VOA – CONNECT
EPISODE 84
AIR DATE 08 23 2019
TRANSCRIPT RS
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Honoring the Fallen
((SOT))
((Michael Skeens, Sergeant 1st Class, U.S Army Caisson Platoon))
I feel like I've been given a tremendous opportunity to serve in this platoon, and the mission that we conduct is so, so heartfelt.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
A Safe Place
((SOT))
((Zachary Woodworth, Homeless))
I was driving around, finding random places to park my car and it felt really unsafe.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Community of Nerds
((SOT))
((Julie Chapa, Camp Volunteer))
I think some of it goes back to always feeling like an outcast, and so you get used to being, kind of, the weird one.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) VETERANS’ SUICIDE
((Banner: Preventing Veteran Suicide))
((Reporter/Camera: Deepak Dobhal))
((Map: Brush, Colorado))
((Main characters: 2 females))
((ANIMATION W/ GFX, CAPTIONS, PHOTOS))
((Pop-Up Banner: Every day, some 20 U.S. military veterans commit suicide))
((NATS))
((Melody Christensen, Navy Veteran, Founder – 22 is Too Many))
I said, are you thinking of, you know, committing suicide, and he was like, I would never do that to you and Matt, who was our son. So, the night that I came home and found my husband in the backyard was the longest night of my life.
I never thought he would do that, but he did, and I've gotten to the point where I need to do something to stop it. So, if nothing else, just to make aware of people.
((NATS))
((Melody Christensen, Navy Veteran, Founder – 22 is Too Many))
22 is Too Many started in October of 2014. My husband spent four years active duty, seven years reserve. I'm a Navy veteran. I always want to do something for veterans relating to suicide.
((NATS))
((Melody Christensen, Navy Veteran, Founder – 22 is Too Many))
We walk down the street, to the corner of Edison and Clayton, at 12 o'clock noon, on the 22nd of every month, and we stay there for an hour with the 1-800 number, you know, to tell people that, you know, there's help available.
((NATS))
((Melody Christensen, Navy Veteran, Founder – 22 is Too Many))
There's lack of awareness that veterans don't know about the 800 number. There's not a lot of assistance in the rural communities.
((NATS:
Thank you.))
((Melody Christensen, Navy Veteran, Founder – 22 is Too Many))
There's another organization that's getting started. Stacy Syphers has been very involved in that. So, we're trying to help with that too, and we got a lot of our people that stand on the corner that have gone to those meetings and are wanting to get involved.
((NATS))
((Stacy Syphers, Regional Health Connector, Centennial Area Health Education Center))
This program that I'm working for is a pilot program. They're trying to see how do we reach the rural veterans? How do we get out there? How can we get the veterans that are already living there, and then are aware of this program, to then reach out, kind of, like the snowball effect. Like, I start, I talk to somebody, they will know about the program, talk to a friend that can be a veteran.
((NATS:
Thank you. Behave.
Thanks Martin.
Appreciate it. And Wil, we’re going to get together, maybe, next week.
Okay, let me know.
Yeah, we'll let you know to see if you're available.))
((Stacy Syphers, Regional Health Connector, Centennial Area Health Education Center))
I attend different city council meetings. I will be involved or stop by and see different VFWs [Veterans of Foreign Wars] or American legions. It's any place I can get my hands on veterans that I can try to reach out to them. I do travel a lot. I travel several hours, thousands of miles a paycheck.
((NATS))
((Stacy Syphers, Regional Health Connector, Centennial Area Health Education Center))
Okay, we're going to be off to the wild plains of Colorado. The area that we're at right now, which is considered very rural and oftentimes described as frontier. So, rural and frontier communities is basically all six of my counties, is actually the highest percentage of death by suicide, is in these types of communities.
((Pop-Up Banner: Main reasons for higher suicide rates among rural veterans:
- Isolation
- Access to firearms
- Lack of access to healthcare))
((NATS))
((Stacy Syphers, Regional Health Connector, Centennial Area Health Education Center))
This is my first time to this area and I'm trying to figure out where she told me to go.
Vets Club.
Okay, we're here at the Vets Club in Wray, Colorado and we’re going to go in and chat with some vets and see what services they’re aware of.
((NATS: Vets Club members and Stacy Syphers))
I'm Danny.
Danny, nice to meet you.
Tom.
Tom.
So, you are Vietnam era.
Yeah.
You are Korean era.
Vietnam.
My job as a veteran is to just come and talk to you guys and see if, what would happen with one of you four specifically, if your friend was showing signs of suicide, if there was talk of it, what would you, what do you think that you would do first?
The biggest problem usually is they don't talk to nobody else. Nobody knows it. It just comes out in the wild blue sky.
So, you're saying that most veterans do not talk about mental health.
The war zone, you don't talk about it, usually. You know, it is inside of you but you don’t say nothing about it.
If Ray doesn't show up for cards, there's something different in the way that he would be.
Yeah.
Well, now it's four weeks, and we’ll then find out that, you know, something financially happened to you, whatever it is, you know, it can be anything.
We would be calling his wife and find out…..
