[♪♪] >> THEY HAD A TELEGRAHAM THE NIGHT BEFORE THAT KENNETH WAS MISSING IN ACTION.

>> Renee: IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN 80 YEARS TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY AND RETURN A SOLDIER HOME TO HIS FINAL RESTING PLACE.

>> PRESLEY O'BANNON WAS THE FIRST TO DELIVER OUR MARININGS ON FOREIGN SOIL AND HE WON A GREAT VICTORY.

>> Renee: AS WE CELEBRATE THE MARINE CORPS' 250TH YEAR WE HONOR A KENTUCKY MARINE WHO MADE HISTORY.

>> IT GAVE US A CHANCE TO OPEN UP ABOUT WHAT WE EXPERIENCED AND WHAT WE SAW AND WHAT WE DID.

>> Renee: HISTORY COMES TO LIFE AS VETERANS SHARE WITH STUDENTS WHAT IT WAS LIKE SERVING IN VIETNAM.

>> WHETHER IT'S FAMILY OR FRIENDS ON COMMUNITY, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TEAM.

>> Renee: AND THE STATE WANTS VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HAVE EVERY BENEFIT THEY'VE EARNED.

>> PRODUCTION OF "KENTUCKY EDITION" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE KET MILLENNIUM FUND.

[♪♪] >> Renee: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL MEMORIAL DAY EDITION OF "KENTUCKY EDITION" HOPE YOU'VE HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY AND HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

I'M RENEE SHAW AND WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A STORY THAT DEMONSTRATES THE TRUE MEANING OF MEMORIAL DAY A KENTUCKY SOLDIER WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY IN WORLD WAR II FINALLY RETURNED HOME TO MUHLENBERG COUNTY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

OUR LAURA ROGERS TAKES US TO CENTRAL CITY FOR A HOMECOMING 81 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO TELL YOU, BUT MARY HAD A TELEGRAM LAST NIGHT SAYING THAT KENNETH WAS MISSING IN ACTION.

I FOUND A LETTER IN MY GRANDMOTHER'S THINGS.

THAT LETTER BEGAN A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY FOR MARY ANN MCGEHEE.

WE ARE ALL NEARLY CRAZY, BUT GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO BEAR IT.

WRITTEN BACK IN 1943, IT IS NOTIFYING HER GRANDMOTHER THAT HER BROTHER MARY ANN'S GREAT UNCLE, WAS MISSING IN ACTION IN WORLD WAR TWO.

I DID KNOW THAT MY GRANDMOTHER HAD A BROTHER MISSING IN ACTION.

BUT I THINK AS A CHILD, I THOUGHT HE CAME HOME.

ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KENNETH BURGESS WAS ONE OF THE MORE THAN 80,000 AMERICANS SERVICE MEMBERS FROM WORLD WAR TWO STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR.

THE FIRST CALL I HAD WAS FROM A GENEALOGIST, AND HE SAID HE HAD BEEN HIRED BY THE ARMY TO LOCATE THE RELATIVES OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KENNETH BURGESS, AND HE WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT I WAS THE DAUGHTER OF A DAUGHTER WHO WAS DAUGHTER OF A SISTER.

MCGEHEE WAS ONE OF FOUR RELATIVES ASKED TO SUBMIT DNA TO CONFIRM THAT KENNETH'S REMAINS HAD BEEN FOUND IN ITALY.

THAT DNA WAS A MATCH.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

FOR THE FIRST 24 HOURS, I JUST FELT LIKE JELL-O INSIDE.

IT WAS JUST THE MOST AMAZING FEELING.

KENNETH'S STORY IS INTERTWINED WITH ANOTHER.

HE WAS A GRAVE MATE WITH MY UNCLE.

THEY WERE IN COMPANY V AT THE FOURTH RANGER BATTALION.

THEY WERE OUR FIRST ELITE COMMANDO FORCE.

THAT WOULD BE DARBY'S RANGERS.

