>> History takes flight with the first ever all-women honor flight.

>> But this is the first day of of.

Getting justice for everybody.

>> Veterans react to a victory in a fight for their health.

With the way the stress from the spouse from the veteran, you know, to where they can focus on getting better.

And construction will soon wrap up on a new project will make life a little easier for our military families.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET meant for Kentucky Productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Friday, November.

11th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for spending your Friday evening with us as we give honor and tribute to our military heroes on this Veterans Day.

>> In August, the president signed the PACT Act which stands for promise to address comprehensive toxics.

The bill expands medical benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits or other toxic substances.

It's good news for veterans like Brian Amburgey.

>> Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan only faced a judge about.

They were breathing toxic smoke from burn pits.

The burn pit is a thing that the military did not want to me getting.

They would burn it, use chemicals, whatever, whatever can be sold in power.

Sunburn.

That's what they did.

And all of our service members that was they are was exposed to all the toxic fumes and smoke that was coming from these fires to plunge from 1953.

Through 1987 base, knowingly and willingly covered up contaminated on the base that contained pce TCE benzene.

>> Vinyl chloride.

Up to 68 more chemicals which caused all kinds of cancers.

It was always the victim had to prove, but they will stay or to the VA. We've got our paperwork, but 99.9%.

The time the VA would the night and the the veterans would not get a crucial medical care they needed.

Now was a packed day.

We don't have to prove.

We say we that they the bills they have because it was a lot of on issues that to some of the center's didn't want to build past because some kind a little glitch.

They kept calling.

>> This bill puts our economy, though, at risk by creating presumptions of service connection for the most common of ailments.

went to >> Jon Stewart, other ad.

It's it was kept camping out outside the White House.

And while he was some of the senators came out and started saying, hey, come with me, come with me.

They took us inside the Capitol building.

Put us around and let us watch the vote.

The motion is agreed to.

It would just like it.

But there was a during the second ever been to watch.

And here that final vote no come out saying yes, past seeing the smiles, seeing everybody the tears and then the next night getting the indication from President Biden to the White House for the signing was.

Still push.

Chill.

me this here now means.

As to trying to figure out where their next meal will come from because a lot of homeless because of their illnesses, they'll get treatment for their cancers and other health issues affected them.

Still hard to believe.

That's it.

All these years of advocating along with hundreds of others that helped me.

No one wants it.

Got the brain tumors in all these other health issues and so if that no one they found finally going to get justice, we'll never get an apology from the government.

But this is the first tip of getting justice for everybody.

>> For years honor flight of Kentucky has recognized the service that veterans and Kentucky have given to their country by taking them on a daylong adventure to Washington, D.C., this summer.

The honor flight organized a trip for a group of Kentucky veterans often overlooked visiting the monuments and memorials built to honor those who sacrificed so much for their fellow countryman.

This flight was a special day for these women who served.

>> 6/11/2022 134 women veterans from around Kentucky gathered for breakfast at Blue Grass Airport.

The beginning of the first all female beverage trip organized by honor Flight Kentucky.

It.

>> Honor Flight mission is to fly veterans from World War 2, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to DC for a one-day all expenses paid trip to visit the memorials dedicated to their service.

We decided we needed and all a female fight because first of all, it never been done before in Kentucky, but women deserved that special event to bond with each other.

And this multi generational.

I tripped to honor their service.

>> I said of the table and there were 8 of us different services all around and there was 130 years combined service to the military, the Army, Navy Air Force Marines in 8 people, which was pretty headed to the plane.

>> These veterans on different generations and complex.

We're greeted by members of Rolling Thunder, longtime supporters of honor flight.

>> They held an American flag high overhead as a sendoff with these women.

>> Touching the flag and musically feel that tradition in your heart out in the new worries.

Come back to why we're here where it was.

Our rationale for joining the military to support serve our country no matter what.

>> Smiles and joy turned to somber moment for veterans like Ashley Hawkins, a parent and I right.

>> Hawkins earned the Bronze Star with valor and what would become known as the Palm Sunday ambush when her nine-member unit was called on to hold off 50 insurgents attacking an American convoy.

As the White left the terminal.

>> It received a water cannon salute and the voices of these 134 veterans l. ♪ Patriotic singing continue as the group was greeted at Reagan Airport.

>> By the West Point lead.

The first stop for these veterans was the women's memorial for military service dedicated at Arlington Cemetery in 1997.

