♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ IN DECEMBER OF 2019, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR APPOINTED KEITH JACKSON AS THE SIXTH COMMISSIONER OF THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS.

I TALK WITH JACKSON ABOUT HIS POSITION AND AN THE COMMEMORATE CHARLES YOUNG TO THE HONORARY RANK OF BRIGADIER GENERAL.

THAT'S NOW ON CONNECTIONS.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME FOR CONNECTIONS TODAY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

RETIRED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KEITH LIEUTENANT COLONEL KEITH JACKSON HEADS INTERNAL TERM AFFAIRS AFTER YEARS OF SERVICE.

DURING HIS 27 YEAR CAREER IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVES HE SUFFERED SERVED IN NUMEROUS CAPACITIES FROM PLATOON LEADER TO BATTALION COMMAND.

JACKSON BEGAN HIS MUNICIPAL AND PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER ON THE 28th OF JANUARY, 1991, WITH THE LEXINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IN JUNE 2012, CHIEF JACKSON MADE HISTORY BY BECOMING THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN APPOINTED CHIEF OF THE LEXINGTON DIVISION OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.

AND TODAY HE JOINS ME TO TALK ABOUT HIS CAREER AT AN EVENT TO HONOR AN AMERICAN HERO WHOSE POSTHUMOUS POSITION IS LONG OVER DUE.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO CALL YOU CHIEF OR RETIRED COLONEL.

I'M GOING TO CALL YOU Mr. JACKSON.

I HOPE THAT SUFFICES.

>> HOW ABOUT KEITH.

>> >> Renee: CAN I DO KEITH.

I'M FROM THE SOUTH SO WE HAVE TROUBLE WITH THAT.

THANK YOU.

IT'S A PLEASURE.

WE WERE TALKING BEFORE WE STARTED TAPING THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO AN INTERVIEW FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS NOW?

>> YEAH, I HAVE BEEN RUNNING FOR THAT LONG.

>> Renee: FINALLY WE CATCH UP TO YOU.

HOW IS YOUR NEW JOB GOING?

I GUESS IT'S STILL NEW?

IT'S A YEAR AND A HALF IN THE MAKING?

>> 13, 14 MONTHS INTO IT AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY ENJOYED EVERY MOMENT OF IT.

I GO BACK TO MY SERVICE AND THEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ME AND MAYOR GRAY DID WAS GO VISIT ALL THE V.A.

CENTERS AND ONE OF THE THINGS I TOLD HIM WAS THAT AFTER I RETIRE, I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY.

AND WHO KNEW THAT I WOULD... >> Renee: YOU MUST HAVE HAD A PREMONITION THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS AROUND THE CORNER.

WHY WAS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU EVEN THEN?

>> WELL, FOR ME, IT WAS IMPORTANT, AND IT'S KIND OF A STORYBOOK ENDING FOR ME.

AS A KID, YOU KNOW, MY FATHER WAS IN THE VIETNAM WAR AND YOU HEAR AND THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS THAT GO WITH IT.

SO THAT LED ME TOWARDS WANTING TO BE, TO SERVE MY COUNTRY AS A SOLDIER.

AND I USED TO PLAY AT CHARLES YOUNG CENTER CENTER ON THIRD STREET.

AND SO WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME, I WANTED TO BE THE COMMISSIONER AND ONE OF MY FIRST TASKS WAS TO WORK ON THE PROGRAM AND DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO GET HIM PROMOTED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL.

AND THE GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND SECRETARY BROWN TASKED ME WITH THAT.

AND SO IT WAS, LIKE I SAY, A FULL CIRCLE, AN HONOR AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

>> Renee: WE SHOULD SAY FOR THOSE OF US OUTSIDE LEXINGTON WATCHING THIS, THERE IS A COMMUNITY CENTER NAMED FOR CHARLES YOUNG.

THE FACT THAT YOU USED TO LAY THERE AND NOW YOU HONOR HIM IN THIS WAY AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT HIS SERVICE IN JUST A MOMENT.

YOU HAVE QUITE A DUTY ON YOUR HANDS.

