We the People

Hosts Rob Couture and Brittany Murray are joined by VFW Washington Office leaders Mike Figlioli and Gabby Kubinyi to discuss the upcoming dedication of the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial, leadership training for VFW officers and the organization's latest National Veterans Service accomplishments, including nearly $18 billion in reported benefits recoveries for veterans and their families.

In this episode's Still Serving Spotlight, representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross discuss their humanitarian mission to locate missing persons, support families affected by armed conflict and provide answers to those who have spent years, sometimes decades, waiting for news of their loved ones.

The conversation also highlights the power of veterans' stories, the importance of grassroots advocacy and the bonds of camaraderie that continue long after military service.

Hosts

• Rob Couture - Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Outreach, VFW Washington Office

• Brittany Murray - Associate Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Outreach, VFW Washington Office

Featured Guests

• Mike Figlioli - Chief of Staff, VFW Washington Office

• Gabby Kubinyi - Deputy Director, VFW National Legislative Service

Still Serving Spotlight

• Fabrizzio Carboni - Head of Regional Delegation for the United States and Canada, International Committee of the Red Cross

• Cate Bird - Missing Persons and Forensic Manager, International Committee of the Red Cross

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction
02:01 - Trajector Bankruptcy Update: What Veterans Need to Know
04:08 - National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial
07:30 - Remembering the Gulf War and Honoring Vietnam Veterans
11:06 - Training the Next Generation of VFW Leaders
14:26 - Strengthening Grassroots Veterans Advocacy
22:18 - National Veterans Service Training Conference
25:57 - The Power of Veterans' Stories in Advocacy
29:54 - VFW Announces Nearly $18 Billion in Benefits Recoveries
34:03 - Still Serving Spotlight: International Committee of the Red Cross
41:02 - Bringing Missing Persons Home and Supporting Families
51:05 - The Human Cost of Missing Persons
59:07 - How Veterans Can Help Families Find Answers
1:02:42 - Why Neutrality Matters in Humanitarian Work
1:07:20 - Ukraine's Missing Persons Crisis and Lessons for Future Conflicts
1:17:24 - Reflections on the Red Cross's Humanitarian Mission
1:20:54 - Good of the Order: Advocacy and Veterans' Stories
1:21:40 - The Importance of Military Camaraderie
1:24:02 - Army Anniversaries and Military Memories
1:26:58 - Closing Remarks

Resources

• Trajector Bankruptcy Claims Information (Verita Global): https://www.veritaglobal.net/trajectory

• VFW Veterans Service: https://www.vfw.org/assistance/va-claims-separation-benefits

• VFW Action Corps: https://www.vfw.org/actioncorps

• Ask the VFW: https://www.vfw.org/asktheVFW

• International Committee of the Red Cross: https://www.icrc.org/

Listen to Still Serving: The VFW Podcast at https://www.vfw.org/Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

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