♪♪♪ Welcome to Salute to Service.

I'm Trace Adkins, and I'm honored to host this Veterans Day celebration with the U.S.

Army Field Band.

We are joined by two-time Grammy Award winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling and International Opera star Angel Blue.

You'll follow the stories of several veterans, active service members, and friends of mine throughout the show.

Now, let's get into the studio with Six-String Soldiers and start making some music!

♪ ♪ ♪ Straight line wind turned the old barn into ♪ a pile of wood and rust ♪ The whole town comes with their work boots on ♪ raise it right back up.

♪ There's a life ain't fair thumb in the air ♪ just tryin' to get to Baton Rouge ♪ Somebody pulls up in a flatbed truck ♪ says, "Buddy, where you headed to?"

♪ There ain't no good news on the 6 o'clock news these days ♪ But don't you get down ♪ Take a look around ♪ It's all over the place ♪ It could be Carolina ♪ Could be California ♪ There's a dirt road class with a shirt on their back ♪ If you ask they'll put it right on you ♪ They say the world is endin' ♪ But from where I'm standin' there's still a jug to share ♪ Couple bucks to spare still got a prayer ♪ Somewhere in America.

♪ Somewhere in America.

♪ There's rumors of war wolves at the door ♪ There ain't no way around it ♪ There's all shades of blue collars back in the holler ♪ Set to do somethin' about it ♪ There's still cigarettes in bars ♪ There's still rings that don't leave hands ♪ There's still Semper Fi on arms ♪ There's still heart left in this land ♪ Could be Carolina ♪ Could be California ♪ There's a dirt road class with a shirt on their back ♪ If you ask they'll put it right on ya ♪ They say the world is endin' ♪ But from where I'm standin' there's still a jug to share ♪ Couple bucks to spare still got a prayer ♪ Somewhere in America ♪ Somewhere in America ♪ Somewhere there's a boy ♪ Somewhere there's a girl ♪ Sittin' in a Chevy on some Tom Petty ♪ Sayin' "Man, what a perfect world" ♪ Yeah somewhere there's a town ♪ Full of main street moms and pops ♪ On top of the world ♪ Even if the rest of the world is on the rocks ♪ Could be Carolina ♪ Could be California ♪ There's a dirt road class with a shirt on their back ♪ If you ask they'll put it right on ya ♪ They say the world is endin' ♪ But from where I'm standin' there's still a jug to share ♪ Couple bucks to spare still got a prayer ♪ Somewhere in America ♪ Somewhere in America ♪ Somewhere in America ♪♪ ♪♪ -I'm John Gleeson.

101 years old.

and I've, I've been around.

We woke up one morning to the news Pearl Harbor had been bombed.

So I enlisted the day after.

I was just 18, and I got in the Air Corps.

and uh, when Normandy happened.

I had a wave of patriotism just overwhelm me.

I flew between the pilot and the copilot on all the missions.

I remember the first time they shot at us and I thought, boy, this is dangerous.

Did it make me a little nervous?

Yeah!

Did you do your job?

I did my job.

I'd do it all over again.

-Veterans carry with them the weight of their experiences, and sharing those stories can bridge generations and bring families together.

It's so important that we keep their legacies alive ensuring that the sacrifices made are never forgotten.

The Library of Congress Veterans History Project does just that.

-The mission of the Veterans History Project is to gather those first person remembrances of our U.S.

military veterans, here at the nation's library.

-It goes back to a family barbecue where Representative Ron Kind was flipping burgers He overhears his uncle and his father starting to discuss stories about their military service.

He starts recording that moment.

And he wasn't necessarily doing it for himself he had 2 young sons, and he wanted them to be able to view directly from those individuals what their military service was like.

-It really is as easy as sitting down with a veteran in your life and capture whatever it is that they want to share about their experience.

How people felt, what they saw, how they kept in touch with their loved ones.

It is important that we capture those stories while we can.

♪ This land is your land ♪ This land is my land ♪ From California to the New York island ♪ From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream water ♪ This land was made for you and me.

♪ As I was walking that ribbon of highway ♪ I saw above me that endless skyway ♪ I saw below me that golden valley ♪ This land was made for you and me ♪ This land is your land ♪ This land is my land ♪ From California to the New York island ♪ From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream water ♪ This land was made for you and me ♪ This land is your land ♪ This land is my land ♪ From California to the New York island ♪ From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream water ♪ This land was made for you and me.