YOU DO A LOT WITH THE VETERANS AFFAIRS AND I WONDER IF PEOPLE OFTEN THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE FEEL GOOD AND ABOUT VETERANS DAY BUT THERE IS A LOT THAT IS IN YOUR CHARGE WITH VETERANS ISSUES AND THE FACILITIES AND WE KNOW THAT COVID HAS, AS IT HAS WITH A LOT OF LONG-TERM FACILITIES, HIT SOME OF OUR VETERAN CENTERS AS WELL.

SO THERE IS A LOT UNDER YOUR CARE.

>> YES MA'AM.

AND IT'S FAR BIGGER THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS.

WHEN I TOOK THE POSITION, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE HAD FOUR VETERAN CENTERS, NURSING CARE CENTERS AND FIVE CEMETERIES AND YOU KNOW, THE 300,000 VETERANS THAT WE REPRESENT AND WE ARE TRANSITIONING FROM BEING JUST AN ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS TO CREATING A PLATFORM FOR VETERANS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND SO AS WE DO THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M STARTING TO VISIT AMERICAN LEGIONS AND ALL THESE TYPES OF PLACES AND GOING TO FORT KNOX AND FORT CAMPBELL AND GETTING CA YOU WILLS FROM VETERANS FROM ALL ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> IT IS A BIG JOB AND WE KNOW THAT VETERANS CONCERNS HAVE COME TO THE FOREFRONT, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

I THINK WE'VE LEARNED A LOT MORE ABOUT THAT IN RECENT YEARS WHEN IT COMES TO PTSD AND THOSE CHALLENGES AND BEING ABLE TO, I GUESS EVEN TALK ABOUT IT IS A MAJOR FIRST STEP.

>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND MYSELF AND MAYOR GRAY AND A NUMBER OF MY VETERAN FRIENDS IS I'M A COMBAT VETERAN.

MY DAD WAS A COMBAT WHO SUFFERED FROM, YOU KNOW, AGENT ORANGE AND P PTSD AND NOT TO GET INTO MY PERSONAL SELF, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT WE GO THROUGH AS A BIG PART OF WHY I WANT TO COME BACK AND GIVE BACK TO VETERANS.

SO UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT TAKES TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY ACROSS THE WATERS AND WHAT WE BRING BACK IS IMPORTANT TO ME IN HELPING VETERANS GET THROUGH THOSE SITUATIONS IS AT THE TOP OF MY PRIORITY LIST.

>> Renee: AND YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FATHER AND VIETNAM AND WE KNOW-- I MEAN THEY WERE BOYS, THEY WERE KIDS, RIGHT?

>> WHEN I WENT, I WAS 40.

WHEN HE WENT, HE WAS 17, 18.

HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 40-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO HAS BEEN TRAINED TO DO IT AND AN 18-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO GOES AND GOES INTO THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM.

>> Renee: DID HE EVER TALK ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE WITH YOU?

>> WELL, WE HAD SOME VERY GOOD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT AS HE GOT OLDER.

HE HAS PASSED NOW.

BUT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, IT WAS NOT A CONVERSATION THAT HE WANTED TO HAVE QUITE OFTEN.

>> Renee: DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE MORE OPEN ABOUT THESE ISSUES, AND ALSO THE ENVIRONMENT IS HELPING FOSTER AN OPENNESS FOR-- IT'S NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS, YOU KNOW, IT'S ACTUALLY MAYBE EVEN A SIGN OF STRENGTH, RIGHT, THAT YOU CAN SERVE VALIANTLY FOR YOUR COUNTRY, ALMOST DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND THAT'S A LOT TO DEAL WITH.

>> IT IS.

AND I TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW,THE REALITIES OF IT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MY FIRST DAY INTO MONTHS MOZUL WAS NOT ONE WHERE I WENT AND TRAINED.

WE WERE UNDER THE 101st AND REPLACING THE 82nd AND MY FIRST DAY IN COMBAT, YOU KNOW, I DEALT WITH A YOUNG SOLDIER GETTING KILLED.

>> Renee: YOUR FIRST DAY.

>> FIRST DAY.

AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE SUPPORTIVE.

AND AS YOU SAID, IT IS A SIGN OF STRENGTH NOW.

MY DAD, FROM THE ERA THAT WAS ABOUT BEING MACHO AND, FOR ME, TO BE ABLE TO COME ON HERE AND TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THIS, IT SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TIMES.

