive, but they are not?”

Thank you for sharing that. People really do need to understand the impact of serving in uniform, whether in the military, RPD, law enforcement, or EMS. My son is EMS and in the military.

When I got out of the military, Lauren, I could not bring myself to use VA services because of survivor’s guilt. I came home with four limbs. Maybe not all there in my head, but I figured there were people I served with who needed those services way more than I did.

I can only imagine in a situation like the story you just shared. Ladies and gentlemen, 585-346-3000 or 866-552-1009. Lines are definitely open.

One Soldier at a Time, the organization this phenomenal individual, the honorable Lauren Coe, started, supports veterans who are homeless, impoverished, living in PTSD homes, or in VA hospitals through bedding, clothing, pots and pans, hygiene packages, coffee, and Christmas stockings. But also the child and the family.

Let us continue with this list because the individuals helping you help these families have to be mentioned as well. Call this number. We will make sure we get your contact information out there before the end of the show so people can contribute and add themselves to this list.

Thank you. Longtime friend Lori Enos from Keller Williams has been supporting me since we started. She is amazing, just an amazing human being. She has been such a huge support. She supports our event and supports me throughout the year. Anything I need, she helps connect me with other radio stations and TV stations. She is always out there to lend a helping hand.

Finger Lakes Federal Credit Union is coming alongside us for the first time this year, and we are super excited about that. Wegmans literally supplies all the food, the extra food we might need for the event, and they also give us cash to help cover extra costs.

Walmart helps us out all throughout the year. Multiple Walmarts.

Not just one specific store?

No. We are talking all over these counties. They see that we applied for a grant, and they give it to us. It is amazing.

It says a lot for an organization. They do not need to look into the community, but stores like Walmart understand the social impact of their business. Maybe it is selfish on their side, maybe not, but the fact is they are getting involved in their community. That is all we can ask.

It is phenomenal. I cannot tell you how many Walmart stores have come to the plate. The most we have ever received from all the different Walmart locations was about $17,000 in one year. Between all the different Walmarts, that was amazing. Webster Walmart also donates a 65-inch color TV to our event, which is amazing.

Do you want me to keep going with the list?

Okay. Vision Automotive Group and Lamar Advertising are going to be putting our event on billboards all over Monroe County and different counties for the month of July so we can get the word out. There should not be one veteran or active-duty service member left behind, because this event is free to all active duty and veterans. They get in free. We have three fabulous bands, and they can choose their dinner for free.

Both Vision Automotive Group and Lamar Advertising are going to make it possible for everyone to see that this event is happening. Getting the word out is huge to me.

Their billboards are all over the place. All of that is being given to your organization free?

Yes.

Let me ask you a question before we continue. In that November 2023 Q&A, you made another statement: freedom is not free. Yet all these people are going into their closets and bank accounts and saying, “We are going to do this because these people ensured that our freedom, which is not free, can be enjoyed because of the sacrifices they made.”

What do you mean by that statement, freedom is not free?

Someone had to pay the price. Those who chose to sign on the dotted line, up to and including their lives, are our heroes. Those are the men and women who have chosen to serve in all the different branches, whether they are serving overseas or behind a desk.

People say, “I was behind a desk. I was not actually in active duty.” They do not understand. If that person was not doing their job behind the desk, the people on the front line could not do their job because they need them. Everyone is critical. It is like trying to walk without your toe.

That is another concept that took me a second to understand. I worked for a general. I joined the military when I was 17. Initially, it was not patriotic. I needed to get out of that hellhole called Rochester because I knew there was more to life than what they were telling me. I got into the military and did my thing. Then I realized that patriotism is exactly what you are talking about. God has a funny way of teaching us some things, does He not?

Yes, He does.

Ladies and gentlemen, the heart of One Soldier at a Time is practical service. Not vague compassion. Not slogans dressed up like a solution. Practical service. One of the things you brought up earlier was Hygiene Packages of Hope. You cannot do that by yourself.

Ladies and gentlemen, in studio I have the honorable Lauren Coe, Founder of One Soldier at a Time. Lines are open: 585-346-3000. We will be right back, right here with Peter Vazquez and The Next Steps Show on WYSL, WLEA, Voice of Liberty.