AS MEMBERS OF THAT BATTALION KENNETH BURGESS AND ROBERT BRYANT WERE REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION FOLLOWING A PATROL TOWARD THE VILLAGE OF SALA, ITALY, ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 1943.

THEIR CAMPAIGN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, PARTICULARLY THE INVASION OF ITALY, OPENED A DOOR TO VICTORY FOR EUROPE 1947.

THEY FOUND A GRAVE IN A CEMETERY NEAR SAN NICOLA, ITALY, THAT HAD TWO BODIES IN IT.

THEIR REMAINS WERE DESIGNATED AS X 152 AND INTERRED AT WHAT'S NOW KNOWN AS THE SICILY ROME AMERICAN CEMETERY.

THOSE TWO BODIES ENDED UP BEING MY UNCLE AND KENNETH.

IN 2019, A HISTORIAN WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE STUDYING UNRESOLVED AMERICAN LOSSES IN OPERATION AVALANCHE DETERMINED BURGESS AND BRYANT WERE LIKELY LOST NEAR WHERE X 152 WAS RECOVERED.

THEIR REMAINS WERE DISINTERRED IN 2022.

SO GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT'S STILL SEARCHING AND TRYING TO IDENTIFY AND LOCATE THAT 80,000 MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO ARE STILL IN ON HIS BIRTHDAY, MAY 7TH.

KENNETH BURGESS WAS GIVEN A GRAVESIDE SERVICE AND BURIAL WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS AT ROSE HILL CEMETERY IN HIS.

HOMETOWN OF CENTRAL CITY.

JIM BRYANT MADE THE TRIP FROM RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, TO BE THERE.

>> THOSE TWO MEN COULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST FACE THEY SAW WERE EACH OTHER.

AND I COULD NOT NOT COME.

I JUST HAD TO MEET THE CHAPLAIN WAS AN ARMY RANGER FROM FORT BENNING, AND HE DID A WONDERFUL JOB.

THE SERVICE WAS A REUNION OF SORTS FOR MARY ANN'S FAMILY.

SO MANY RELATIVES AND COUSINS, NIECES AND NEPHEWS WHO TRAVELED MANY MILES TO BE THERE.

FROM EVERYWHERE NEW YORK, MICHIGAN, SOUTH CAROLINA.

IT BRINGS CLOSURE FOR FAMILIES AND INTO IT BRINGS TO LIFE THE STORIES THEY HAVE HEARD FOR DECADES ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONE.

NOW, IN THE CASE OF THE BURGESS FAMILY, THEY CAN PUT THE PRESENCE OF HIM HERE WITH THE STORIES OF HIM FISHING IN THE GREEN RIVER OR THE LETTERS THAT HE SENT BACK ABOUT HIS BASIC TRAINING AT FORT DIX.

POOR KID HAS BEEN IN A DANGEROUS PLACE FOR A LONG TIME.

I GUESS THIS WAS COMING SOONER OR LATER, BUT IT SURE IS HARD.

SHE SAYS IT WAS A TOUCHING AND EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE TO HONOR HER GREAT UNCLE, WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

I FELT LIKE IN A SENSE, WE WERE HONORING LIKE OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, ESPECIALLY OUR GRANDPARENTS, WHO HAD JUST, YOU KNOW, WISHED FOR THIS DAY FOR SO LONG.

SO IT WAS REALLY AN AMAZING FEELING.

>> Renee: ED DEFENSE POW-MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY BELIEVES IT HAS THE MEANS AND TECHNOLOGY TO STILL IDENTIFY 30,000 AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN ACTION.

>>> KENTUCKY MARINE CORPS VETERANS HONORED ONE OF THEIR LEGENDARY SERVICEMEN.

LIEUTENANT PRESLEY O'BANNON WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN TO RAISE A U.S.

FLAG OVER FOREIGN SOIL IN TIME OF WAR.

HE HAD BEEN CALLED ON BY PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON TO TAKE ON PIRATES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.