>> Renee: AND IT ALSO IS AN EXAMPLE THAT HAS RIPPLE EFFECTS, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT MILITARY PERSONNEL CAN SHOW THEIR BRAVERY IN SO MANY WAYS AND THAT'S IN TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

IT HELPS ERASE THE STIGMA FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY THINK I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO KNOW THAT I'M OR DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE.

I MEAN IT REALLY DOES MULTIPLY AND THE IMPACT IT MAKES FOR VETERANS LIKE YOURSELF TO HAVE THIS OPEN CONVERSATION.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, I HOPE COMES OUT TODAY.

THAT HAS THIS IS NOT AN INTERVIEW.

THIS IS A CONVERSATION.

THIS IS A CONVERSATION ABOUT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TALKED ABOUT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS ON MY PLATE IS THE GOVERNOR'S CHALLENGE, WHICH IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SUICIDES AND PTSD IS ONE OF THE KEY CONTRIBUTORS TO THAT.

SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, YOU'LL START HEARING MORE THINGS ABOUT THE REDUCTION OF SUICIDE PREVENTION ACROSS THE ARMY, NAVY, ACROSS THE MILITARY IN AND OF ITSELF.

AND KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THE LEADING STATES IN TAKING THAT, WHICH I GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO GOVERNOR BESHEAR ON ALLOWING ME AND THE KTVA TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.

>> Renee: I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL AND I CONGRATS CONGRATULATE YOU ALL ON THIS MOVE.

IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, WE ARE STILL IN COVID, I DON'T LIKE TO CALL IT POST-COVID BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF IT AND MANY WOULD SAY THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF IT, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST PART OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE AT THIS MOMENT.

WE'LL KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOU ON HOW THAT UNFOLDS AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL ARE BEING REALLY BOLD AND RECOGNIZING THAT.

AND PUTTING SOME ACTION BEHIND IT.

AND I HOPE SOME FUNDING WILL COME, TOO, TO HELP YOU BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB SUCCESSFULLY.

>> YES MA'AM.

SO NOW LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE DID MENTION ABOUT COVID AND ABOUT HOW SOME OF-- WE KNOW THAT LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND JAILS, ANY CONFINED SPACE, IS ALMOST A BREEDING GROUND FOR ANY KIND OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND WE KNOW OUR VETERANS HOMES HAVE NOT BEEN IMMUNE FROM THIS.

SO HOW IS THAT GOING, ROO I GO TO MITIGATE THAT-- TRYING TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD IN THE VETERANS FACILITIES.

>> FOR US, IT BEGAN THE DAY THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR STARTED HIS PLAN.

AND WE INITIATED SOME OF THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES TO PREVENT.

AND WE DID VERY, VERY WELL UNTIL AUGUST, SEPTEMBER TIMEFRAME AND THEN IT HIT US HARD.

BUT Dr. SCOTT, OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR, MARK BOWMAN, OUR MEDICAL EXECUTIVE AND MARTHA, WORK VERY HARD IN ENSURING THAT WE FOLLOWED THE GUIDELINES NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO, WE FOCUSED ON TAKING CARE OF THE VETERANS WITHIN, THAT WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WE LOST A FEW VETERANS THAT WAS HEART BREAKING, BUT FROM IT, OPERATIONALLY AND ADMINISTRATIVELY, WE GREW AND I HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS TO THE STAFF ACROSS THE BOARD ON FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURES AND ENSURING THAT THE FAMILIES AND THE VETERANS THEMSELVES WERE TAKEN CARE OF.

>> Renee: IT IS A TOUGH SITUATION AND IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY SPREAD.

IT COMES IN EXTERNALLY AND HAS THE IMPACT ON THOSE INSIDE THE FACILITIES.

MAKING A TOUGH PIVOT TO YOUR FIRE FIGHTING CAREER IN LEXINGTON.

AND YOU HAVE ALLUDED TO THE FORMER MAYOR, JIM GRAY, WHO IS NOW THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION.

I GUESS YOU ALL STILL HAM IT UP OCCASIONALLY.

GET TO MEET?

>> WE TALK VIA EMAIL THE OTHER DAY AND AT OUR SECRETARY'S MEETING, WE TALKED ON ZOOM.

>> Renee: EVERYBODY IS ZOOMING THESE DAYS.