♪ This land was made for you and me.

♪ This land was made for you and me.

-The Blue Angels is the Navy and Marine Corps' aerial demonstration squadron that travels around the country 300 days out of the year, 70 different show sites to showcase the air power of the Navy and Marine Corps team.

I earned my wings in October of 2011, in a multi-engine aircraft.

And then I checked into my first squadron where I learned how to fly the venerable C-130.

And I got to do two deployments with that the first one to Afghanistan and then turned around and did another deployment, this time to Central East Africa While I was in Africa, applied for the Blue Angels.

I come from a long line of military.

Both my grandfathers were pilots in the Army Air Corps and the Air Force.

My dad was a A-7 and then F-18 pilot.

It was in my blood.

First phone call I had was to my parents to tell them that I got selected.

I remember thinking in that moment like, okay, I feel like this achievement, would put me on, on par with everyone else who came before me in my family.

so I was really proud of that.

I always thoroughly enjoyed the silence.

When you're by yourself in a tiny airplane, just looking around at the world around you it makes you feel so small in such a beautiful way.

That's when I felt closest to my grandfather He had passed by the time that I was flying.

And so being there alone in the cockpit, especially when you're a new pilot, can be very nerve wracking.

And I remember talking to him a lot “Make sure I land this plane, okay?” Right.

Like, “please keep me safe while I'm up here.” Or being like, “did you see that?” Not only do we do our own air show, but we also move like 35,000 pounds of cargo and 40 maintainers to every air show.

So that in the event the jets have any mechanical issues we are there with the support.

What advice would you give a young person who wants to be a Blue Angel?

I always say, “Calm seas don't make a skilled sailor.” It's those rough seas, it's the challenges, it's the friction.

It's the failures that you have to overcome that shape you as a person.

♪ [singing in Italian] ♪ ♪ [singing in Italian] ♪ ♪ [singing in Italian] ♪ -Family is a source of strength for those who serve in the military including the Grammy winning vocal powerhouse Angel Blue.

Let's hear from Angel and her brother, Army Sergeant Sylvester James Blue about what service and patriotism mean to them.

-Our family history is very patriotic.

Our grandfather was in the United States Navy and our Grandpa Blue was in the United States Army -My father, Sylvester Blue, he was in the Army.

My uncle Jesse, he was in the Army -My mom's sister was in the Women's Army Corps.

And our brother in law, is in the Navy.

I'm a 14 hotel.

That's air defense.

I'm responsible for identifying and detecting air threats.

-It's an honor to serve the country.

And I'm, obviously I'm not in the service, but I hope that in some way I serve the country by singing.

Music is the universal language of mankind.

One thing music will do, it will always communicate with people.

It will always give something to someone else.

And that I'm honored to sing with the United States Army Field Band makes me feel like I'm a part of the fabric of our culture, of our country.

-It's very special for me to be here, to be able to see her sing.

-So when I was singing today, when I looked into the audience and I saw James, he really reminded me of my dad.

Our father has been passed away for 18 years.

To have the memory of my dad singing these beautiful, patriotic songs.

And then to see James in the audience sitting like Dad and, and having the smile on his face like my Dad had was, was uh I won't forget that.

And I'm so happy to honor you, James.

I'm proud of you.

I'm really proud of you.

-It's an honor to serve.

♪ Mine eyes have seen the glory ♪ of the coming of the Lord ♪ He is trampling out the vintage ♪ where the grapes of wrath are stored ♪ He hath loosed the fateful lightning ♪ of His terrible swift sword ♪ His truth is marching on.

♪♪♪ ♪ I can see Him in the watch-fires ♪ of a hundred circling camps ♪ They have builded Him an altar ♪ with the evening dews and damps ♪ I can read His righteous sentence ♪ by the dim and flaring lamps ♪ His day is marching on.

♪♪♪ ♪ Glory, glory hallelujah!

♪ Glory, glory hallelujah!

♪ Glory, glory hallelujah!

♪ His truth is marching on.

♪ Truth is marching on!

-All right, gentlemen, how honored am I to be here today.

Thanks for being here with us.

