As two unpaid volunteers, my wife and I will give up two years of our lives to solely dedicate ourselves to living in an old Fleet van with no running water or kitchen, and a camping toilet, and driving the entire CONUS, including as many small byways and trails as needed, to record and later convey the stories of hundreds of Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families.

The goal is to complete a printed Americana book of 100 of these heroes; host daily podcasts and blog; host recurring radio, tv, social media events; create continuous content, to share these stories of heroism and sacrifice, and celebrate the lives of those fallen through the stories of grieving children and spouses left behind. We seek to create a culture of support, and, finally, for America’s first time, an understanding of patriotism and sacrifice, from all parts of American society.

We are taking this mission across America; over 30,000 miles of highways, byways, and roads; in cities, suburbs, and on farms; near the beaches and mountains; from sea to shining sea; in any place in the ‘Lower 48’ we are asked to be, and can access.

This is the only project of this nature ever accomplished. The idea was suggested at the Military Order of the Purple Heart national convention in 1992, but has proven nearly impossible.

The truth is, it will take complete sacrifice up front from two people surrendering any other ambitions for two years to accomplish this, without any personal return on investment. It truly is a sacrifice forward; but these wounded and fallen heroes are worth it! Many of the Purple Heart Veterans are dying or worse; we had to cross two names off our interview list last week. We need to do this now, and we are already on the road; broken down at this moment, actually.

We have 147 interviews already scheduled with Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families. By the end of 2025, we anticipate bringing personal care and attention directly to the homes and rest-homes of over 250 combat wounded Veterans. Through outreach, we impacted more than 50,000 in January, and are using a targeted communication campaign created for us pro-bono from Ph.D. Communications Consultant. Our growth has continually exceeded our goals by margins well over 300 percent monthly. We will release a 1-of-a-kind book connecting America’s Purple Heart trail for the first time ever on America’s 250th Birthday.

We hope to create genuine understanding and empathy with the Van of Valor. Three separate Gold Star teens reported they are currently being bullied for their parents’ ultimate sacrifice. Does that drive suicide reduction? Our warfighters and fallen families deserve the best care our country can afford. We increase the understanding for those who gave all, those who shed blood time and time again, since WW2 still alive to give live anecdotes that shall inform citizens of today and tomorrow. There’s collaboration w/ a university, interested in preserving our oral narratives, ensuring the knowledge recorded will be impactful well into the future.

Suicide, substance abuse, homelessness, and isolation are real problems, and they plague Veterans (especially Combat Veterans and those who suffered military sexual trauma) at an extreme level, resulting in 20.6 Veteran suicides a day in 2023, and has been rising over 11 percent a year since 2020. There’s such a disconnect between that and the civilian population. Our research has concluded that many Veterans no longer like the country they were wounded, and had friends die, defending. Our mission is to build sympathy and understanding through the stories of sacrifice from World War II through a week ago, when yet another two children became Gold Star.

Meet Vietnam Purple Heart recipient Air Force Senior Master Sgt. (retired) Gus Sininger. Gus was a flight engineer, served for more than 20 years, and served 3 tours in Vietnam, earning a Purple Heart, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 19 Air Medals and a Bronze Star.

Meet Joel Tavera, former Army Sgt. and born in Queens, New York, but calls North Carolina home.Tavera suffered serious injuries in March 2008 when rocket-propelled grenades struck his Army Humvee.Three men were killed in the blast, while Tavera barely made it out alive.Tavera's skull was broken by the force of the bombs and rockets. Sixty percent of his body sustained third-degree burns from the combustion's firestorm.He lost sight in both eyes but earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. In addition, he lost the ability to move his upper extremities, his right leg below the knee, and four fingers.

Meet Joel Tavera, former Army Sgt. and born in Queens, New York, but calls North Carolina home.Tavera suffered serious injuries in March 2008 when rocket-propelled grenades struck his Army Humvee.See his full interview here at 9 a.m. EST on 4 May 2025. Until then, check out our other interviews here too!

More than anything, We ask you to remember Scott now and forever.

Female Engagement Teams (FETs), primarily deployed by the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq, are specialized teams of female soldiers tasked with engaging local communities, particularly women, in a culturally sensitive manner to gather intelligence and build relationships.

We will host an interview with any Purple Heart recipient or Gold Star family any time and anywhere. Sometimes, that leaves for less-than-optimal recording conditions. In this particular case, we recorded Mr. Silvers' interview in a loud and busy VFW Post. Please bear with the background noise and listen/watch a no-nonsense interview with 2x Purple Heart Vietnam Marine Harry Silvers, then listen to his fellow Marine Chris Lanham's testimony of what he saw that day.

Let us all honor the life of Sgt. Breonna Moffett. This hero paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.