THE ZOOM IS WHERE IT HAPPENS.

TALK ABOUT YOUR CAREER AND SOME MEMORABLE MOMENTS THERE.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW,-- AND I KNOW THIS MAY SOUND LIKE A NON-LINEAR DISCUSSION, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND SOME OF THE.

>> ACTIONS WITH POLICE, I'VE OFTEN HEARD WELL YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT THOSE BAD INTERACTIONS WITH FIREFIGHTERS.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW WE ARE HAVING THIS COLLECTIVE CONVERSATION IN OUR NATION ABOUT RELATIONS WITH EACH OTHER.

I DON'T MEAN JUST RACIAL BUT UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER, HOW DOES YOUR EXPERIENCE FIGHTING FIRES, BEING THE CHIEF THERE AND THEN HAVING THAT MILITARY BACKGROUND, AND NOW DOING THE WORK YOU ARE DOING AS COMMISSIONER OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, WHAT KIND OF LENS DO YOU BRING TO THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE JUST NEED TO TAKE A LITTLE BETTER CARE OF EACH OTHER?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE GIVING ASPECT OF IT.

SO ONE OF MY TASKS WHEN I BECAME CHIEF WAS TO GET THE MEDIA TO SAY THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS AT A SCENE AND NOT JUST THE POLICE.

>> Renee: GOOD POINT.

>> AND IN DOING THAT, I THINK THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF LOOKING AT PUBLIC SAFETY AS A WHOLE DIFFERENTLY.

AND I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE, FIRE, CORRECTIONS, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MILITARY ASPECT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT GO INTO SERVICE IN PUBLIC SAFETY COME OUT OF THE MILITARY.

WE TRY TO RECRUIT THAT BECAUSE OF THE MIND SETS, YOU KNOW, AND SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I THINK SETTING AS A FIREFIGHTER AND WORKING MY WAY UP TO BECOMING THE CHIEF OF THE DEPARTMENT, ONE OF THE THINGS, AS YOU SAY, THE LENS THAT WE WANTED TO ADJUST, IT WAS A BOOK IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT WE USED TO READ CALLED KALEIDOSCOPE.

AND THE KALEIDOSCOPE HAD THE NUMEROUS PICTURES, YOU KNOW, REDS, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I USED TO SAY ON MY TRUCK AS WE WENT INTO ANY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHETHER IT WAS THE WEST LEXINGTON OR WESTMOOR LAND IS THAT WE TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME AND IN TREATING EVERYBODY THE SAME, YOU FIND THAT MORE ARE RECEPTIVE TO HONEY THAN THE VINEGAR.

AND FOR ME PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND BEING THE FIRST, YOU KNOW,AND I'VE BEEN A LOT OF FIRSTS IN MY LIFE.

IF YOU HAD ASKED MY MOTHER THAT, SHE WOULD HAVE SAID, THIS KID, BECAUSE I WAS SUCH A QUIET KID, BUT I WAS ALWAYS BEERED TOWARDS A MIEF HIVE GEARED TOWARDS A PROFESSION THAT WAS GIVING IN NATURE AND SO AS I BECAME THE CHIEF OR WHEN I WAS COMMANDING MY UNIT OR WHETHER I OFFICIATE COLLEGE FOOTBALL, WHEN I'M ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, IT'S ALL ABOUT GIVING AND SHARING AND SO THAT'S THE THING THAT I THINK SHOULD BE THE FOCUS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, FOCUS ON RACIAL INJUSTICE OR HEALTH INEQUITIES, YOU KNOW, WE SEE IT ALL BECAUSE WE ARE THERE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AS LEADERSHIP, THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIMES, GIVEN THE RIGHT MESSAGE.

AND THEN WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR, PEOPLE, THEY'RE MORE RECEPTIVE TO THAT HONEY THAN THE VINEGAR.

>> Renee: AS YOU KNOW, THE NOW MAYOR OF LEXINGTON, LINDA GORTON HAS ESTABLISHED A RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUALITY COMMISSION WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING AT THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED PUBLIC SAFETY, HOUSING, DAYCARES BECAUSE ALL OF IT IS CONNECTED AND SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS 54 PLUS GO AND YOU THINKING ABOUT WHERE THE CITY IS THAT YOU WERE SO MUCH A BIG PART OF HOW DO YOU VIEW OW THINGS ARE GOING FOR LEXINGTON?