So just wanted to take this opportunity for Veterans Day to speak with some veterans just some memories, and... and an opportunity for me to say thank you to all of you -It's an honor to be in the presence of so many here myself.

I did serve, and, the military really helped me grow into, I guess the person I am today.

When Desert Storm was breaking out and we were ready to roll, at that time, it was such a quick war that, uhh, we didn't, we didn't get deployed.

They asked me what I wanted to do, and I wanted to come back and actually, go back to my military police unit in Kentucky I had decided to continue to serve as a foundation to help out other, fellow soldiers and their families, get back into civilian life.

-A buddy that somebody can reach out to whenever they need to.

You're just a phone call away and, so, you know, thanks for your service.

-Started out at Fort Carson, Colorado.

The fourth Infantry Division.

Went to Iraq, in Baghdad.

I did personal security out there, and radio telephone operator.

I wanted to get a deployment to Afghanistan.

Went to Kandahar a little district called Zhari.

That's actually where the Taliban began.

[chuckles] We had quite the fight out there.

-I loved Afghanistan.

I thought it was beautiful.

-Sunrises and sunsets are amazing out there.

-The time that I spent over there, I remember, It was kind of in the southern part of Afghanistan, and we were at a FOB.

And, I think it was a captain that took me up on the corner and we stood up there and he said, “You see, across that valley, that, that line earthen work across there?” and I said, “Yeah, I see that.” He said, “Alexander the Great built that.” “Wow!

Let's go over there and look at it.” He goes, “You can't go over there!” Ya know?

When did you come home?

-Uh, 2011.

-And the adjustment?

I mean, when you got home?

-It was different compared to my Iraq deployment The Afghanistan was a lot more kinetic.

The Taliban fighters that we had down there they, they were willing to... to fight almost man to man sometimes.

-But the guys you served with?

-Still keep in touch with a lot of them.

-They're like brothers.

-Yessir.

-I don't think they introduce themselves as triplets as much as, as their mom.

Do you guys?

-No.

-All my buddies know I'm a triplet but that's ‘cause I talk about them all the time.

-Somebody stopped me at the gym one time, thought I was him.

-They were all just making fun of me.

[ Laughter ] Like, “oh, you got brothers here?” I was like “Yeah, man...” No, when we were kids, we did not like each other.

-I hated him.

[ Chuckles ] No, I hated him.

-I can attest, that they have not always been friends.

Yeah, I guess it was when we all left, we were like, oh, man, I actually kind of like, like these people.

When I was at basic and, like, he was sending me letters, I was like, oh, I just miss my brother so much.

-I did not say that!

I didn't say that!

-It's the first time we've all been stationed together since we've been in the Army.

-I love being in the army because the camaraderie.

You got your your battle next to you and the other one over here, they got your back.

It's like having them around, but it's not them it's other people.

Other brothers.

-Having my brother there at the same, basic training made it easier ‘cause the whole time you're thinking was like, well, if he can make it through it, I can make it through it.

You know, I'm not going to let him beat me.

[ Chuckles ] -Having them in the Army kind of makes me want to promote.

I got in first.

I promote first and it's like I can kinda spit a little game at them, ya know?

-At 43, I joined the Air Force Reserves.

I had always wanted to serve.

My husband served for 12 years, and once the kids all left and we were empty nesting, I kind of revisited it.

-It was a big surprise hearing that she wanted to join.

I don't know, you think about it, you don't think about your mom joining after you.

You know what I'm saying?

And then she joins, two days in, she's already, she already outranks me!

[ Laughter ] -To have that camaraderie with your sons, to be able to say “Mom, just one foot in front of the other, that's all you can do.” -My son, he likes all my equipment.

And so he came out, he was wearing my Camelbak he's wearing it around thinking he was like me.

Me and him being dads is super cool.

and then he's about to have a kid.

It's like we've reached like that other level of being brothers, you know?

-They definitely step up.

When Noah is gone, Wyatt and Liam will go and help with whatever they need, whether it's with the kids or the car.

They definitely have a community.

-We get together like, every like Friday... Saturday... even Sunday.

[ Laughter ] We play like, board games.

He even has like, a spare room for my kids to sleep in.

-I definitely learned patience from my mom.

You know, she had three kids at once.

I got one on the way.