OUR TEAM TAKES YOU TO HIS RESTING PLACE IN FRANKFORT.

>> NOT ONLY WAS HE A GREAT MARINE AND A CAPTAIN IN THE ARMY BUT HE WAS ALSO IN POLITICS IN KENTUCKY.

I AM HONORED TO WEAR THIS UNIFORM WHEN I CAN JUST TO REPRESENT HIM.

AND MANY TIMES I COME AND STAND AT HIS GRAVE AND WE HAVE A WORD HE AND I.

[♪♪] >> PRESLEY O'BANNON WAS THE FIRST TO DELIVER OUR MARINES ON FOREIGN SOIL AND TAKE CASUALTIES AND TO WIN A VICTORY.

AND HE WON A GREAT VICTORY.

HE TAKES HIS SEVEN MARINES AND, I THINK, IT WAS 11 COUNTRIES BOTTOM TIERS, AND -- VOLUNTEERS AND THEY WITH CAMELS AND DONKS IFER ACROSS THAT DESERT AND IT WAS FREEZING COLD AT NIGHT AND ABOVE 100° IN THE DAYTIME.

>> ONE THING ABOUT HIS TIME IN THE DESERT WHEN HE WAS DOING THEY CAME ACROSS MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS AND DIFFERENT COUNTRY PEOPLE.

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT TOOK TO HOLD THAT GROUP TOGETHER FOR 700 MILES?

AND THE TACTICS HE USED THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LEADERSHIP HE USED AND HE HELD IT ALTOGETHER TO GET TO WHERE I GOT TO BE THE FIRST AMERICAN MILITARY TO RAISE A FLAG ON FOREIGN SOIL.

>> Renee: LIEUTENANT OWE BRANNON SPENT HIS LIFE IN RUSSELLVILLE KENTUCKY HE WAS A STATE SENATOR AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

HIS 1812 HOME NO LOGAN COUNTY IS PRESERVED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

THIS YEAR IS THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS FOUNDING.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW KENTUCKY MARINES ARE CELEBRATING YOU CAN VISIT THEM ON-LINE AT KENTUCKYMARINES.ORG.

>>> SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE ENTITLED TO CERTAIN RESOURCES AND BENEFITS IN KENTUCKY.

BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS KNOW ABOUT THEM WHY THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HELD ITS FIRST VETERAN AND MILITARY FAMILY CONFERENCE WHERE THE FOCUS WAS ON HEALTH, FINANCES AND EDUCATION.

>> TODAY'S EVENT IS TO PROVIDE BENEFIT AND RESOURCE INFORMATION AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS, MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

AND BOTTOM LINE IS PRO I HAD VOOING INFORMATION FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES SO THEY CAN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIFE.

A LOT OF VETERANS WHEN THEY LEAVE SERVICE THEY LOOK AT DEATHING A JOB, GETTING THEIR FAMILIES SETTLED AND DON'T THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS UNTIL LATER ON.

IT IS COMMON FOR A VETERAN NOT TO KNOW THE SERVICES WHY WE HAVE EVENS LIKE TODAY.

>> THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND CHARITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND IT'S HARD TO KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THEM.

SO I THINK EDUCATING PEOPLE WHAT IS AVAILABLE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TO REINFORCE THESE PROGRAMS, BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE WILL NEVER KNOW ABOUT THESE, BECAUSE WITH AS MANY VETERANS AS THERE ARE IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU CAN'T TALK TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF PROGRAMS.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO TALK TO TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR AND HAVE THEM BE A GUIDE TO HELP YOU AS A VETERAN UNDERSTAND THOSE PROGRAMS.

>> WE ARE A VARIETY OF CLASSES OR SEMINARS.

SOME IS ON CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

OTHERS IS ON EMPLOYMENT, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, WE ALSO HAVE A AND TOIC IN CANNABIS HERE IN KENTUCKY.