>> I THINK LEXINGTON AND MAYOR GORTON AND MYSELF GO BACK A LONG WAY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I CAME BACK AND WAS IN THE RESERVES HER HUSBAND WAS MY FIRST BRIGADE COMMANDER.

AND THEN I WAS A PARAMEDIC ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I USED TO SEE LINDA, MAYOR GORTON.

>> Renee: YOU CAN CALL HER LINDA IN THE HOSPITALS ALL THE TIME.

>> Renee: SHE IS A NURSE.

>> SO WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP THAT DATES BACK 25 YEARS, YOU KNOW, AND SO I RESPECT WHAT SHE REPRESENTS AND WHAT SHE STANDS FOR AND AS PRESIDENT BIDEN AND LEADERS LIKE LINDA GORTON AND OUR GOVERNOR, WHO ARE OPEN AND STEADFAST IN THEIR WILLINGNESS TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUES AND ATTACK THEM, I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR ALL OF THEM.

>> >> Renee: IT CAME TO MY MIND, WE HEARD THAT DURING THE INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL, THAT-- AND EVEN AFTER THAT, THAT THERE WERE SOME GUARDSMEN WHO WERE NOT ALLOWED TO STAND GUARD AT THE NATION'S CAPITOL BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN SOME VETTING OF THEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD HAD SOME CONNECTIONS TO THINGS THAT SEEMED A LITTLE NEFARIOUS.

AND I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MINDSET OF SOMEONE IN THE MILITARY, CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR US WHAT THAT IS?

AND DID YOU EVER EXPERIENCE, AS WE'LL TALK ABOUT CHARLES YOUNG IN JUST A MOMENT, WHO EXPERIENCED, YOU KNOW, THE BACKLASH OF RACISM.

WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE MILITARY AND DO YOU THINK THAT SOME OF THAT IS COMING TO THE SURFACE STILL TODAY?

>> WELL, WHEN, YOU KNOW, IF WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE LEADERS, WE START WITH THE MARINE CORPS AND THEN THE ARMY, THESE LEADERS TOOK BOLD STANCES WHEN THEY SAID YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DISPLAY THE CONFEDERATE FLAG OR WEAR NAZI UNIFORMS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN THE MILITARY IN 1985 AND WHERE WE ARE OR THE MILITARY THAT MY DAD DEALT WITH, LET ME THROW THIS IN RIGHT QUICK.

>> Renee: SURE.

>> MY HISTORY WITH JOINING THE MILITARY BEGAN WITH MY GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER, JOSHUA BOTTOMS, HE JOINED THE UNION ARMY IN 1864.

SO AS SOON AS IT WAS-- AS SOON AS ABRAHAM LINCOLN ALLOWED.

SO MY FAMILY'S LINEAGE HAS BEEN SERVING THIS COUNTRY.

AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY CAREER AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, I HAVE BEEN AFFORDED OPPORTUNITIES AND I DON'T KNOW-- WE JUST HAD THIS-- THE COMMANDING GENERAL, WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION NOT TWO HOURS AGO IN RESEARCHES TO THIS, BECAUSE I WAS GIVING HIM KUDOS AS I CAME BACK, THE REASON I WAS MORE RESERVIST THAN NATIONAL GUARD BECAUSE THE REPUTATION OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND MY ADVANCEMENT AND MY OPPORTUNITIES, I DIDN'T SEE ME HAVING THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AND I JOINED THE RESERVES BECAUSE I SAW MYSELF BEING ABLE TO ADVANCE AS I SHOULD HAVE.

AND BUT TODAY, AFTER TALKING TO SOME OF MY, THE GUYS I HAVE MENTORED AND GALS I MENTOR, THEY SEE A DIFFERENT NATIONAL GUARD.

THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, AS YOU STATED, THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT WERE NOT-- THAT WERE VETTED OUT OF GOING TO WASHINGTON D.C. BECAUSE OF THEIR STANCES OR THEIR BELIEFS, IT STILL EXISTS, YOU KNOW.

AND AS ONE WHO STUDIES HISTORY, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOUR GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER SERVED IN THE SIXTH CALVARY WITHOUT STUDYING THAT, YOU KNOW.