Being a new parent, you're learning on on the go pretty much so you know, you're going to need a lot of patience.

I know I get that from her.

-You nervous about being a dad?

-Not really.

You know I've got family out here to help me take care of of the soon to be baby.

I got people to rely on, so... it ain't gonna be that bad.

♪ I don't know what you've been told ♪ But time is running out no need to take it slow ♪ I'm stepping to you toe-to-toe ♪ I should be scared well honey maybe so ♪ But I ain't worried 'bout it right now (right now) ♪ Keeping dreams alive 1999 heroes ♪ I ain't worried 'bout it right now (right now) ♪ Swimmin' in the floods dancing on the clouds below ♪ I ain't worried 'bout it [ Vocalizing ] ♪ I ain't worried 'bout it [ Vocalizing ] ♪ I don't know what you've been told ♪ But time is running out so spend it like it's gold ♪ I'm living like I'm nine-zeros ♪ Got no regrets even when I'm broke [ Beatboxing ] ♪ I'm at my best when I got something I'm wanting to steal ♪ Way too busy for them problems and problems to feel "♪ No stressing just obsessin' with sealin' the deal" ♪ I'll take it in and let it go ♪ But I ain't worried 'bout it right now (right now) ♪ Keeping dreams alive 1999 heroes ♪ I ain't worried 'bout it right now (right now) ♪ Swimmin' in the floods dancing on the clouds below ♪ I ain't worried 'bout it [ Vocalizing ] ♪ I ain't worried 'bout it [ Vocalizing ] ♪♪ -You know, it's been, uhh, a couple of weeks now.

You know, you get to see ‘em grow and learn.

I mean I haven't seen much, she's only three weeks.

I mean, it's nice when she sleeps.

[ Laughter ] I slept more in basic training that I did with this kid.

[ Laughter ] -Special forces operators are some of the most elite soldiers in the United States Army, conducting missions around the world in defense of freedom and democracy.

On October 8th, 2014, Major Michael McCave survived a parachuting accident that changed his life forever.

Through the journey of his recovery, the Warrior Mission Ranch was born.

-You know, a horse can feel a person's heartbeat from four feet away, and that's scientifically proven.

It's incredible.

When I walk up to a horse and I'm full of anxiety, anger, he's gone.

He wants to be nowhere near you.

You know, but if you can take a breath and relax and just learn how to calm down and center yourself, that horse actually wants to be with you.

And it's immediate feedback for the guys which is incredible.

I knew from a very young age I wanted to be in the military.

I was a Green Beret, and running 100 miles an hour.

You know, when I got out, adrenaline wise, like I was depleted.

Like absolutely depleted.

It's a very hard transition, I guess is what I'm getting at.

You know you went from a very specific mission of what you were doing, a very focused goal.

And then... You wake up the next day, and you're like I have to make my own schedule, I really have no idea what I'm doing or whatever the case is, there's no structure to it.

You see a lot of struggle with guys getting out.

And so, what I did is I created a program that would reach guys, like me.

Guys struggling from leaving the military and just loosing, feeling like they've lost their purpose.

[ Lasso whips ] When you get that rope, ok?

Pull it up, hold it high.

Two things that the guys miss the most is the people and the mission.

They're out there riding and roping, chasing cattle, and learning how to really be a cowboy.

And it's the real deal experience.

And then they're doing it alongside their brothers in arms you know and so they get the community back.

-Good job, Brian.

-Thanks, buddy.

-I feel like a lot of the veteran community they label themselves like I'm disabled, I can't do anything.

Life is over.

There's no purpose in what I do.

What I do with the horse is, I teach ‘em to be 1% better every day.

and then you just see these light bulbs go off it's almost like... if you can accomplish this, what else can you do?

There's, there's no limit to it.

I feel like after you leave the military, you really become like an island unto yourself in a certain way.

We want to create a family, create a community, create a tribe, and watch guys thrive.