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It is a patriotic day, ladies and gentlemen, especially as we go into Memorial Day week to remember all of our veterans.

A quick shout-out to our sponsor, yfcrochester.org. YFC Rochester, under the leadership of a veteran himself, Pastor Mike Hennessy, is ensuring that our young people in the City of Rochester, with that 6,000-plus veteran population, understand the concept of God, country, and family by providing a life-style hygiene package: mentors, people who guide these individuals with solid advice. Not just superficial “stay in school,” but actually working with them, studying with them, showing them the joy of learning so we have future police officers, future firemen and women, and future military personnel. Protecting our nation is important.

Before we go too far, we just got in a press release. I want to make sure I mention it because it ties in perfectly. There are good people doing great things. Jones Memorial and the Legion of Riders donated $2,000 to the Allegany County Dwyer Program through Fields of Flags.

Fields of Flags started over ten years ago as a community event hosted by Jones Memorial Hospital in collaboration with the Legion of Riders, honoring veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. Amen.

That is why I love this conversation. Jim Helms, CEO of Jones Memorial Hospital and a retired command sergeant major, stated, “It is our honor and privilege to partner with the Allegany County Dwyer Program to support such a worthy cause.” That is a statement in brief. Learn more by going to their website. We really have to work together as leaders to shorten some of these domain names, do we not?

Ladies and gentlemen, people doing good things. Lauren Coe, Founder of One Soldier at a Time, you said freedom is not free. That statement is why I wake up every single day with a promise to maintain the commitment I made to the oath I took when I was 17 years old, not realizing then that what I was doing was committing to a way of life.

Hygiene Packages of Hope. Can we talk a little bit about that?

I would love to.

Tell us what that means. I did housing for a while. I believe housing is not a birthright, but I believe housing is something everybody has a right to. There are situations where the community has to step in and ensure that housing is not four walls and a cot, but housing someone can feel proud to call home. Some housing should be subsidized because there are people who need help, like the veterans we are talking about.

We gave out a lot of hygiene packages ourselves, but I think it takes on a whole different life with what you are doing.

What we are doing is a little bit different. Yes, we provide everything needed to be clean from the crown of their head to the soles of their feet. Hair and body shampoo, cleanser, moisturizer, hand cream, shave foam, razors, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, all of that.

Bombas literally donates 5,000 pairs of socks to us every single year. In the wintertime, we can double up on those socks to give to those who are struggling, homeless, and so on.

We also put in a palm card from us, letting them know it is from us and how valued they are. There is also a handmade card.

Something you wrote out?

Yes. And it is not just us. We have people making cards for us every single month. In my home, we have a packing day every month. Schools also help, and we have many disabled folks and kids in schools making cards. Sometimes you look at a card and think it is a scribbled mess, but to a veteran receiving a card made by someone who cares and signed with a first name, whether they can sign their first name well or not, it means everything.

Veterans keep these cards in their pockets. They are a treasure to them because they prove someone is thinking about them personally.

We also put in the Word of God for anyone who wants it. If they want to use it for something else, they can, but we put it in because we believe everyone deserves as much hope as possible.

We also put in a star from a retired U.S. flag. It says, “Please accept this star from a retired USA flag as a token of thanks for your service to our country. May it remind you that you are appreciated and you are never forgotten.”

I keep one in my wallet. I was given one. Every once in a while, my days catch up to me. I pull out this flag star, along with a card that talks about the armor of God. I keep them together. It reminds me why I come into the studio every day to do this. It reminds me why I look at my kids every single day and say, “I do not want to be your friend. I want to be your father.”

People do not understand that these days. My time in the military reminded me that what we are raising are children of God to be leaders in our nation, not just for freedom, but for God and family, which equals freedom. That goes deeper than the one word so many people try to turn around.

On August 12, 2019, in a Spectrum interview, you said, “They are not alone. They are not forgotten.” Who are “they,” and what were you referring to? If you listen to some of what is going on in politics, they make it seem as though veterans are at the top of the scale for them. In reality, when you look at funding and organizations like yours that could benefit from grant dollars without strings attached, that is not the case.

