PBS Thirteen Series “Frontline to Homefront” for MetroFocus

Inspired by the Frontline to Homefront series and my first interview with Jon Feal, I took a trip with 9/11 First Responders when they went to advocate for themselves and other 9/11 First Responders in DC. They let me get an inside scoop and embed with them. The first part of this interview is a cut of soundbites I grabbed on the run. The second part is a studio interview we cut days later while also producing a very fast daily news cycle. I’m proud these heroes felt me worthy to tag along. We owe them all an eternal debt of gratitude.

About Frontline to Homefront – Veterans in Transition

The Frontline to Homefront series explores how Post 9/11 veterans and their allies are building pathways for others as they transition to civilian life.

Paws of War is a short Documentary about PTSD and the exceptional role service dogs play in the lives of veterans and 9/11 First Responders and their spouses, one of who is a trainer for Paws of War, Long Island.
Ben Donenberg and the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles are training and employing veterans enrolled in the Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation Program administered by Veterans Affairs. Veterans entering this program have major obstacles finding and maintaining employment. Tom Hanks joined them as Falstaff for a full production of “Henry IV.” He joined us too. Watch the show to learn more.
Jon Stewart and Army Veteran and 9/11 First Responder John Feal of the FealGood Foundation joined us to discuss the needs of all those affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks that changed all of our lives indefinitely. Watch the video to learn about how they are forcing Congress to act as funding for our nation’s heroes runs out.
Craig Newmark, the philanthropist and founder of Craigslist was granted awards from major veterans organizations due to his efforts to help these organizations succeed. His benevolence comes at a crucial time as many vital veteran non profits are now struggling to find funding. With some of those organizations reporting that benefactors are losing interest in their work, even as Generation Z returns home from War.
Retired Command Sergeant Major Jennifer Long discusses three combat tours and her work to help veterans transition to civilian life. She now runs a VFW Post in Urban New Jersey that defies all expectations of what a VFW Post can be in blue collar town.
Pat Tillman Scholars and military medical officers join us to discuss their efforts to treat opioid addiction.
Lt. Colonel Robin Evans (Ret.) is a Tillman Scholar and she aims to make the adoption process and transition after adoption one that works best for adoptive parents, adoptees, and birth parents. Hear her harrowing story about what the adoption process was like for her family, in spite of her accomplished position as an officer of the armed services.
Colonel Tracy Neal-Walden of the Cohen Veterans Health Network joins us to discuss the $275 million dollar initiative aiming to help veterans and their family members. The goal? To assist them as they work through the challenges that are all to often par for the course when transitioning from life attached to the service to the life of freedom that we all have the opportunity to enjoy on their behalf.
Kristen Rouse and Adrienne Brammer are veterans and leaders on the veteran transition front in New York . They joined us to discuss the NYC Veterans Alliance and all they are doing to help their fellows. They also announced a veterans events hub where you can plan your volunteer or transition recovery efforts.

Executive Director of AMVETS discusses the role his organization plays in helping veterans transition from military life to civilian. A veteran of the Marine Corps, Sherman Gillums tells a tale of becoming paralyzed and overcoming the mental and physical trauma, ultimately leading one of the nation’s oldest veterans service organizations and inspiring his daughter to attend and graduate from the Naval Academy.

Two veterans work their way into Hollywood, producing block buster films and shorts about veterans in transition to civilian life.