Yeah, but see that's good to know because that means that you're checking on your buddy, that is a buddy check plan, that you know if you are not seeing your regular people on a regular basis. But there's some people out there that needs to be part of the group, and sometimes we have our group so tight and small and so intimate because we trust these people, but there's other people out there that might need it too. I don't care if we have a barbecue in the summer, and we somehow invite all the vets, and just let them know about these services.
And I'm taking your time to play.
It’s your deal.
It’s my deal. Okay, I’m going to tell you what it is. There you go.
You’re the joker.
I got this. How can I get this card?
I thank you, endlessly, I thank you. Pleasure to meet you guys, all of you, and keep taking care of yourself.
((NATS))
((Stacy Syphers, Regional Health Connector, Centennial Area Health Education Center))
I learned a lot from them, and they also realized that they could sign up for some benefits, or benefits were available that they really didn't think about.
((NATS))
((Stacy Syphers, Regional Health Connector, Centennial Area Health Education Center))
In the rural frontier area, letting them know that services are available, that they will have the option if they want to get them or not. It's just we're not getting to them. We're just not getting to them.
((NATS))
((Melody Christensen, Navy Veteran, Founder – 22 is Too Many))
It's a huge crisis around the United States. I'll keep on doing it until it gets to zero. So, I, may be a little old lady standing on the corner, but yeah, I just I'll be there until they don't need us anymore and I hope that’s very soon.
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Paying Respects
((SOT))
((Michael Skeens, Sergeant 1st Class, U.S Army Caisson Platoon))
This is an infantry platoon, so it's pretty rare to have someone outside of an infantryman lead this platoon, but somehow someone selected me for this position here.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) PIA – SGT. MICHAEL SKEENS
((Banner: Honoring the Fallen))
((Executive Producer: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei))
((Map: Arlington, Virginia))
((Main characters: 1 male))
((NATS))
((Michael Skeens, Sergeant 1st Class, U.S Army Caisson Platoon))
The military teaches you so much discipline and so much life changes occur within you during your time in the military, and I believe honoring those that have served before me and continuing the traditions is very important to me.
((NATS))
My name is Sgt. 1st Class, Michael Skeens. I am the United States Army Caisson Platoon, Platoon sergeant.
((NATS))
I had a really simple life. I grew up in a real small town. I just noticed very early on, my mother working two jobs and really struggling to make everything [for] me and just giving it everything she had. So, I learned that early on, to work hard and to give a 110 percent everything you do. All of my uncles had served. My father served in Vietnam, my grandfather in the Korean War.
((Stills Courtesy: SFC Michael Skeens))
It never really crossed my mind, but I was at a point in my life where I just needed a change, and I felt like enlisting in the military would give me a chance to travel the world and to learn and meet new people, and it seemed very interesting to me.
((Stills Courtesy: SFC Michael Skeens))
So, I enlisted in April of 2007 and I've served, this is my fifth duty station in about nine years. I was first assigned to a hotel company, HCO, and they are a Line Unit and 1st Battalion, who conduct memorial affairs missions within National Cemetery.
((Stills Courtesy: SFC Michael Skeens))
I heard about a position opening up to be the Caisson Platoon Sergeant. So, I threw my hat into the ring. This is an infantry platoon, so it's pretty rare to have someone outside of an infantryman lead this platoon, but somehow, someone selected me for this position here.
((NATS))
The Caisson Platoon's mission for the Old Guard is to conduct mounted escort to our nation's fallen heroes to their final resting place in Arlington National Cemetery, and we've been doing that mission since 1948.
((Video Courtesy: U.S. Army))
So, our soldiers report 04:15 in the morning and they basically start pulling horses that are assigned for that day's funerals.
They start grooming them, dry grooming them, brushing them, combing them. While those soldiers are doing that, the tack room that you see we're in right now, there's over three-hundred-and-forty pieces of brass on all the tack that you see in here, and that gets hand polished every single morning before the teams roll out into the cemetery. From there, they start washing horses. Every horse gets washed and at about 7:30, they start attaching them to the caisson wagon.
((NATS))
The caisson wagon or the caisson basically consists of two pieces: the caisson wagon piece that is actually used to transport the fallen, and the piece that is attached to the horses that pulls the wagon which is called the limber. Back in Civil War, Revolutionary War timeframes,
((Still Courtesy: AP))
they would use that piece of equipment to pull a seventy-five millimeter cannon into battle. Once that wagon downloaded all their supplies to the cannon team, they would take that wagon to the front lines, and on the front lines, they would load the wounded and the dead, and they would take them back to the garrisons to be accounted for. So, we've, kind of, been conducting this mission ever since.
((NATS))
I feel like I've been given a tremendous opportunity to serve in this platoon and to serve with honor here, and the mission that we conduct is so, so heartfelt.
((Video Courtesy: US Army))
I mean to honor the fallen is a tremendous responsibility and I'm so appreciative of that fact.
I have to shower every day before I leave work because my wife won’t let me in the house because of the smell that I just have on me now, you know. So, my clothes are a little stinkier. My shoes are a little stinkier, but I wouldn't change it for anything.
((NATS))
I just strive every day to give it a 110 percent and to make my time here felt, and to make sure that we are honoring every single person that we carry on the back of this caisson ((Video Courtesy: US Army))
to the best of our ability.