That statement, “They are not alone. They are not forgotten.” Who are they?

It is the veterans and also the hidden heroes. The hidden heroes are the moms, wives, and families left behind while their loved one is serving. They are the ones separated from their veteran if their veteran is going through a difficult time and getting help away from them.

They are not forgotten. Our veterans are not forgotten. Their families are not forgotten, even though they feel forgotten. It is like being a single parent when your loved one is serving overseas. You are a single parent. It is very difficult. If something breaks down, who do you call? You cannot call your husband. He is too far away.

And calling your husband or wife may put him or her in a position where they may not be able to battle effectively, causing issues.

Exactly.

You said the goal of your organization was to support the hidden heroes praying for their loved ones’ safe return. That same Spectrum News interview described One Soldier at a Time as a mission of six women caring for service members, veterans, and their families. Who are these six women?

We have a beautiful committee that I am part of. We founded it in 2008. We have Maggie, Carol, Alison, Elizabeth, Nancy, Jojo, and Anne.

Military wives, I assume?

Actually, no.

But they are doing it because they love this country.

They love our soldiers. They love our country. They believe in supporting. Some of them now have loved ones who served. Alison is a military mom. Anne’s son served in the military and recently got out. We do not have any military wives.

I ask these questions because I want people to understand that the excuse of “I am not in the military, my family was not in the military” does not work. You are an American.

You are an American. Thank you.

That is some good stuff.

Let us finish the list.

Before we do, I want to say something. You mentioned the full armor of God, and I love that because it is the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, your footgear, your shield of faith, your helmet of salvation, and your sword of the Spirit. All six pieces. That is what equips us to function fully in the way God has called us to.

Peace through strength.

Yes. Amen.

Here we go. Monroe County Festival Grants. This is the first year we have received a grant. Actually, this is the first time we have ever received a grant from the state, federal, county, or anyone else.

No strings attached?

No strings attached. They just wanted to come and support our event.

Not tax dollars. This came from people who have a heart.

Yes. Camp Smile, connected with the Webster Lions Club, has supported us financially every single year, even before we were a 501(c)(3). Once we became a 501(c)(3), they were able to dig a whole lot deeper, and their help has been exponential.

That means they were not receiving a tax benefit or any other benefit besides supporting the mission.

Ladies and gentlemen, that is the honorable Lauren Coe, Founder of One Soldier at a Time. I will be back in a minute or two. Lines will be open for a couple more minutes. Do not go anywhere. When we get back, we are going to finish that list and tell you about a festival you need to attend. We will be right back on WYSL with Peter Vazquez.

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The Next Steps Show on the Voice of Liberty.

Lauren, I am going to borrow your words: they are not alone, they are not forgotten. Those are the same words that Youth for Christ Rochester, under the leadership of veteran and pastor Mike Hennessy, speaks to children in some of the worst situations we can think of, in an area and zip code where politicians have basically said, “Throw them money so they do not rob the rest of us.”

They are not alone. They are not forgotten. Youth for Christ Rochester believes that, and they have saved so many lives as a result. Go to yfcrochester.org, click volunteer, click financially support, and handle your business. They need your help, just like you do.

We will take all the help we can get.

Who else is helping you?

I want to give a shout-out to Rentals To Go because at our event on August 1st, we need porta-potties. Not only are they providing them, but they are providing air-conditioned ones and handicap-accessible ones.

Air-conditioned porta-potties? Where was that when I was in the field in Afghanistan?

I am telling you, that would have been helpful.

That would have been phenomenal. No electricity out there. Although in today’s time, I am sure somebody came up with a solar-powered air conditioner somewhere.

You never know.

Rentals To Go made a huge impact for us last year, and they are coming on board again this year.

For free?

It would normally cost $2,500 to $3,000, and we are paying a fraction of that.

So free enough. But what do you still need?

We need a hotel willing to house Hotel California for two nights for six people. Six separate rooms. If there is anyone listening who knows someone connected to a hotel or an Airbnb, that would take so much stress off my brain. You have no idea. That would be amazing.