♪♪♪ ♪ He's got a corner lot on Dogwood Drive ♪ A year old truck and a nine to five ♪ Comes home at night to a pretty wife ♪ With a baby due ♪ He'll sleep in on Saturday ♪ Cut the grass if it don't rain ♪ After church he'll watch the game ♪ And have a beer or two ♪ He'll stand up ♪ When he hears the anthem ♪ And that won't ever change ♪ ‘Cause he's still a soldier ♪ His blood runs red, white and blue ♪ He put away his gun and boots ♪ And he still believes ♪ The American Dream ♪ Til his last breath he'll always be ♪ A soldier ♪ He's still a soldier ♪ He's on his couch for the news at ten ♪ He'll see those places that he's been ♪ And when a brother falls ♪ A part of him does too ♪ And if they called ♪ And needed him back home ♪ He'd be on that plane ♪ ‘Cause he's still a soldier ♪ His blood runs red, white and blue ♪ He put away his gun and boots ♪ And he still believes ♪ The American Dream ♪ Til his last breath he'll always be ♪ A soldier ♪♪♪ ♪ He don't wake up anymore ♪ When he hears thunder ♪ Oh, but even if he lives ♪ To be a hundred ♪ He'll still be a soldier ♪ He's still a soldier ♪ He's put away his gun and boots ♪ And he still believes ♪ The American Dream ♪ Til his last breath he'll always be ♪ A soldier ♪ He's still a soldier ♪ He's still a soldier ♪♪ ♪♪♪ To those who have served, thank you.

♪♪♪ -It's an honor to be here we've got some, some legends up here too.

We always look up to World War II veterans or Vietnam veterans, and it's, it's amazing to... to just see how we're a lot alike even though we might be a few years apart.

[ Chuckles ] -We're coming up on the 50th anniversary of the official end of the conflict in Vietnam.

-I'm Ben Fouts, I was, I was a captain, with the 9th Arvin Division in the delta of Vietnam.

Spent most of my time there as a tactical operations officer.

I coordinated firepower.

I worked with Marines, I worked with Navy, I worked with Air Force, a lot of Vietnamese.

I come from a generation that when your country called, you respond, and that's what you do.

-Thank you.

I mean, and that hasn't been said enough to Vietnam vets over the years.

Thank you.

-Appreciate it.

Really do.

-We landed at Bien Hoa, and they were shooting missiles at Bien Hoa when we landed, they had a torch, and said “follow the torch” and we went down underground bunker somewhere.

-As soon as you landed, you went into a bunker?

-Yeah, we went right off the plane and into an underground bunker.

-Welcome to Vietnam.

While I have you two Vietnam guys.

These are official, government issued 50th anniversary commemorative pins commemorating the conflict in Vietnam.

Just a little thing.

There it is.

There are people that remember what you guys did and the sacrifices that you guys made.

You guys don't get the credit and the thanks that you deserve.

I believe history is beginning to look more favorably and respectfully at what you gentlemen were a part of.

Just glad to say thanks to you two guys.

-Thank you.

-Appreciate it, thank you.

-Now, that brings us to Corporal Oscar Minchey.

Oh and his son, Kevin.

Kevin's here.

-I was 18.

I got drafted into service.

-He had 17 weeks jungle training, and they told him all they were going to the Pacific.

3,300 of ‘em on the boat.

And halfway over there, they turned him around and Dad wound up in Germany.

Get off the ship in France.

-Yeah.

-You there three weeks at the, at the concentration camp.

-You didn't come home ‘til '47?

-No, I spent two years.

-Oh my goodness.

-So I was born in 1923.

When the war broke out December the 7th, I was 17 years old and I wanted to join right away.

So I joined the Navy, and I stayed the Pacific three years.

I always say it.

I could drive a boat as good as a cab driver could drive a cab in New York City.

-So when did they send you to the Mediterranean?

To Agira, Sicily, where we invaded with the Third Army, which would be Patton.

-Patton?

-General Patton.

They thought we were to invade on July the 4th, the Germans did.

So they moved in, to Sicily and then they moved out because we didn't.

And on the 10th of July, we invaded.

-Did you ever see Patton?

-Yeah.

Oh, yes.

Oh, yeah.

-You saw him?

- Oh, yeah.

And we come back in 1945, now, you talkin' ‘bout a celebration, man!

-I bet!

-And thank all of you for listening because it is important.

-It is important.

It has been my honor, and my privilege to be with you gentlemen here today.

Thank you so much for coming.

Thank you for your time.

And God bless you all.

We love you.

Grammy winning jazz singer and songwriter Kurt Elling blends jazz with powerful lyrical storytelling.