Each would receive a plaque inducting them into the museum.

>> So we injected every single one of them into the women's memorial for military service in Arlington.

One of the memorials that is dedicated solely to the mail service.

I think that was very special for them.

>> Following launch was a solemn moment for all veterans.

>> As it does with all of that.

The changing of the guard.

>> And soaked.

>> This special live visit, the World War, 2 memorial.

And then it was on to the Lincoln Memorial.

While appreciating all the hours actually brought the men and her organization of volunteers have put into their trip.

>> Everyone was overwhelmed.

How every stop there were groups reading and honoring these women.

>> Channing Frye.

>> Because it's so truly emotional to see the people that care so much to be right there in front of you all the other veterans staying in supporting you.

>> Flanking the famed reflecting pool extending before Abraham Lincoln.

Our memorials to those who served in Korea and Vietnam.

Many on this honor flight.

Remember what their service meant to them?

And 2 others.

>> I always look back on my service and look at all the amazing things I got to do.

You know, I got to build schools for girls that got to enjoy those schools for 20 years.

And what I hope to believes that those girls in Afghanistan, there's 20 years of education for those women right there.

>> Perhaps the most moving moment of the day was a wreath laying ceremony at the statue dedicated to the nurses who served and Vietnam.

The names of 8 nurses are etched for ever on the wall.

Frank is the last Nick of Lexington was a nurse in Vietnam who found herself caught falling under enemy fire across our medical compound to get to the wounded soldiers needing her help.

Along with fellow Kentuckians Marge Graves and Kathy Graham back.

They remember the legacy of the women who put >> their lives in harm's way.

>> My Vietnam.

>> a out all the man who took care of.

He didn't make it.

Hit me until I asked.

Hey, they're holding up together.

>> I think we're the only to hear that is from the from our unit for me to get to be a part of that.

What Frankie and take 3 to the Vietnam Memorial.

And being able kind of sharing her memories, too.

It's nice to be able to be a part of that.

>> This honor flight had one last stop.

The Marine memorial of the woods yet where they were greeted by a 21 gun salute.

>> It was a moment that connected each veteran with all the women who had one of our country's uniform.

>> It's been the most amazing well planned, thoughtful day ever.

I spent most of my military career alone and I've been able to spend it amongst all these amazing women with their own amazing stories just.

It's been overwhelming.

He.

>> Back on the plate.

Our trip, this all.

>> Far from it.

They found out.

Comments afterward.

>> It was it's sealed the deal for the day in letting them know they are appreciated and can >> they are appreciated.

Indeed.

Thank you, Tom.

Buckle for that report.

The sacrifices of this country's military women and men are the reason all Americans are able to celebrate today.

Sometimes that sacrifice comes at a cost to those who served among the most common problems veterans face after their services ended unemployment, homelessness and mental health issues.

Veterans Club Inc and Shelby County is on a mission to provide the services veterans me to heal and live better lives.

>> I wasn't over for 9 years deployed to Iraq during the initial We worked at him and prisoner of war camps in term of facilities both and so in Iraq and have a and near Baghdad were in training to prepare for Whether we ever go or not your toe s*** it up and drive on.

Are your to stuff it down.

If you're sad, get mad, right?

You're told to put these fields away so that you complete the mission.

Now that serves us very well and a combat environment.

But if you look at how long you're in combat versus the time in your life that you're not, it's very, very small.

I was known for a long time when I come home, I literally felt nothing.

>> He was kind of cut off from everybody.

He >> Show a desire to really interact socially.

We just got to a place where we realize this wasn't living.

This wasn't going to create a successful half family environment for us.

And that's when we realize that we needed to see other other forms of healing.

And that's when the horses came into our life when he applied for the equine out in Kansas.

I was like, yeah, this is this is going to be I really liked it there.

I just as I started to brush the horse.

>> You dirt flying off the course of just a decision that that was some of the stuff that I was scared.

>> And it really got me to a level of calm that had experience for years decades.

I don't know at that point.

It was so much the horse the way that the horse made me feel.

But I felt I could focus on something other than the bad things that experienced when he came back.

>> The change was was unbelievable.

He KET what was missing in his life and he wanted to be able to provide that for others and it and it was what others were missing in their life as well as the very first.

So every time that there are flies, look that fly.

Love that leave you right?

>> I've actually got my life back because of that risk has and the horses and lost 4 men and a helicopter crash.