Heroes. The families who serve without uniforms. We are getting toward the end, and I want to make sure we address this event you have coming up.

RAND’s 2024 follow-up report on military and veteran caregivers estimates 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers nationwide. You serve those people, and this event will serve the people they are serving. Talk to us about it.

On August 1st, we are having our 8th Annual Heroes & Hidden Heroes event. It is a music festival, and it is phenomenal. We have three amazing bands: 47 South, Junkyard Field Trip, and the original Hotel California. I am super excited about that. They are all phenomenal bands.

I cannot say they are doing it for free, but they have given us a great deal so we can do this.

Helping does not always mean free. There are true expenses. The porta-potty people, for example, have environmental costs that exceed anyone’s personal ability to absorb. I get that there is a cost. But that shared cost and reducing the burden to you, along with the other partners, is huge. People need to understand you are not asking for free. You are asking for help.

I am asking for help.

At 3:00 p.m., your flyer says 47 South. What is 47 South?

47 South is a band, and the lead singer is Carl Conge. He is actually my cousin, which we did not know for many years. They are a down-home 70s, 80s, and 90s rock group, and they are phenomenal. All of the bands are great. They are all phenomenal at their craft.

The schedule is 3:00 p.m. 47 South. Ladies and gentlemen, this is all taking place on August 1, 2026, from 3:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Webster Fireman’s Field, right on Main Street. That is where they have the carnival every year. It is located at 1193-1207 Ridge Road, Webster, New York.

There is a general admission listed at $25, VIP at $50, yet it is free to the people you are serving. You are not looking to make money off veterans.

No, not at all. Veterans and active duty get to come in absolutely free. They get their meal for free, so they can go to any food truck and pick any dinner they want, and it is free. Their entry is also free.

At 5:30 p.m. you have Junkyard Field Trip. That is another band?

Yes. I have never heard Junkyard Field Trip in person. I have only listened to them online. The reviews on them were amazing. They are a local band as well.

You have a military tribute at 4:45. What does that mean to you?

That is the whole reason I am doing this. It really is. It is our way of saying thank you. We are taking a 45-minute break to truly honor all of our military: past, present, future, and their families. We want them to know how important they are.

There will be the presentation of the flags by Penfield Bremen American Legion. Abby Riggins, who has the voice of an angel, will sing the national anthem. David Bast, who served our country for 34 years, will be there. When I realized how many years he served, I broke down crying. He gave 34 years to our country. He was also a trooper.

From iHeartRadio, we have the Wolf and Scott Palingra as emcees. They are going to tag team together.

I also want to give a shout-out to Fred Saban from the Webster Volunteer Fire Department. He is doing so much to help us out. He and Dennis have been a joy to work with. I am incredibly grateful.

As a brand-new TikTok creator, I met a guy named Denny and a group of woodturners. They are sending us thousands of dollars’ worth of beautiful art they have created. One piece is a deer skull with antlers and a U.S. flag engraved down the center. I cried when I saw it.

The outpouring of support is so exciting to me, especially in today’s time with everything going on around the world. We need our soldiers to know we have their back.

Ma’am, I am down to the last two minutes. I want to ask one last question and then open the mic to you. In August 2023, in another interview, you said, “We can all make a difference.” Why is it important to make general admission free for veterans, and how can people support that mission?

If you are not in the military, come to the event, because every single dollar that comes into the event goes directly to our veterans to supply those Hygiene Packages of Hope. Every single dollar. No one gets paid a penny, not one.

We can all do something. We can give everyone a place to play, and that is what we do with One Soldier at a Time. Go to onesoldieratatime.net. We will give you a place to play. We can take your time, your talents, and your treasure, and we are grateful.

The honorable Lauren Coe, Founder of One Soldier at a Time. Ma’am, thank you, and may God continue to bless you and the work your organization does.

Thank you, Peter. Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, patriotism is not proven by speech. It is proven when gratitude becomes a hygiene package, a meal. Be a leader, be a leader, be a leader. God bless these United States of America, and do not let a second go by, especially this Memorial Day weekend, where you are not a voice for libertad.