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
A Helping Hand
((SOT))
((TYRON, HANDYMAN))
I come here and get my newspaper all the time, and I saw this box here one day, and I looked in there and I said, oh, they got some food in here. I could use this, I could use that, you know, because I don't eat a lot. I work so much that I don't have time to gain weight.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) HOMELESS SAFE PARKING LOTS
((VOA Russian))
((Banner: Shelter in Safety))
((Reporter: Angelina Bagdasaryan))
((Camera: Vazgen Varzhabetyan))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Los Angeles, California))
((Main characters: 3 males))
((NATS))
((Mel Tillekeratne, Founder & Executive Director - The Shower of Hope))
This is one of our two safe parking lots, and what we mean by safe parking lots is for the people who are experiencing homelessness in their vehicles, we provide these lots where they can come and park from 7:00 p.m. till 7:00 a.m.
((NATS))
((Zachary Woodworth, Homeless))
This is my back seat and I, kind of, ball up in here and just try to find a comfortable position to sleep. It's not the easiest thing to do, but it beats laying on the hard pavement or, you know, laying on a piece of cardboard, or many of the other things that you see people doing out there in places like Skid Row and such.
((NATS))
((Mel Tillekeratne, Founder & Executive Director - The Shower of Hope))
We have a personal security officer on site to make sure that the participants are protected. We have a Porta John so that for people who need to use the restroom.
((NATS))
((Antwone Sanford, Manager, Los Angeles Mission))
The homeless population has increased 12%. So, we have about 60,000 people that’s homeless in Los Angeles. You have women. You have children. You have veterans. You have the elderly. You have those who have mental health issues.
((NATS))
((Zachary Woodworth, Homeless))
I've been homeless for some time. I was driving around, finding random places to park my car and it felt really unsafe and really sketchy and I was always worried about either being confronted by police or someone trying to, you know, rob me.
((NATS))
((Antwone Sanford, Manager, Los Angeles Mission))
A lot of our clients who seek an emergency service, they became homeless because of the rent increase in Inglewood due to the football stadium. We've had numerous people come here that’s from Inglewood. When you think about the 12% rate is, I could say, 3% of that came just because of that football stadium.
((NATS))
((Mel Tillekeratne, Founder & Executive Director - The Shower of Hope))
Today, you get a lot of people who are actually working or they're only working part-time, so they can't afford an apartment. Those are the majority of the clients we get in these lots. So, you know, you see how bad rents are rising in Los Angeles. You see how many people get evicted each year. Even though they’re evicted or even if the rents went high, doesn't mean they're not working.
((NATS))
((PKG)) LITTLE FREE PANTRY
((VOA Ukrainian))
((Banner: Little Free Pantry))
((Reporter: Nataliya Leonova))
((Camera: Oleksii Osyka))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Lexington Park, Maryland))
((Main characters: 4 females))
((Sub characters: 1 male, 1 female))
((Pop-Up Banner: A nationwide, grassroots movement provides free pantry items for those in need))
((NATS:
I’m going to get a bar of this soap here too. I’m not going to be greedy.))
((TYRON, HANDYMAN))
I come here and get my newspaper all the time, and I saw this box here one day and I looked in there, and I said, oh, they got some food in here. I could use this, I could use that, you know, because I don't eat a lot. I work so much that I don't have time to gain weight.
((NATS))
((TIFFANY CHILDRESS, VOLUNTEER & MEMBER, MOM’S CLUB))
We have homeless in this area, but we also have just working people who aren't able to make it to the end of a pay week, or families that just, they may just have hit hard times. A lot of youth in the county, they stay at the library throughout the day. They have access to computers, air conditioning. The library does a lunch program, so they do free bag lunches for the children from 11 to 12.
((Pop-Up Banner: This Little Free Pantry is placed near a public library))
((NATS))
((AMY FORD, BRANCH MANAGER, LEXINGTON PARK LIBRARY))
Library is a community connector. So, we were really interested in getting people all the resources they need, including food, if necessary. It's a good place for people to come. There's lot of people who come and meet here, who use the library's resources.
((NATS))
((NATS))
((TIFFANY CHILDRESS, VOLUNTEER & MEMBER, MOM’S CLUB))
People just being able to come up and take whatever they needed, unlike other food pantries, where you may need forms of ID or to answer questions that some people may not feel comfortable, you know, disclosing. So, it's just, you know, take whatever you need when you need it.
((NATS))
((LOCAL RESIDENT, WITHOUT HOUSING))
I'm actually here at the library every day. This has actually been helping me out a lot, especially when you ain't got nothing to eat. So, usually I come in and check every now and then.
((NATS))
((KELLY BUCHANAN, VOLUNTEER, MOM’S CLUB))
A lot of times when I'm out shopping and I see some things on sale, I'll pick up a few things then, or I'll head to the dollar store and just get a few things when I've noticed that it's bare, and a lot of times that's what it is.
((NATS))
((AMY FORD, BRANCH MANAGER, LEXINGTON PARK LIBRARY))
We just rely on community trust. People in the community work together to stock the pantry, and so, it really is a system of take what you need, give what you can.
((NATS))
((KELLY BUCHANAN, VOLUNTEER, MOM’S CLUB))
We're hearing feedback that it's truly been helpful for people. So, you know, one step at a time, we do what we can do, and I feel like it's helping the people that are in need, and it's helping bring awareness to others, who want to help but don't really know how.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Ice Cream!