The U.S.

Army's Jazz Ambassadors are honored to join him are honored to join him on stage in this tribute to veterans.

-Let's do it!

Zick, on, two, three, four, ahh ♪♪♪ ♪ One day I heard a prophet speak.

♪ And this is some of what he had to say ♪ A message that he hoped would reach ♪ People who are throwin' life away ♪ He called it a philosophy ♪ That is why I pass it on to you ♪ Because it works so well for me ♪ And helps me get away from strife ♪ I hope you listen carefully ♪ They say the truth will set you free.

♪ And that's the way you want to be.

♪ ‘Cause brother this is your life ♪ Long as you're living ♪ Always remember ♪ Time is for spending ♪ But there's an ending.

♪ While you are sleeping ♪ Life time is a creeping ♪ Wake up and taste it ♪ Foolish to waste it ♪ Sample and savor.

♪ All of this flavor ♪ Long as you're living.

♪ Long as you're living ♪ Always remember ♪ Folks that are lazy ♪ Are acting crazy ♪ Better keep moving ♪ Keep on improving ♪ You won't be hurried ♪ After you're buried ♪ Live every minute ♪ Put yourself in it ♪ Long as you're living ♪ Long as you're living ♪ Always remember ♪ You'll never beat life ♪ Don't try to cheat life ♪ All men are brothers ♪ Do unto others ♪ Love's for enjoying ♪ Hate's for destroying ♪ Never forget it ♪ Or you'll regret it ♪ Long as you're living ♪♪♪ [ Scatting ] ♪♪♪ ♪ One day I heard a prophet speak.

♪ And this is some of what he had to say ♪ A message that he hoped would reach ♪ People who are throwin' life away ♪ He called it a philosophy ♪ That is why I pass it on to you ♪ Because it works so well for me ♪ And helps me get away from strife ♪ I hope you listen carefully ♪ They say the truth will set you free.

♪ And that's the way you want to be.

♪ ‘Cause brother this is your... ♪♪♪ ♪ Life!

♪ Woo!

♪♪ -♪ Wherever, I may roam ♪ Over land, or sea, or foam ♪ You will always hear me singing this song ♪ Show me the way to go home.

♪♪ [ Claps ] [ Laughter ] -That's embarrassing.

-You've got, you've got a beautiful voice.

-Oh.

Come on.

You're just saying that.

-No.

-My name is Tracie Hunter, and I run the nonprofit Beyond the Call, and we work with World War II veterans to preserve their stories through documentaries, and then also take them back to their battlefields, as well as just, be a part of their daily lives and really making sure that our greatest generation is remembered.

Do you want to tell them the story of how we met?

-No.

You tell it.

[ Laughter ] -I had seen an article on John about this incredible 100 year old who still flies airplanes.

Through the aviation museum, one of the directors had a contact for him.

I called him, and I think I told you, please don't hang up on me.

This is not a scam.

I'm inviting you to France to go back to Normandy for the 80th.

And, and thankfully, you did not hang up.

We got to meet, and... he thought about it for a little bit, decided to go.

And we went with about what, 70 other World War II veterans.

We've just been friends ever since.

Is that how it went?

-Word for word.

-John was one of the founding directors at this museum years ago and he volunteers out here twice a week, does meet and greets.

And I think one of the things that you've said, and that the museum really tries to emphasize, is that these aircraft didn't fly themselves.

They had crew members that were, you know, the real heroes of it all.

There's not many people like you left that can tell those stories firsthand, and it's a huge honor to be able to get to experience.

I've always been really proud of you.

At 101, you're still getting out and sharing these stories and being so involved in your community.

You've touched every part of aviation on this island for the better.

You're a big inspiration to so many people.

-Thank you.

-He always tells me the stories of the crash landings right before mentioning going to fly.

But I trust you, more than anyone, so.

Yeah.

We'll go in a few weeks.

-Yeah.

Absolutely.

I will the rest of my life.

I promise you that.

♪♪♪ ♪ I can't stand to fly ♪ I'm not that naive ♪ I'm just out to find ♪ The better part of me ♪ I'm more than a bird ♪ More than a plane.