AND SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT ISAAC WOODWORTH WENT THROUGH WHO WAS THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS BEATEN ON HIS RETURN BACK FROM WORLD WAR II TO WHERE WE STAND TODAY BECAUSE OF WHAT TRUMAN DID, DESEGREGATING THE MILITARY, TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON TODAY, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE AND THE CHANGE IS BECAUSE IT'S RECOGNIZABLE THAT IT AFFECTS PEOPLE'S CAREERS.

IT AFFECTS THEIR ABILITY TO ADVANCE.

IT AFFECTS THEIR ABILITY TO DO THEIR JOBS BECAUSE ALL WE WANT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHAT I SHOULD TELL GUYS ALL THE TIME.

ALL WE EVER WANTED, WHEN WE ARE AT THE TABLE EATING DINNER, ALL I EVER WANTED WAS A CHANCE TO MAKE LIEUTENANT, TO MAKE CAPTAIN, TO MAKE MAJOR, TO MAKE CHIEF AND TO MAKE THE CHIEF IF YOU GIVE ME A FAIR CHANCE AND YOU GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY, THEN THAT'S ALL I NEED, YOU KNOW.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS THE DIRECTION OF AMERICA IN THE FUTURE.

IS THAT BEING GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, NOT BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF MY SKIN, NOT BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS ALSO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GENDER, GENDER, RACE, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, I WAS AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE KRISTIN TWICE FROM MAJOR TO CHIEF AND THEN CHIEF TO ASSISTANT CHIEF AND THEN SHE FOLLOWED ME AS BEING THE CHIEF AND SO IT'S ALL ABOUT OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO AND DO I EVER GO INTO SITUATIONS WITH ROSE COLORED GLASSES?

NO.

I GO IT INTO UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, A LOT OF TIMES I'M THE ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM.

SO WHEN YOU GOT TO CONVINCE MEN OR WOMEN THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU OR COME THROUGH THE LIFE JOURNEY LIKE YOU DID, THEN IT GOES A LONG WAY WHEN YOU WALK OUT THE DOOR AND YOUR LEGACY IS THAT YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Renee: FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO COME BEHIND.

YEAH THAT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE YOU BUT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT GENDER OR DIFFERENT ETHNICITY.

>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO GO ON.

>> Renee: THAT WAS GREAT.

THAT'S WHAT THIS SHOW IS ABOUT, RIGHT?

IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, REALLY NOT JUST ABOUT THE POLICY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WE HAVE ROOM FOR THAT DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, ELSEWHERE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHO THEIR LEADERS ARE; THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SOUL OF A MAN, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT WE ARE FINALLY GETTING TO THAT PLACE WHERE WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE WANT TO KIND OF SEE EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND I THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY TOUCHING.

AND IT BRINGS US TO PERHAPS OUR LAST POINT AND THAT'S CHARLES YOUNG THAT YOU MENTIONED.

WE ARE GOING TO GO FULL CIRCLE IN THE CONVERSATION, WHO WAS POST HUME LEWISLY POSTHUMOUSLY ELEVATED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL.

TELL US ABOUT THE EVENT HAPPENING FEBRUARY 11.

>> BECAUSE OF THE VIRTUAL LIFE THAT WE LIVE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A GROUP, A NUMBER OF VIDEOS TALKING ABOUT CHARLES YOUNG AND WHAT HE REPRESENTS.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET GOVERNOR BESHEAR TO GIVE US TWO OR THREE MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT THE REASON WHY HE WANTED TO DO IT, YOU KNOW.

AND HOPEFULLY SECRETARY BROWN AND THEN I HAVE LINED UP THE COMMANDING GENERAL AT THE YOUTH REC, RECRUITING COMMAND AND A COUPLE OF OTHER NOTABLES THAT I DON'T WANT TO NAME YET BUT THEY'LL SPEAK.

WE HAVE SPOKEN TO HIS FAMILY.

WE HAVE SPOKEN TO SOME OF HIS FRATERNITY BROTHERS.

HE IS A MEMBER OF OMEGA SI PHI.