((SOT))
((CUSTOMER))
The ice cream was creamy and flavorful, not too creamy, not too sugary. As you can see, it's nothing but paper left. So, I fully enjoyed it. Thank you all so much.
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK D
((PKG)) LEOPOLD’S ICE CREAM AT 100
((VOA Russian))
((Banner: Something Cold))
((Reporter: Karina Bafradzhian))
((Camera: Andrey Degtyarev))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Savannah, Georgia))
((Main characters: 1 male))
((Sub-characters: 1 male, 3 female))
((NATS))
((CUSTOMER))
It's such a hot day that we're all melting. So, we decided to come get ice cream, chocolate. They have all these fancy flavors, but nothing beats chocolate.
((NATS))
((STRATTON LEOPOLD, OWNER, LEOPOLD'S ICE CREAM))
We will never change the way we make ice cream. We make it in five-gallon batches each time. All natural, just with the fresh ingredients, everything.
((NATS))
((STRATTON LEOPOLD, OWNER, LEOPOLD'S ICE CREAM))
My father made ice cream. I was a fairly stocky child. I ate a lot of ice cream. My friends all came. We all ate ice cream. My mother was a wonderful cook, so Greek pastries were everywhere. It was a life filled with desserts. I promised my father I would never change it because he said, ‘you must never try to copy someone else’. So, we don't. So, it's always exactly the same.
((NATS))
((CUSTOMER))
We’ve never had ice cream like this before.
((NATS))
((CUSTOMER))
I couldn’t stop at the small cup. I am getting a banana split.
Well, he’s got a big banana split coming. Yeah. One flavor was not enough.
((NATS))
((SAGE, EMPLOYEE, ICE CREAM))
We get a free scoop every day and I'm always taking home one. Occasionally, you get a little tired of it but it's really good ice cream and there's so many flavors that you can always switch it up in terms of getting something new. ((NATS))
((CUSTOMER))
The ice cream was creamy and flavorful, not too creamy, not too sugary. As you can see, it's nothing but paper left. So, I fully enjoyed it. Thank you all so much.
((NATS))
((STRATTON LEOPOLD, OWNER, LEOPOLD'S ICE CREAM))
When we were opening this location, the original was close by. But 15 years ago, there was a very religious Catholic couple, and they would write little prayers and put them under the statue of the Virgin Mary, praying that we would open soon. It's a cute story. And when we did, they were very pleased.
((NATS))
((PKG)) NERD CAMP
((Banner: Nerd Camp))
((Reporter/Camera: Deborah Block))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Darlington, Maryland))
((Main characters: 1 male, 3 female))
((Pop-Up Banner: Fantasy and Fun at a Summer Nerd Camp for Adults))
((NATS))
((Chris Mceligot, Camper))
Being a merman sounded like a lot of fun. So, I thought I'd just try it out.
((Camper))
I like how fast I can go as a mermaid.
((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))
You would have to hate fun to not want to do this.
((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))
There's something for everybody here.
((Camper))
No cookies for me.
((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))
A nerd is anybody who is really passionate about something. It doesn't really matter so much what that something is for the people who are passionate about the sort of fandoms and activities that we do here. Axe throwing and mermaids and, you know, sort of fantasy and sci-fi. They find a really good experience and a group of friends.
((NATS))
((Rommie Duckworth, Camper))
We have nothing here they could possibly want, except those cookies we were talking about for after dinner.
((Camp player))
The oreos?
((Rommie Duckworth, Camper))
There's a number of different pursuits and nerdy things that everybody can enjoy, from board games to laser tag to all sorts of silly stuff, and everybody is open and friendly about it.
((NATS))
((Julie Chapa, Camp Volunteer))
I think some of it goes back to, you know, being in high school and always feeling like an outcast, and so, you get used to being kind of the weird one and then you find, when you come here, everybody is the weird one.
((Gretchen Walther, New Camper))
I always feel a bit out of place in the everyday world. I'm very much into nerdy things, and even though it's generally becoming a bit more accepted, people who are very involved in it, tend to be a bit on their own. I was looking for people to connect with.
((NATS))
((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))
How do you get more friends as an adult? It's kind of hard. So, when you have to share space with other people, immediately it's more strange to not talk to them than it is to talk to them. So, things like that, where you're put in a situation where the natural thing to do is to be social with the people around you.
((NATS))
If any of your swimmers meet the dolphin thing, it's the same thing.
((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))
Colorado, we see a lot of people from. California, Texas, Washington state. I mean, it's really from everywhere. Now that we're closer to airports, it's made it a lot easier for people to get here from far away.
((NATS))
((Julie Chapa, Camp Volunteer))
There are people here I know I'm going to be friends with them for life.