IT IS A VARIETY OF TOPICS THESE VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS CAN TAKE HOME WITH THEM.

THEY ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED PLUS MORE.

LET'S SAY WEIGH GET VETERANS THEIR BENEFITS NOW THEY ARE ABLE TO HAVE GOOD ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF PENSION AND INCOME COMING IN THAT IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IF THEY HAVE THE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT JOBS OR START A BUSINESS, THEN THEY INCREASE THEIR STANDARD LIVING FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

IMPORTANTLY IF YOU HAVE ALL THE STABILITIES THAT REDUCES MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, PROBLEMS AND PREVENT SUICIDE.

>> HAVING ALL THESE SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS HERE MEANS A LOT.

HAVING THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HERE SUPPORTING OUR PROGRAMS ACTUALLY ASSISTS A LOT.

IT REINFORCES THE POINT THAT I THINK THERE IS A GREATER NEED WITHIN THE STATE TO REACH MORE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE WELL OVER 200 PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR THIS CONFERENCE AND THIS IS THE FIRST-EVER.

I BELIEVE THIS WILL LEAD TO BIGGER, LARGER CONFERENCES IN THE STATE INVITING OUGHT VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO.

>> VETERAN FAMILIES AND THE COMPONENT THEY BRING TO SUPPORT THEIR VETERANS OR THEIR SERVICE MEMBERS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, YOU DON'T SACRIFICE AS A SINGLE SOLDIER.

YOU TEND TO HAVE YOUR FAMILY BE THERE TO SUPPORT AND WHETHER IT'S FAMILY OR FRIENDS, OR COMMUNITY, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TEAM.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE MILITARY REALLY SUPPORTS IS ABOUT A TEAM.

EVERYTHING WE DO IS ABOUT A TEAM EFFORT.

>> Renee: THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF VETTED RAN AFFAIRS HAS MORE PROGRAMMING INCLUDING A SEMINAR FOR FEMALE VETERANS PLANNED THROUGHOUT 2025.

>>> STARTING A BUSINESS IS HARD WORK.

FOR VETERAN ENTREPRENEURS, THE PROCESS PRESENTS ITS OWN SET OF UNIQUE CHALLENGES.

ACCORDING TO THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS OR DAV.

THE ORGANIZATION RUNS THE PATRIOT BOOTCAMP GIVING VETERAN ENTREPRENEURS HANDS ON MENTORSHIP FROM PROFESSIONALS TO MAKE THEIR BUSINESS DREAMS A REALITY.

>> WE SEE THAT VETERANS HAVE GIVEN UP A LOT OF THE TIME THAT THEY USUALLY WOULD HAVE SPENT STARTING A BUSINESS FOR A TRADITIONAL ENTREPRENEUR.

SO THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE FOUNDATION IN ALL AREAS TO SUCCEED WITH A BUSINESS.

SO WE'RE HELPING THEM WITH THE BUILDING BLOCK STUFF.

>> THERE IS NO RULES IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

SO IT IS A BIG SHIFT FOR ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE VETERANS TO GO FROM A STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU ARE GETTING PROMOTED ON A SCHEDULE AND TESTING AND DA, DA, TO A CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE WHEN YOU START YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

>> YOU WILL GET FOUR HOURS OF MENTORSHIP VERY INTENSE PERIOD OF INSTRUCTION OF BACK AND FORTHWITH SOMEBODY.

CUSTOMIZED TO YOUR NEEDS.

AND YOU WILL LEAVE WITH A NETWORK A COMMUNITY THAT IS THERE TO SUPPORT YOU.

>> THE BEAUTIFUL PART IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST FROM A THEORETICAL PLACE.

THE MENTORS THAT DONATE SOOP OF THEIR TIME AND MONEY TO ARE PEOPLE RUNNING REAL BUSINESSES ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

THEY CAN GIVE YOU PRACTICAL ADVICE.

