Welcome to our 100th episode! Ginger and Jeff welcome a roundtable of veteran guests. Ginger and Jeff kick it off with Whitney Cloutier from Eastern Propane, our primary sponsor. She visited with Mac, a veteran and employee of Eastern. Next, they dive into a round table with Mike Salter (Korea era), Dick Rawlings (Vietnam era) and Ryan (GWOT). Each veteran shares their path to military service. Amazing stories of helicopters transferring tanks, working KP and fast roping out of a blackhawk. Come hear stories of their best day and worst day through the generations.

Ginger Munson and Jeff Chidester are joined by CW5 (ret) George Munson. Yes, you read that correctly, same last name. Georege is recently retired after serving in the Army for 37 years. – both Active Duty and the National Guard. From applying for flight school 5 times to flying ahead of the ground troops in Desert Storm, George shares about his early career and the continued importance of teamwork. Listen in to our first interview with this local veteran and patriot.

This week Women’s Veterans Program Manager Laura Caisse shares details of an upcoming Women’s Veterans’ Town Hall and Claim Clinic, which will be held on April 5, starting at 10 a.m. The town hall is open to women veterans who want to learn about the numerous programs and resources available for them. In the second half of this week’s show John Knorr, Apprenticeship NH, discusses an upcoming program on March 27 at Nasua Community College that will introduce veterans to apprenticeship opportunities, education, and resources.

Ginger Munson and Jeff Chidester are joined by NH Military Coaching Alliance today. Kurt Virkaitis, mentor and Danny Goulet, mentee walk us through the process of supporting service members as they transition to civilian life after service. NH Military Coaching Alliance – aka Operation Sea Daddy – takes veterans under their wing and strives to bring them into the local community in areas of both life and work. Listen in for stories of success and perseverance.

Co-hosts Ginger Munson and Jeff Chidester welcome Julie Weymouth, the founder of Homeland Heros Foundation. Homeland Heros has been supporting veterans and their families for over 12 years. From furniture to education to gas cards, they serve the ever-changing needs of our veteran population. Listen in to hear how it all got started and what they are up to now.

Ginger and Jeff take a Walk with Tiger – aka Larry Prentice. He is a 3rd generation veteran who is now giving back through an annual 20-mile walk. Listen in for all the details and how to get involved. The back half of the show brings us to the ocean. Swim with a Mission kicks off their 2nd Annual Fish with a Mission this year. We hear from SWAM Board Member, Todd Wheatley, who is passionate about this amazing event and about giving our best for NH military and veterans.

February is American Heart Health month and Ginger and Jeff kick today off with Shannon Fitzgerald, a Cardiac Rehab nurse with the VA Medical Center in Manchester.  Shannon shares their model of after care and how easy it is to connect with services.  Next up are Eric McNeil and Chuck Bradley, veterans who founded and run Veterans2Veterans Group in the North Country.  They assist military and veterans from NH and beyond with the dedicated mission of Family Through Service.  There is no veteran problem they can help solve.  And wait til you hear about their thrift store! 

In this week’s show, Ginger Munson and Jeff Chidester meet with Brigadier General (ret) Don Buldoc and his wife, Sharon. In the span of their 36 year marriage they navigated dual military life and multiple duty stations and many months – adding up to years – apart. Listen in for an honest glimpse inside the lives of military families, who is really in charge and who feels separation the most.  Sharon and Don help shed light on what service looks like inside the family and inside the unit.

Jeff and Ginger host a robust line up of guests. They kick it off with John Larson from Veterans Inc., a regional non-profit providing a host of services, including housing support, employment guidance and suicide prevention efforts. Next, they are joined by Christina Wright, 23-year Marine Corps veteran and NH native; From high school to Washington DC to non-profits in New England she served and continues to serve the military and veteran community. The show rounds out with guest Jason Zilm, from Prime Lending; he and his partner are starting the show Veteran Mortgage Matters to shed light on the benefits of VA connected home loans and services.

Ginger and Jeff spend time with Julie Vose, Acting Director of the Manchester VA Medical Center. From providing direct services to spearheading their COVID response, Julie has dedicated herself in service to our military men and women. Together we cover important events coming up for our local VAMC and glimpse the heart of those who serve our nationals military.  Post inauguration, Jeff and Ginger share a few reflections of the connection between service and politics.