((NATS))
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS))
((Pop-Up captions over BRoll))
Near the Turkish Embassy
Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks peaceful protesters
“Those terrorists deserved to be beaten”
“They should not be protesting our president”
“They got what they asked for”
While some people may turn away from the news
We cover it
reliably
accurately
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wherever the news matters
VOA
A Free Press Matters
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
BREAK
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
SHOW ENDS
EPISODE 84
AIR DATE 08 23 2019
TRANSCRIPT RS
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Honoring the Fallen
((SOT))
((Michael Skeens, Sergeant 1st Class, U.S Army Caisson Platoon))
I feel like I've been given a tremendous opportunity to serve in this platoon, and the mission that we conduct is so, so heartfelt.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
A Safe Place
((SOT))
((Zachary Woodworth, Homeless))
I was driving around, finding random places to park my car and it felt really unsafe.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Community of Nerds
((SOT))
((Julie Chapa, Camp Volunteer))
I think some of it goes back to always feeling like an outcast, and so you get used to being, kind of, the weird one.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) VETERANS’ SUICIDE
((Banner: Preventing Veteran Suicide))
((Reporter/Camera: Deepak Dobhal))
((Map: Brush, Colorado))
((Main characters: 2 females))
((ANIMATION W/ GFX, CAPTIONS, PHOTOS))
((Pop-Up Banner: Every day, some 20 U.S. military veterans commit suicide))
((NATS))
((Melody Christensen, Navy Veteran, Founder – 22 is Too Many))
I said, are you thinking of, you know, committing suicide, and he was like, I would never do that to you and Matt, who was our son. So, the night that I came home and found my husband in the backyard was the longest night of my life.
I never thought he would do that, but he did, and I've gotten to the point where I need to do something to stop it. So, if nothing else, just to make aware of people.
((NATS))
((Melody Christensen, Navy Veteran, Founder – 22 is Too Many))
22 is Too Many started in October of 2014. My husband spent four years active duty, seven years reserve. I'm a Navy veteran. I always want to do something for veterans relating to suicide.
((NATS))
((Melody Christensen, Navy Veteran, Founder – 22 is Too Many))
We walk down the street, to the corner of Edison and Clayton, at 12 o'clock noon, on the 22nd of every month, and we stay there for an hour with the 1-800 number, you know, to tell people that, you know, there's help available.
((NATS))
((Melody Christensen, Navy Veteran, Founder – 22 is Too Many))
There's lack of awareness that veterans don't know about the 800 number. There's not a lot of assistance in the rural communities.
((NATS:
Thank you.))
((Melody Christensen, Navy Veteran, Founder – 22 is Too Many))
There's another organization that's getting started. Stacy Syphers has been very involved in that. So, we're trying to help with that too, and we got a lot of our people that stand on the corner that have gone to those meetings and are wanting to get involved.
((NATS))
((Stacy Syphers, Regional Health Connector, Centennial Area Health Education Center))
This program that I'm working for is a pilot program. They're trying to see how do we reach the rural veterans? How do we get out there? How can we get the veterans that are already living there, and then are aware of this program, to then reach out, kind of, like the snowball effect. Like, I start, I talk to somebody, they will know about the program, talk to a friend that can be a veteran.
((NATS:
Thank you. Behave.
Thanks Martin.
Appreciate it. And Wil, we’re going to get together, maybe, next week.
Okay, let me know.
Yeah, we'll let you know to see if you're available.))
((Stacy Syphers, Regional Health Connector, Centennial Area Health Education Center))
I attend different city council meetings. I will be involved or stop by and see different VFWs [Veterans of Foreign Wars] or American legions. It's any place I can get my hands on veterans that I can try to reach out to them. I do travel a lot. I travel several hours, thousands of miles a paycheck.
((NATS))
((Stacy Syphers, Regional Health Connector, Centennial Area Health Education Center))
Okay, we're going to be off to the wild plains of Colorado. The area that we're at right now, which is considered very rural and oftentimes described as frontier. So, rural and frontier communities is basically all six of my counties, is actually the highest percentage of death by suicide, is in these types of communities.
((Pop-Up Banner: Main reasons for higher suicide rates among rural veterans:
- Isolation
- Access to firearms
- Lack of access to healthcare))
((NATS))
((Stacy Syphers, Regional Health Connector, Centennial Area Health Education Center))
This is my first time to this area and I'm trying to figure out where she told me to go.
Vets Club.
Okay, we're here at the Vets Club in Wray, Colorado and we’re going to go in and chat with some vets and see what services they’re aware of.
((NATS: Vets Club members and Stacy Syphers))
I'm Danny.
Danny, nice to meet you.
Tom.
Tom.
So, you are Vietnam era.
Yeah.
You are Korean era.
Vietnam.
My job as a veteran is to just come and talk to you guys and see if, what would happen with one of you four specifically, if your friend was showing signs of suicide, if there was talk of it, what would you, what do you think that you would do first?
The biggest problem usually is they don't talk to nobody else. Nobody knows it. It just comes out in the wild blue sky.
So, you're saying that most veterans do not talk about mental health.
The war zone, you don't talk about it, usually. You know, it is inside of you but you don’t say nothing about it.
If Ray doesn't show up for cards, there's something different in the way that he would be.
Yeah.
Well, now it's four weeks, and we’ll then find out that, you know, something financially happened to you, whatever it is, you know, it can be anything.
We would be calling his wife and find out…..
Yeah, but see that's good to know because that means that you're checking on your buddy, that is a buddy check plan, that you know if you are not seeing your regular people on a regular basis. But there's some people out there that needs to be part of the group, and sometimes we have our group so tight and small and so intimate because we trust these people, but there's other people out there that might need it too. I don't care if we have a barbecue in the summer, and we somehow invite all the vets, and just let them know about these services.