WHICH IS UNIQUE TO THIS AND IT'S SO COOL TO BE AROUND A BUTCH OF FORMER MILITARY PEOPLE THAT IS SOMETHING A LOT OF US LOSE WHEN OUR TIME IN THE SERVICE LEAVES.

SO WE HAVE TWO THINGS IN COMMON MILITARY SERVICE AND AN ENTREPRENEURIAL GENE AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES THAT EVENT SO FUN.

>> THE PEOPLE GOING THROUGH OFTEN DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE MENTORS THAT LAST BEYOND THE EVENT.

AND THOSE ARE PRICELESS RELATIONSHIPS.

YOU COULDN'T HIRE A CONSULTTANT A C.E.O.

NECESSARILY BUT WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS GIVING THEIR TIME AND HELPING THESE VETERANS WAY BEYOND THE CONFINES OF THE TWO-AND-A-HALF DAYS THEY SPEND IN BOOTCAMP.

VETERANS ARE RESILL YEPTD AND CREATIVE.

WE THINK OF LING I HAD PEOPLE BUT THEY ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE ADAPTABLE AND A TEAR IN CHALLENGING SITUATIONS.

>> THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SEEM THE WORST OF THE WORST A LOT OF TIMES WITH THEIR SERVICE.

SO A SMALL ACCOUNTING ERROR IS THIS BIG OF A PROBLEM IN A WORLD WHERE THEY'VE SEEN THIS BIG OF A PROBLEM.

THAT IS A HUGE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE WHAT IS GOING TO BREAK OR MAKE SOMEBODY DO THEY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO NOT GIVE UP AND STAY IN THE CAME.

>> WE NEED TO START MORE COMPANIES WE NEED MORE EMPLOYERS AND VETERANS ARE A SOLUTION TO THAT.

AND THEY'VE PROVED WHEN THEY GET INVOLVED IN A VENTURE THEY ARE RELENTEDLESS ABOUT SCHEDULING.

>> Renee: THE DAV PLANS TO HOLD ANOTHER PATRIOT BOOTCAMP IN THE FALL.

>>> A LOUISVILLE COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST, AUTHOR AND ENTREPRENEUR KNOWS ALL TOO WELL THAT PR EXPERTS ARE FAR FROM WHAT SOME WOULD CALL SPIN DOCTORS.

ANGELA BILLINGS A U.S. AIR FORCE VETERAN FROM LOUISVILLE RELEASED A BOOK DOCUMENTING HER EXPERIENCES NAVIGATING CHAOS AND CRISIS LIKE THE TERRORIST ATTACK ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001.

THE BOOK IS CALLED "COMMAND THE CRISIS" SHE IS THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECT 0 FOR FOR THE KENTUCKY SENATE REPUBLICANS AND GAVE A TED TALK ABOUT WOMEN'S LIBERATIONS AND SETBACKS IN AFGHANISTAN INFORMED BY HER WORK AS A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE AIR FORCE.

SHE SHARED HER RECOLLECTIONS ABOUT THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON 9/11.

>> WELL, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR MILITARY DAYS AND HOW YOU ROSE TO THE RANKS BECAME THE FACE AND THE VOICE FOR NATO IN SO MANY WAYS.

TALK ABOUT THAT AND DURING A PIVOTAL TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY DURING THE DARKEST DAYS IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO IT WAS A PUBLIC AFFAIR OFFICER THROUGHOUT MY CAREER.

WE AS A NATION, WERE ATTACKED BY THE TERRORISTS SEPTEMBER 11th 2001.

I HAD JUST ARRIVED AT THE PENTAGON WEEKS EARLIER AND WAS GETTING MY BEARINGS HOW TO NAVIGATE IN THE BUILDING WHEN THE TERRORISTS ATTACKED IN NEW YORK PENTAGON AND THAT FOURTH PLANE THAT LANDED IN PENNSYLVANIA.

IT CERTAINLY GALVANIZED THE UNITED STATES AND THE ENTIRE WORLD.