And I actually watched to go down.

It was trying to comprehend what happened.

Organizers to move the bottom of the ocean.

Because we couldn't get them.

The mission had to come first.

So I have trouble dealing with that.

I came home and things weren't the same.

I wasn't the same.

I was changed.

I was taking 18 different types of medications living in a fog.

I wasn't a good dad.

Wasn't a good husband.

I'm on my computer looking for ways to get help.

And I saw this things called veterans close election isolation is a killer in our community that much deadlier the enemy we ever faced overseas.

So the foundation of everything we do is connection here.

We are together.

>> And this horses were great buffer so that we could have a conversation about our hardest days.

It's different if you're just said across from someone in a room.

>> Back when I got out of service 1975.

There was nothing I hear like this for veterans to in our school crime through this.

No man up.

The man.

Well, that didn't work.

It's really hard because you're trying to.

>> You're almost trying to break down a culture that is saved them here to a certain point in their life.

>> Anything that your current want to let your service to start to catch on that.

Okay.

So connections the answer.

What else are we going to do?

>> To provide this level of connection because horses are great little now, but not not everyone does.

We decided camaraderie, coffee, very simple concept, but very impactful.

We partnered with a local gun range to now where we have that are to come out and their families.

If they're old enough, they can.

They convert.

They can join as well and they can use firearms at the range and then we have food dependent on what month it is.

It would be their pistols and pizza or to be both a barbecue with live events program that just kicked about a year ago.

The operation GI Bill, that's an opportunity for veterans to learn automotive repair.

We took over the Veterans Village March 3rd, 2021.

We've had 10 veterans who have come this program since we've taking over who are now out working today.

Not kill everybody.

You have to find what works for you.

The gist of got all kinds of different things.

You can do all kinds of services if you've got problems.

>> Talk about it.

That's the big thing.

>> One of the reasons it's important to have these wraparound services because a lot can go between phone calls.

You may be the last call, but a better makes before they decide to pull the trigger, do something to end their life.

I did not expect a recession grow to what it is now.

>> It really solidified the fact that Jeremy, you hit the nail on the head.

This isn't a hobby for me.

This is a passion for me.

We're just going to KET focusing on what it's true in the mission at hand and just work and our best to create good, prosperous life for those who have served the deserve.

It.

Our thanks to Jeremy for helping our military heroes.

>> During the Civil War Camp Nelson located in Nicholasville serve as a recruitment and training center for Union troops.

Although it was originally meant only for white soldiers, emancipated black soldiers soon became the majority.

♪ >> I've always loved history is things that we can learn from that.

Make us who we are.

And the stories of the people and the lives that were changed and the relationships that were developed here.

It's the awesome power of it.

Curry.

just wanting to I obtain something.

>> And we all want to obtain something in our lives.

And this was thousands of people.

We came here to obtain their freedom.

>> Camp Nelson was a U.S. Army Supply Depot.

Recruitment camp and hospital during the American Civil War.

We were one of the largest recruitment and training centers for African American soldiers who were called during the war.

United States colored troops.

And then we were also a large for their wives and children.

>> It initially was put here as a supply depot and training center for us.

Why light?

They were not enlisting the African American, a man until 18, 64.

So the transition in that one year then from all white soldiers, 2 dominant of the USC take us colored troops.

>> The supply aspect is significant because it helped to the U.S. Army supply their men.

And when a number of battles in what was known at that time is the Western Theater.

>> And the African-American story is incredibly significant because it really help destroy slavery and Kentucky, if not in the south in general.

They kept it after the war was over to continue to enlist African American soldiers, particularly to emancipate them and their wives and children.

>> There are around 300 buildings here during the 18 63 to 18, 66 period when the camp was here.

>> Larger than a small city had a higher population in Louisville and Lexington combined for that same period because you had civilians working here over 3,000 civilians working here.

In the end, you had over family members living here that were emancipated.

We have between 8 10,000 soldiers going through year and being gears and hear from various times.

So that's why it had a high population.

So many things like that that are so important to people that you really have to do.

You're scratching here and there.

But to go back and find those 10 times and to find those pieces.

>> a person's life that recorded them.

Now we want to make our place in history and that person's place is safe.

It's it's history living history.

>> Indeed, it is.

The Lexington VA Medical Center serves some 90,000 veterans from more than 40 Kentucky counties.

Many of them traveling from eastern Kentucky for treatment.

Their families will soon have a free place to stay.