And I'm taking your time to play.
It’s your deal.
It’s my deal. Okay, I’m going to tell you what it is. There you go.
You’re the joker.
I got this. How can I get this card?
I thank you, endlessly, I thank you. Pleasure to meet you guys, all of you, and keep taking care of yourself.
((NATS))
((Stacy Syphers, Regional Health Connector, Centennial Area Health Education Center))
I learned a lot from them, and they also realized that they could sign up for some benefits, or benefits were available that they really didn't think about.
((NATS))
((Stacy Syphers, Regional Health Connector, Centennial Area Health Education Center))
In the rural frontier area, letting them know that services are available, that they will have the option if they want to get them or not. It's just we're not getting to them. We're just not getting to them.
((NATS))
((Melody Christensen, Navy Veteran, Founder – 22 is Too Many))
It's a huge crisis around the United States. I'll keep on doing it until it gets to zero. So, I, may be a little old lady standing on the corner, but yeah, I just I'll be there until they don't need us anymore and I hope that’s very soon.
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Paying Respects
((SOT))
((Michael Skeens, Sergeant 1st Class, U.S Army Caisson Platoon))
This is an infantry platoon, so it's pretty rare to have someone outside of an infantryman lead this platoon, but somehow someone selected me for this position here.
BREAK ONE
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BLOCK B
((PKG)) PIA – SGT. MICHAEL SKEENS
((Banner: Honoring the Fallen))
((Executive Producer: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei))
((Map: Arlington, Virginia))
((Main characters: 1 male))
((NATS))
((Michael Skeens, Sergeant 1st Class, U.S Army Caisson Platoon))
The military teaches you so much discipline and so much life changes occur within you during your time in the military, and I believe honoring those that have served before me and continuing the traditions is very important to me.
((NATS))
My name is Sgt. 1st Class, Michael Skeens. I am the United States Army Caisson Platoon, Platoon sergeant.
((NATS))
I had a really simple life. I grew up in a real small town. I just noticed very early on, my mother working two jobs and really struggling to make everything [for] me and just giving it everything she had. So, I learned that early on, to work hard and to give a 110 percent everything you do. All of my uncles had served. My father served in Vietnam, my grandfather in the Korean War.
((Stills Courtesy: SFC Michael Skeens))
It never really crossed my mind, but I was at a point in my life where I just needed a change, and I felt like enlisting in the military would give me a chance to travel the world and to learn and meet new people, and it seemed very interesting to me.
((Stills Courtesy: SFC Michael Skeens))
So, I enlisted in April of 2007 and I've served, this is my fifth duty station in about nine years. I was first assigned to a hotel company, HCO, and they are a Line Unit and 1st Battalion, who conduct memorial affairs missions within National Cemetery.
((Stills Courtesy: SFC Michael Skeens))
I heard about a position opening up to be the Caisson Platoon Sergeant. So, I threw my hat into the ring. This is an infantry platoon, so it's pretty rare to have someone outside of an infantryman lead this platoon, but somehow, someone selected me for this position here.
((NATS))
The Caisson Platoon's mission for the Old Guard is to conduct mounted escort to our nation's fallen heroes to their final resting place in Arlington National Cemetery, and we've been doing that mission since 1948.
((Video Courtesy: U.S. Army))
So, our soldiers report 04:15 in the morning and they basically start pulling horses that are assigned for that day's funerals.
They start grooming them, dry grooming them, brushing them, combing them. While those soldiers are doing that, the tack room that you see we're in right now, there's over three-hundred-and-forty pieces of brass on all the tack that you see in here, and that gets hand polished every single morning before the teams roll out into the cemetery. From there, they start washing horses. Every horse gets washed and at about 7:30, they start attaching them to the caisson wagon.
((NATS))
The caisson wagon or the caisson basically consists of two pieces: the caisson wagon piece that is actually used to transport the fallen, and the piece that is attached to the horses that pulls the wagon which is called the limber. Back in Civil War, Revolutionary War timeframes,
((Still Courtesy: AP))
they would use that piece of equipment to pull a seventy-five millimeter cannon into battle. Once that wagon downloaded all their supplies to the cannon team, they would take that wagon to the front lines, and on the front lines, they would load the wounded and the dead, and they would take them back to the garrisons to be accounted for. So, we've, kind of, been conducting this mission ever since.
((NATS))
I feel like I've been given a tremendous opportunity to serve in this platoon and to serve with honor here, and the mission that we conduct is so, so heartfelt.
((Video Courtesy: US Army))
I mean to honor the fallen is a tremendous responsibility and I'm so appreciative of that fact.
I have to shower every day before I leave work because my wife won’t let me in the house because of the smell that I just have on me now, you know. So, my clothes are a little stinkier. My shoes are a little stinkier, but I wouldn't change it for anything.
((NATS))
I just strive every day to give it a 110 percent and to make my time here felt, and to make sure that we are honoring every single person that we carry on the back of this caisson ((Video Courtesy: US Army))
to the best of our ability.