AND WE CHANGED OUR DIPLOMATIC APPROACH TO A COUNTRY THAT HAD BEEN WAR-TORN FOR DECADES.

AND AT THEIR BLESSING AND INVITATION, NATO THE U.S. WAS ONE NATION, STEPPED INTO AFGHANISTAN TO REALLY ROOT OUT TOES TERRORISTS WITHIN.

AND WERE THERE FOR 20 YEARS.

I WAS THERE AT THE HALFWAY POINT.

ANS YOU INDICATED I WAS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSESSY SIS TENSE FORCE IN KABUL.

WE WOULD DO DAILY NEWS RELEASES ABOUT WHAT OUR EFFORT ENTAILED.

WE DID PRESS CONFERENCES TO PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE PRESS.

AND TO THE WORLD ABOUT HOW WE WERE PROVIDING FOR THE SECURITY IN AFGHANISTAN.

>> Renee: YOU HAVE DESCRIBED IN DETAIL TOO ABOUT THAT DAY AND ABOUT MAYBE WHAT THAT MEANT TO YOU IN TERMS OF THIS WOULD BE A MISSION.

IT WASN'T JUST A JOB.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Renee: IT WAS A MISSION NOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I'M PROBABLY NOT UNIQUE IN THAT.

MILITARY MEMBERS WHEN WE JOIN, WE RAISE OUR RIGHT HAND, SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE AND PUT OUR LIFE ON THE LINE FOR THIS AMAZING COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING IN.

AND SO EXPERIENCING THE ATTACKS ON THE PENTAGON, REALLY GAVE US LASER FOCUS ON WHAT OUR MISSION WAS.

AND WE KNEW THAT WE HAD TO TAKE A STAND AND TO MAKE EVERY AVAILABLE ATTEMPT TO RID THIS WORLD OF SOME VERY, VERY EVIL MEN.

>> Renee: YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THE LIBERATION OF WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN.

AND MANY OF US ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH MA LAILA, 17-YEAR-OLD WHO WON THE NOBLE PEACE PRIZE AT AGE 17.

>> THE YOUNGEST.

>> Renee: THE YOUNGEST SHOT IN THE HEAD AND FACE BY THE TALIBAN.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT NOT JUST HER BRAVERY AND COURAGE IN THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, WHY THAT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT MOMENT THEN GOING FORWARD.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS A TIME WHERE THERE WAS SOME UPWARD MOBILITY OF WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN AND THEN AFTER 20 YEARS OF THAT LIBERATION AND THAT DIPLOMACY IT WAS GONE.

>> RIGHT.

>> Renee: AND THERE IS A STRUGGLE FOR IT TO THIS DAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN FACT, I THINK THE TERRORISTS KNOW HOW VERY IMPORTANT EDUCATION IS.

THAT IS WHY THEY FORBID WOMEN FROM PURSUING JUST YOUR PRIMARY EDUCATION.

AND THEN GO ON TO ATTAIN YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEGREES.

SO AS YOU INDICATED FOR 20 YEARS WOMEN WERE ABLE TO WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME, CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES IN THAT WAY.

AND THEN WHEN THE U.S.

DEPARTED AFGHANISTAN, THE AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY COLLAPSED WITHIN MONTHS AGAINST A TALIBAN OFFENSIVE.

AND THEN REALLY TOOK THAT EDUCATION THAT SO MANY WOMEN HAD WORKED SO VERY HARD FOR MUCH LIKE YOU AND I WAS TORN FROM THEM.

AND THE TERRORISTS FEEL THREATENED AND THAT IS WHY THEY'VE TAKEN ISLAMIC LAW AND REALLY JUST TAKEN IT TO THE VERY EXTREME END SAYING WOMEN YOU CAN'T EVEN TALK TO YOUR MOTHER, TO YOUR SISTER TO YOUR FRIEND.

SO THEY FEEL VERY MUCH THREATENED BY JUST THOSE SIMPLE LIBERTIES THAT WE HERE IN THIS GREAT NATION OFTEN TAKE FOR GRANTED.