♪ I'm more than some pretty face beside a train ♪ And it's not easy to be me ♪ I wish that I could cry ♪ Fall upon my knees ♪ Find a way to lie ♪ Bout a home I'll never see ♪ It may sound absurd ♪ But don't be naive ♪ Even heroes have the right to bleed ♪ I may be disturbed but won't you concede ♪ Even heroes have the right to dream?

♪ And it's not easy to be me ♪ Up, up, and away, away from me ♪ Well, it's all right ♪ You can all sleep sound tonight ♪ I'm not crazy ♪ Or anything ♪ I can't stand to fly ♪ I'm not that naive ♪ Men weren't meant to ride ♪ With clouds between their knees ♪ I'm only a man in a silly red sheet ♪ Digging for kryptonite on this one way street ♪ Only a man in a funny red sheet ♪ Looking for special things inside of me ♪ Inside of me ♪ Inside of me ♪ Yeah inside of me ♪ Inside of me ♪ I'm only a man in a funny red sheet ♪ I'm only a man looking for a dream ♪ I'm only a man in a funny red sheet ♪ And it's not easy ♪♪♪ ♪ It's not easy ♪ To be ♪ Me.

♪♪ ♪♪♪ -While I was in the United States Marine Corps, I was primarily a KC-130 pilot.

So I was aircraft commander.

-When we were on the team, to be very clear, we fought like cats and dogs.

His leadership style, his flying style is a little bit different than mine.

I would say he personifies the Texas cowboy while I was very much follow the rules.

Unfortunately, we lost Jeff Kuss during the 2016 season.

It was, it was a profound loss.

And, Dusty was one of the people that understood what that loss felt like.

And at that point, we were like, what are we doing?

Life is too short.

And so, yeah, we've been together ever since.

-Yeah.

-We got married in Vegas at the we're Elvis, you know, -The little white, little white wedding chapel.

Yep.

-Yeah.

We've had four children.

-It's been a lot of fun.

And it's you go because I'm gonna tear up about it.

-Yeah.

He cries every time we talk about the kids.

Dusty had two children from his previous marriage.

It's really cool to see all six of them together.

-I don't think they really can remember seeing me in the uniform.

Most of them were not born.

You know, maybe the service itself has kind of rubbed off on me.

-They do remember me.

Obviously, still wearing the uniform now.

My legacy is more along the lines of kind of what I was doing in the Blue Angels.

Modeling that even, you know, if somebody doesn't look like you, doesn't have the same background as you, has never done something before.

That the military provides those opportunities.

♪ I like the sunrise ♪ I hope it likes poor me ♪ Don't worry about saving this music ♪ Or be scared if the singing ends ♪ Or the piano breaks a string ♪ For we have fallen to a place ♪ Where everything is music and singing ♪ Everything is recovered and new ♪ Ever new and musical ♪ And even if the whole world's ♪ Harp should burn up ♪ There would still be hidden there ♪ The spirit of song there to linger on ♪ And even if a candle ♪ Is blown out by wind ♪ The fire smolders on in an ember ♪ And then sparks again ♪ The singing is a drop ♪ Just a drop in oceans of seas ♪ Grace keeps it moving through bodies like these ♪ And the sound of a life ♪ Sends an echoing out ♪ The poem sings willingly ♪ In each newborn's crying shout ♪ But it's growing slowly ♪ And keeps many secrets ♪ Stop the words and listen ♪ Feel the echo of it starting ♪ Open a space ♪ In the center of your beating heart ♪ And let spirits fly in and out ♪♪♪ -Alma Mei Oi Lau Grocki.

Born and raised here in Hawaii.

And I served the United States Navy for 35 years.

My dad was too young to be in the fighting part of World War II.

When he was a kid, on December 7th, 1941, he was sitting up on his roof watching the planes go by with the big red meat balls on the sides.

And the only reason he got down was because he started getting strafed.

And then he ended up working in the shipyard for 39 years after he came back from his stint in the Army.

I got to see all the craftsmen.

I was familiar with the dry docks and all the ships coming in and out, submarines.

I knew I wanted to be an engineer because I love taking things apart.

One of my friends, whose family had always gone to the Naval Academy, told me about it, and I applied and was accepted in the second class of women.

I was pretty oblivious.

I was a rifle shooter here in Hawaii.