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
A Helping Hand
((SOT))
((TYRON, HANDYMAN))
I come here and get my newspaper all the time, and I saw this box here one day, and I looked in there and I said, oh, they got some food in here. I could use this, I could use that, you know, because I don't eat a lot. I work so much that I don't have time to gain weight.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) HOMELESS SAFE PARKING LOTS
((VOA Russian))
((Banner: Shelter in Safety))
((Reporter: Angelina Bagdasaryan))
((Camera: Vazgen Varzhabetyan))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Los Angeles, California))
((Main characters: 3 males))
((NATS))
((Mel Tillekeratne, Founder & Executive Director - The Shower of Hope))
This is one of our two safe parking lots, and what we mean by safe parking lots is for the people who are experiencing homelessness in their vehicles, we provide these lots where they can come and park from 7:00 p.m. till 7:00 a.m.
((NATS))
((Zachary Woodworth, Homeless))
This is my back seat and I, kind of, ball up in here and just try to find a comfortable position to sleep. It's not the easiest thing to do, but it beats laying on the hard pavement or, you know, laying on a piece of cardboard, or many of the other things that you see people doing out there in places like Skid Row and such.
((NATS))
((Mel Tillekeratne, Founder & Executive Director - The Shower of Hope))
We have a personal security officer on site to make sure that the participants are protected. We have a Porta John so that for people who need to use the restroom.
((NATS))
((Antwone Sanford, Manager, Los Angeles Mission))
The homeless population has increased 12%. So, we have about 60,000 people that’s homeless in Los Angeles. You have women. You have children. You have veterans. You have the elderly. You have those who have mental health issues.
((NATS))
((Zachary Woodworth, Homeless))
I've been homeless for some time. I was driving around, finding random places to park my car and it felt really unsafe and really sketchy and I was always worried about either being confronted by police or someone trying to, you know, rob me.
((NATS))
((Antwone Sanford, Manager, Los Angeles Mission))
A lot of our clients who seek an emergency service, they became homeless because of the rent increase in Inglewood due to the football stadium. We've had numerous people come here that’s from Inglewood. When you think about the 12% rate is, I could say, 3% of that came just because of that football stadium.
((NATS))
((Mel Tillekeratne, Founder & Executive Director - The Shower of Hope))
Today, you get a lot of people who are actually working or they're only working part-time, so they can't afford an apartment. Those are the majority of the clients we get in these lots. So, you know, you see how bad rents are rising in Los Angeles. You see how many people get evicted each year. Even though they’re evicted or even if the rents went high, doesn't mean they're not working.
((NATS))
((PKG)) LITTLE FREE PANTRY
((VOA Ukrainian))
((Banner: Little Free Pantry))
((Reporter: Nataliya Leonova))
((Camera: Oleksii Osyka))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Lexington Park, Maryland))
((Main characters: 4 females))
((Sub characters: 1 male, 1 female))
((Pop-Up Banner: A nationwide, grassroots movement provides free pantry items for those in need))
((NATS:
I’m going to get a bar of this soap here too. I’m not going to be greedy.))
((TYRON, HANDYMAN))
I come here and get my newspaper all the time, and I saw this box here one day and I looked in there, and I said, oh, they got some food in here. I could use this, I could use that, you know, because I don't eat a lot. I work so much that I don't have time to gain weight.
((NATS))
((TIFFANY CHILDRESS, VOLUNTEER & MEMBER, MOM’S CLUB))
We have homeless in this area, but we also have just working people who aren't able to make it to the end of a pay week, or families that just, they may just have hit hard times. A lot of youth in the county, they stay at the library throughout the day. They have access to computers, air conditioning. The library does a lunch program, so they do free bag lunches for the children from 11 to 12.
((Pop-Up Banner: This Little Free Pantry is placed near a public library))
((NATS))
((AMY FORD, BRANCH MANAGER, LEXINGTON PARK LIBRARY))
Library is a community connector. So, we were really interested in getting people all the resources they need, including food, if necessary. It's a good place for people to come. There's lot of people who come and meet here, who use the library's resources.
((NATS))
((NATS))
((TIFFANY CHILDRESS, VOLUNTEER & MEMBER, MOM’S CLUB))
People just being able to come up and take whatever they needed, unlike other food pantries, where you may need forms of ID or to answer questions that some people may not feel comfortable, you know, disclosing. So, it's just, you know, take whatever you need when you need it.
((NATS))
((LOCAL RESIDENT, WITHOUT HOUSING))
I'm actually here at the library every day. This has actually been helping me out a lot, especially when you ain't got nothing to eat. So, usually I come in and check every now and then.
((NATS))
((KELLY BUCHANAN, VOLUNTEER, MOM’S CLUB))
A lot of times when I'm out shopping and I see some things on sale, I'll pick up a few things then, or I'll head to the dollar store and just get a few things when I've noticed that it's bare, and a lot of times that's what it is.
((NATS))
((AMY FORD, BRANCH MANAGER, LEXINGTON PARK LIBRARY))
We just rely on community trust. People in the community work together to stock the pantry, and so, it really is a system of take what you need, give what you can.
((NATS))
((KELLY BUCHANAN, VOLUNTEER, MOM’S CLUB))
We're hearing feedback that it's truly been helpful for people. So, you know, one step at a time, we do what we can do, and I feel like it's helping the people that are in need, and it's helping bring awareness to others, who want to help but don't really know how.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Ice Cream!