While the veterans are in the hospital.

>> So I stepped on an I D January 2007 5 months later when I got to San Antonio, Brooke Army Medical Center.

I'm right outside of the the rehab facility, the Center for the Intrepid.

They had to Brandon Fisher Houses and and that's where they put me in my mom.

Fisher Houses where military families and veterans families stay for free while their loved one is in a VA hospital.

>> We stayed there for 8 months and that was my first experience of the Fisher House and and all the good that it does.

We think a family's love is good medicine.

We want them to only worry about being at their loved one's bedside, helping their family member get better.

It was that home away from home environment.

You didn't have to worry about, you know, hotel bills.

Think about your own personal budget.

Could you afford to stay in a hotel long term?

The cost of meals.

That's a huge burden for families who are already dealing with the burden of a medical crisis.

You have to drive, you know, a long distance to get me to re haven't dropped by cuts.

You know, 5 minute out the back door, walk to the Fisher House.

You have your bedroom.

You can kind of escape from everything around you or you go to the community room and, you know, living room and you couldn't.

You interact with other spouses and other parents.

There will be 16 private suites.

And then a common kitchen, living room and dining room and the importance of that is you're staying in the house with other families of veterans.

Who are facing similar challenges and in some cases a crises with their loved one being hospitalized in the VA hospital.

So it's like having a built-in support group.

During 2007, there were so many soldiers and Marines coming back from overseas that wounded.

We use the Fisher House a lot to kind of.

The fellowship, the camaraderie.

I have volunteered at the VA for decades.

And in that time I have seen far too many families of veterans sleeping in their cars in the parking lot because they couldn't afford a hotel that's just not acceptable.

That's not how we treat veterans and their families for what they've done for our country with their service and sacrifice.

We've got take care of our veterans, you know, and the Fisher House provides them the a stress-free environment so they can focus on rehab and therapy and surgeries so they could be better when they get back home.

>> This is the first Fisher House in Kentucky that's being built on VA property.

There is another one in the state at Fort Campbell.

Families never receive a bill for staying at a Fisher House.

Our last story as we celebrate veterans, Kentucky veterans and service members are being honored in another special way.

They're being gifted, homemade quilts as a way to say thank you for your service.

Here's another story from Kentucky.

Life.

>> The quilts of Valor is a national nonprofit organization.

>> It started in 2003 I Catherine Roberts.

Her son was deployed.

she was looking for a way to recognize his early.

But one night she had a dream.

And there was a soldier sitting on the side of the bed.

And despair.

And then just like in the movie, the curtain closed.

And he appeared again.

With fear and despair was gone.

And there's a cool factor out.

So the message was Wilkes that was the seed that >> I was in the air with, you know, as a crew chief and a helicopter.

So we flew all over the place and got to see things that probably ground troops wouldn't see from here.

So, you know, it's pretty nice.

And from there was kind of like a home base from there.

We went to Korea.

We want to do and we want to the Philippines.

We want all over Asia.

I'm a member of the Marine Corps League and the American Legion.

And there's quite a few vets within the last 2 months they receive.

You know, there are quotes of dollars.

So they're pretty excited about it as well.

I think it's fantastic because, you know, it's all volunteer organization and they serve better.

>> And sometimes with veterans or >> in need of.

And that quill really, really helps them to feel the one.

Again, you know, I feel good about life.

So I think it's a fantastic organization.

>> It was in for 8 years.

And that was it.

You 6 talk first mate, first class.

You know, it wasn't easy, but I loved it was an amazing adventure.

You know, the sept the ports, but the 6th Fleet Admiral went to.

>> Were But the life on the >> It was.

>> It would change forever.

The only place I had ever been really genuinely thing for my service.

>> Was in Israel.

And when I came back, we know nobody shared and welcome me back.

I just can't believe the that.

>> A group of women.

finding a way to.

>> Show appreciation to >> One of the moving that everyone was able to experience at the presentation was that one of our local presentations one of the veterans after we wrapped in with this quilt, he's amassed speak.

And we've never had that once before us to speak.

So.

But this was a Vietnam vet.

And he wanted everyone to know.

But this was the first time.

♪ >> So let us do that as we close.

Thank you.

Our military heroes for your service.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We hope you've enjoyed this special edition of Kentucky EDITION where we inform connect and inspire.

We leave you with scenes from Camp Nelson National Cemetery in the close to them.

♪ ♪