I'M TRYING TO BE INCLUSIVE IN GIVING HIM HIS DUE DILIGENCE AND SUPPORT AS A KENTUCKIAN WHO WAS THE THIRD GRADUATE OF WEST POINT AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS LIFE IS THAT HE NOT ONLY OVERCOME WEST POINT, HE OVERCAME THE OBSTACLES IN THE MILITARY.

HE WAS SIGNIFICANT IN SOME TACTICAL THINGS WHEN HE SERVED WITH THEODORE ROOSEVELT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN-- NOT THE MEDITERRANEAN, BUT IN THE-- IN CUBA AND SOME OF THE PLACES HE FOUGHT.

HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BECOMING DIRECTOR OF PARKS, YOU KNOW, FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO EVER DO THAT.

IT WAS SIGNIFICANT WHEN HE WAS SENT AS A DIPLOMAT TO LIBERIA.

HE WAS AMAZING.

HE SPOKE LANGUAGES.

HE WAS AN ARTIST, YOU KNOW.

HE STARTED THE PROGRAM... >> Renee: A RENAISSANCE MAN.

>> HE WAS MORE THAN JUST A SOLDIER.

AND WHAT I'M HOPING TO DO, AS WE PAY HOMAGE TO HIM, IS TO TELL HIS STORY OVER THE NEXT YEARS THAT WE DO THIS BECAUSE HE WAS PROMOTED BY GOVERNOR BESHEAR ON FEBRUARY 11.

AND WE ARE LOOKING TO DO THAT THURSDAY FEBRUARY 11 OF THIS YEAR.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY I WANT TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THAT INTO SOMETHING THAT IS DONE ANNUALLY IN RESPECT TO HIM.

>> Renee: ARE HIS DESCENDANTS AROUND?

>> YES.

SOME LIVE IN OHIO AND SOME ARE IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

AND SO WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH HIS FAMILY AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE US TWO OR THREE MINUTES, LIKE THE GOVERNOR, AND SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON HIM AND WHAT HE DID IN SERVICE TO THIS NATION IN REPRESENTING KENTUCKY AND SOUTHERN OHIO.

AND THEN ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE.

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE ARE HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO TO ARLINGTON CEMETERY AND ACTUALLY SHOW HIS SITE AND TALK TO SOME FOLKS IN AFRICA THAT ARE DIPLOMATS IN THAT AREA.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE A KENTUCKIAN, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST BECAUSE HE IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUT BECAUSE HE IS A KENTUCKIAN.

>> Renee: AND IT JUST HAPPENS TO FALL IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH, THAT'S JUST A COINCIDENCE, BUT HOPEFULLY WHEN WE GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF COVID, THERE CAN BE SOMETHING THAT'S MORE NON-VIRTUAL TO HONOR HIM.

I THINK THAT'S PHENOMENAL.

AND THE CHARLES YOUNG CENTER COULDN'T BE A BETTER STAPLE FOR THIS COMMUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND OTHERS TO GATHER.

AND SO IT'S GOOD TO MEMORIALIZE THOSE GREAT SOLDIERS, WHO, AS YOU SAID VERY ELOQUENTLY, HE WAS MORE THAN JUST A SOLDIER BUT AREN'T ALL SOLDIERS MORE THAN JUST A SOLDIER?

>> YES MA'AM.

>> Renee: I THINK THAT'S THE KEY.

THANK YOU.

THIS HAS BEEN A TERRIFIC CONVERSATION AND I HOPE YOU WON'T WAIT ANOTHER SEVEN YEARS BEFORE YOU COME BACK BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAVE A LOT TO SHARE AND AS WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS, PARTICULAR WILL I ABOUT JUST KNOWING WHO OUR FELLOW KENTUCKY RIPARIANS, I HOPE YOU WILL BE PART OF THAT, TOO BECAUSE WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, SIR.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND THANK YOU FOR NOT MAKING IT AN INTERVIEW, MAKING IT A CONVERSATION.

>> Renee: MY PLEASURE.

THAT'S WAS WE LIKE TO DO.

WE THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF CONNECTIONS.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK AND YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE POLICY FRONT.

WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED WHEN THE SESSION BEGINS.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US EVERY NIGHT AT 11:00 P.M., FRIDAYS AT 8:30 AND YOU CAN WATCH ONLINE OUR COVERAGE IS THERE AT ket.org.

YOU TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF AND I'LL SEE YOU SOON.