>> Renee: ARE THERE ANY LESSONS WE COULD LEARN AS A COUNTRY THAT IS A FREE DEMOCRACY, FROM WHAT WE SEE IN COUNTRIES THAT DO THAT ENJOY THAT FREEDOM PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN?

>> CERTAINLY.

I ADDRESS THIS IN MY TALK TO SOME EXTENT.

EDUCATION IS THE SINGLE ELEMENT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN POVERTY AND ATTAINING LIBERTY, ECONOMIC LIBERTY TO PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.

I WAS THE FIRST OF SIX CHILDREN NUMBER FIVE OF SIX, THE FIRST TO ATTEND COLLEGE.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING MY FATHER STRESSED TO ME AS A VERY YOUNG AGE GET YOUR EDUCATION, ANGELA, BECAUSE ONCE YOU HAVE IT NOBODY CAN TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU.

AND FORTUNATELY IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT IS THE CASE.

WHEREAS IN A COUNTRY LIKE AFGHANISTAN, WOMEN HAVE TAKEN THEY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO STEP PACK AND IT'S -- STEP BACK AND IT IS A DIRE SITUATION THAT MA LAILA, SHE STILL CHAMPIONS TODAY IT'S GENDER APARTHEID AND IT'S NOT JUST IN AFGHANISTAN THAT WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED.

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T STAND UP FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN, THEN WE MIGHT FACE A NEW GENERATION OF RADICAL EXTREMISTS THAT WILL MAKE ANOTHER ATTEMPT LIKE THE 9/11 ATTACKS.

WHETHER IT'S ON THE UNITED STATES OR ANOTHER COUNTRY.

>> Renee: ANGELA DID A TED TALK AT BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY IN LOUISVILLE ABOUT THE LIBERATION OF THE WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN.

THAT YOU CAN FIND ON YouTube.

>>> THIS YEAR, MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

A WAR THAT MOST STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT IN SCHOOL.

BUT FOR SOME FREDERICK DOUGLASS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LEXINGTON, THE LESSON WENT BEYOND THE TEXTBOOK WHEN A GROUP OF VIETNAM VETERANS VISITED THEIR SCHOOL TO SHARE THEIR WAR STORIES.

>> I HAVE LONG THOUGHT ABOUT HOW CAN I TEACH VIETNAM IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT MOST OF THESE PARTICULAR GENERATION, THIS PARTICULAR GENERATION OF KIDS THEIR GRANDPARENTS MIGHT HAVE SERVED OR GREAT UNCLES THAT SORT OF THING.

I WANTED TO BRING IN AS MANY VETERANS AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WAY THEY COULD HEAR FROM REAL PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE AND THAT SERVED.

>> WE GAVE VIETNAM SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE WE GOT THERE.

WE GAVE THEM FREEDOM.

>> WELL, I THINK IN THIS DAY AND TIME THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

ALL EXCEPT FOR MAYBE WHAT THEY HEAR OR READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

>> I THINK THAT TELEVISION AND MOVIES SOMETIMES WRONGLY DEPICT WHAT A VETERANS GOES THROUGH.

WHAT I WAS TOLD IS SOME OF THE THINGS I WENT THROUGH, I'VE GOT THREE PURPLE HEARTS AT HOME.

>> I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY KNOW WHAT REALLY WENT ON AND TALKING TO PEOPLE AS MYSELF FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OVER IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

LET THEM KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.

READINGS THINGS IN BOOKS AND MAGAZINES ARE DIFFERENT THAN ACTUALLY TALKING TO SOMEONE THAT ACTUALLY LIVED THAT LIFE FOR I ALITTLE WHILE.

>> I HAD A LOT OF VETERANS THAT WANT TO COME BUT I THINK THEY WERE NERVOUS ABOUT THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS THEY WERE GOING TO GET ASKED.