((SOT))
((CUSTOMER))
The ice cream was creamy and flavorful, not too creamy, not too sugary. As you can see, it's nothing but paper left. So, I fully enjoyed it. Thank you all so much.
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK D
((PKG)) LEOPOLD’S ICE CREAM AT 100
((VOA Russian))
((Banner: Something Cold))
((Reporter: Karina Bafradzhian))
((Camera: Andrey Degtyarev))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Savannah, Georgia))
((Main characters: 1 male))
((Sub-characters: 1 male, 3 female))
((NATS))
((CUSTOMER))
It's such a hot day that we're all melting. So, we decided to come get ice cream, chocolate. They have all these fancy flavors, but nothing beats chocolate.
((NATS))
((STRATTON LEOPOLD, OWNER, LEOPOLD'S ICE CREAM))
We will never change the way we make ice cream. We make it in five-gallon batches each time. All natural, just with the fresh ingredients, everything.
((NATS))
((STRATTON LEOPOLD, OWNER, LEOPOLD'S ICE CREAM))
My father made ice cream. I was a fairly stocky child. I ate a lot of ice cream. My friends all came. We all ate ice cream. My mother was a wonderful cook, so Greek pastries were everywhere. It was a life filled with desserts. I promised my father I would never change it because he said, ‘you must never try to copy someone else’. So, we don't. So, it's always exactly the same.
((NATS))
((CUSTOMER))
We’ve never had ice cream like this before.
((NATS))
((CUSTOMER))
I couldn’t stop at the small cup. I am getting a banana split.
Well, he’s got a big banana split coming. Yeah. One flavor was not enough.
((NATS))
((SAGE, EMPLOYEE, ICE CREAM))
We get a free scoop every day and I'm always taking home one. Occasionally, you get a little tired of it but it's really good ice cream and there's so many flavors that you can always switch it up in terms of getting something new. ((NATS))
((CUSTOMER))
The ice cream was creamy and flavorful, not too creamy, not too sugary. As you can see, it's nothing but paper left. So, I fully enjoyed it. Thank you all so much.
((NATS))
((STRATTON LEOPOLD, OWNER, LEOPOLD'S ICE CREAM))
When we were opening this location, the original was close by. But 15 years ago, there was a very religious Catholic couple, and they would write little prayers and put them under the statue of the Virgin Mary, praying that we would open soon. It's a cute story. And when we did, they were very pleased.
((NATS))
((PKG)) NERD CAMP
((Banner: Nerd Camp))
((Reporter/Camera: Deborah Block))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Darlington, Maryland))
((Main characters: 1 male, 3 female))
((Pop-Up Banner: Fantasy and Fun at a Summer Nerd Camp for Adults))
((NATS))
((Chris Mceligot, Camper))
Being a merman sounded like a lot of fun. So, I thought I'd just try it out.
((Camper))
I like how fast I can go as a mermaid.
((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))
You would have to hate fun to not want to do this.
((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))
There's something for everybody here.
((Camper))
No cookies for me.
((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))
A nerd is anybody who is really passionate about something. It doesn't really matter so much what that something is for the people who are passionate about the sort of fandoms and activities that we do here. Axe throwing and mermaids and, you know, sort of fantasy and sci-fi. They find a really good experience and a group of friends.
((NATS))
((Rommie Duckworth, Camper))
We have nothing here they could possibly want, except those cookies we were talking about for after dinner.
((Camp player))
The oreos?
((Rommie Duckworth, Camper))
There's a number of different pursuits and nerdy things that everybody can enjoy, from board games to laser tag to all sorts of silly stuff, and everybody is open and friendly about it.
((NATS))
((Julie Chapa, Camp Volunteer))
I think some of it goes back to, you know, being in high school and always feeling like an outcast, and so, you get used to being kind of the weird one and then you find, when you come here, everybody is the weird one.
((Gretchen Walther, New Camper))
I always feel a bit out of place in the everyday world. I'm very much into nerdy things, and even though it's generally becoming a bit more accepted, people who are very involved in it, tend to be a bit on their own. I was looking for people to connect with.
((NATS))
((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))
How do you get more friends as an adult? It's kind of hard. So, when you have to share space with other people, immediately it's more strange to not talk to them than it is to talk to them. So, things like that, where you're put in a situation where the natural thing to do is to be social with the people around you.
((NATS))
If any of your swimmers meet the dolphin thing, it's the same thing.
((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))
Colorado, we see a lot of people from. California, Texas, Washington state. I mean, it's really from everywhere. Now that we're closer to airports, it's made it a lot easier for people to get here from far away.
((NATS))
((Julie Chapa, Camp Volunteer))
There are people here I know I'm going to be friends with them for life.
((NATS))
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS))
((Pop-Up captions over BRoll))
Near the Turkish Embassy
Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks peaceful protesters
“Those terrorists deserved to be beaten”
“They should not be protesting our president”
“They got what they asked for”
While some people may turn away from the news
We cover it
reliably
accurately
objectively
comprehensively
wherever the news matters
VOA
A Free Press Matters
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
BREAK
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SHOW ENDS