And so the day before induction day, I showed up in a muumuu with leis, just walked up the front steps into the big hall and said, I need to check my rifle into the armory!

You know, then after I was done, I asked him, “do you want a lei?” “You know, we can't wear that with our uniform.” My first duty station was Portsmouth, New Hampshire working in submarines.

And then I came to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, and my dad was still working there.

And he had spies, he would tell me I'd go home at night and say, hey, I heard you had trouble with so-and-so at one of your meetings, like, oh, Dad, you know.

[ Chuckles ] But it was fun working with my dad, and he was so proud to have his daughter working the shipyard with him.

It was special to be able to come back and serve the community.

But on the other hand, it kind of confused them because I was in uniform.

Back then, the relations were a little more strained, so it was like local versus military.

And so it was like, are you one of them or are you one of us?

A lot of the traditions of bringing food manapua, donuts to meetings, that was just normal for me.

Things I would do.

I think it opened people's eyes that, the military was not it's not a us and them.

We're all in this together.

We all have to work together to get things done.

And the ships and submarines that we fix, that the civilians fix, are for protecting the entire nation.

It's important to have these memorials, to have these places that not just Americans, but anyone, anyone in the world can visit so they can see what happened, probably before their time.

To see and be able to touch these aircraft and look around once you're inside and say, this actually flew in World War II.

There might have been bullet holes.

This is where the pilots sat.

I mean, something more realistic.

If you can get in there and touch it and see it.

My favorite spot, it's one of those places where every time I go there and I go there a lot, I still get the chicken skin.

And that's standing on the surrender deck on the Missouri.

Battleship Missouri.

-”Over this spot on September 2nd, 1945, the instrument of formal surrender of Japan to the Allied Powers was signed, thus bringing to a close the Second World War.

The ship at the time was at anchor in Tokyo Bay.” -To think what was going on and for it to come to an end.

Well, we knew we weren't going to get shot at anymore.

[ Chuckles ] -Yeah, I bet that was a relief.

-I'm sure glad you're with me.

-I know, I'm glad I'm here too.

-If you haven't walked on that ship go do it.

Because it... it... it's a moving experience.

-How about thinking how the Missouri sits in the harbor where the attack happened, which completely changed your life?

-Yeah.

-And then 80 years later, you're walking on this deck where the surrender papers were signed.

-Of all the guys my age or a lot younger, that didn't come back And there was a lot of them.

We lost a couple of guys on... on my, on my crew.

And uhh... How come it wasn't me?

It was a job that needed to be done.

I was there and... I was there.

-To all our veterans out there, thank you for your patriotism, love of country and sacrifice.

This nation would not be what it is without your service.

And let us take a moment to honor our incredible military families.

The work of those in uniform is made possible by the unwavering support of their loved ones.

-If the partner that you're with doesn't support you, it's literally impossible for you to do your job.

I've always had that support.

-My father also went to the Naval Academy.

That leadership really influenced my brother and I growing up.

-My husband is a 30 year submariner.

We did what we called daddy videos for my kids.

I took a video of him playing the guitar and reading books to the kids, throwing a football at the camera.

One of the times that happened, my two year old went over and hugged the TV.

-You know, I have a beautiful daughter that is just the apple of my eye.

-We're going to try to go to Fort Bragg next together.

So our kids are together still.

You know, so they can grow up a little bit more.

-It's great to see my brother like this.

It's very special.

-Thank you.

Angel.

[ Chuckles ] -You know, I tell you every day, we're lucky.

I am so lucky to know you.

-Please join me in celebrating both our heroes and their families.

Thank you for joining us for Salute to Service.

Happy Veterans Day, America.

♪ While the storm clouds gather ♪ Far across the sea ♪ Let us swear allegiance ♪ To a land that's free ♪ Let us all be grateful ♪ For a land so fair ♪ As we raise our voices ♪ In a solemn prayer ♪ God bless America ♪ Land that I love ♪ Stand beside her and guide her ♪ Through the night with the light from above ♪ From the mountains ♪ To the prairies ♪ To the oceans ♪ White with foam ♪ God bless America ♪ My home sweet home ♪♪♪ ♪ From the mountains to the prairies ♪ To the oceans white with foam ♪ God bless America ♪ My home sweet home ♪ God bless America ♪ My home ♪ Sweet ♪ Home!

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