I TOLD THE KIDS IF THEY ARE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS AND SHARE THOSE THINGS WITH YOU THAT'S FINE.

BUT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO, THEN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT.

THE QUESTIONS WERE GREAT.

I RESPONDED TO EVERYONE OF THE QUESTIONS.

>> WHAT ARE ARE YOUR FEELINGS ON PEOPLE THAT DODGED THE DRAFT?

>> THEY DODGED REALITIES OF LIFE.

>> I WAS HONEST WITH THEM.

I THINK THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE SHOULD OPERATE, BE HONEST.

>> I WANTED THEM TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS HOW THEY FELT ABOUT IT AND THE QUESTIONS THEY ASK AND THAT I COULD ANSWER JUST AS TRUTHFULLY AS I COULD SO THEY'LL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF IT.

>> I THINK THAT IT CAN BE HEALING IN A LOT OF WAYS FOR THEM.

JUST GETTING TO SHARE THEIR STORY AND GET THAT OUT IN THE OPEN.

>> IT ACTUALLY HELPS THE VETERANS THAT IS THERAPY FOR THE VETERANS, ESPECIALLY THE VIETNAM ONES.

>> IT GAVE US A CHANCE TO REALLY OPEN UP ABOUT WHAT WE EXPERIENCED.

WHAT WE SAW, WHAT WE DID.

BECAUSE BELIEVE IT OR NOT A LOT OF US WON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THE VIETNAM EXPERIENCE.

SO THIS WAS A CHANCE TO, I GUESS, MOSTLY NOT NECESSARILY VENT BUT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE LIFE WAS REALLY LIKE BEING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

>> THIS DIDN'T BOTHER ME AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD.

I HAD MY DAUGHTER WITH ME AND SUPPORTS ME 100% AND SHE HAD PHOTOGRAPHS IN A I CALL A VIETNAM BOOK OF PHOTOS AND SO FORTH.

THAT REALLY TELLS THE STORY AND THE STUDENTS LOVED IT.

>> FOX TROT ONE?

>> I WAS IN FOX TROT.

>> WHEN YOU ARE A KID THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY CARE ABOUT OR CARE TO HEAR AT THE TIME.

BUT AS YOU GET OLDER THINGS YOUR VALUE SYSTEMS AND MORALS AND LIKE MAN, I WISH I HAD LEARNED ABOUT THAT.

AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT LIVED IT AND THEY CAN HEAR FROM THEM.

SO I THINK SOME OF THEM THEY MAY BE DOING IT BECAUSE IT IS JUST A PROJECT FOR THE CLASS.

BUT I THINK THE BENEFIT FOR THE KIDS IS THEY GET TO HEAR THAT EXPERIENCE.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE MAKE DECISIONS WE MAKE LAWS BUT THERE ARE REAL PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH THESE DECISIONS.

>> I HOPE YOU LEARN THAT FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

WE HAD TO FIGHT FOR IT.

WE'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF LIBERTIES, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, ASSEMBLE AND SO FORTH.

BUT THERE'S MEN THAT FOUGHT FOR IT AND DIED FOR IT AND I HOPE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> Renee: WE CERTAINLY HOPE THEY DO.

MAGGIE SCHOLL WHO YOU HEARD FROM SAYS HER STUDENTS SPENT A MONTH TALKING ABOUT VIETNAM AND PREPARING FOR A PODCAST THAT FEATURES CONVERSATIONS WITH VIETNAM VETERANS.

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "KENTUCKY EDITION."

AND OUR GRATITUDE TO ALL THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR FREEDOM.

YOU CAN CONNECT WITH US ALL THE WAYS ON YOUR SCREEN, FACEBOOK, X AND INSTAGRAM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT "KENTUCKY EDITION" AND THE GREAT PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMMING HERE AT KET.

AND WE INVITE YOU TO SEND US AN E-MAIL A STORY IDEA TO PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT KET.ORG.

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I'M RENEE SHAW AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

NEXT TIME.

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