by Travis Partington | Aug 30, 2018 | Podcast
Episode 109 – Get Up Nation
I started listening to Get Up Nation Podcast a little over 6 months ago. Ben Biddick is an Army Veteran who took what he experienced in the military to make something positive for people. You can see his first real foray into this by checking out his book, Get Up: The Art of Perseverance. Ben wrote this with Adam Greenberg who played for the Chicago Cubs. Adam was making his first plate appearance and was hit by a pitch that changed his life.
Ben and Adam wrote about this experience and how Adam used this to make something more for himself. This started a mission focus of bringing a message that no matter the situation, one can take control of their life to make positive change.
Positive empowerment for one’s life is a common theme of all of Ben’s podcasts. I can tell you personally that most Monday’s I listen to this podcast on Stitcher. It starts my week off on a strong positive note. I love hearing stories about how people have taken what appears to be horrible situations and turned their lives into a beacon of hope for others. This message of positive empowerment becomes contagious and helps me help others.
While Ben serves and works with active duty military and veterans, he talks to people from all walks of life. I believe that makes the message of Get Up Nation more relevant to anyone. You can be anyone and choose to make a change in your life right now. It is your choice, and Get Up Nation Podcast is there to show you the way.
I appreciated Ben’s time and candor during our talk. You can find out more by going to the website. Get Up Nation Podcast Website
Get Up Nation Podcast – Episode 37 on YouTube
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egHkjYzy5BI[/embedyt]
Get Up on Amazon
Ben wrote this book with Adam Greenberg who played for the Chicago Cubs. You can understand the concepts Ben talks about for all his work. Click the link below to get in paperback or Kindle. 
Get Up: The Art of Perseverance – On Amazon
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by Travis Partington | Aug 23, 2018 | Podcast
Episode 108 – No Ghosts Here
All these items were in use at one time, even the signs.
I got invited to check out a private military collection. This was to support a project I am working on for the New England Center and Home for Veterans. The team needed some research done on World War One. Gary, who is a Marine Veteran, was gracious enough to allow me to come see what he had been doing.
I walked into the area and had to pause for a minute. I had been to plenty of military museums before, but this was the first time I had seen items like this up close and personal. This was the first time where someone other than a tour guide was telling me stories about each item. Many of these items had a personal story behind them.
Gary told me about a uniform that actually belonged to his father. His father’s story as an 18 year old kid working on a landing craft for D-Day. He told me about items his father wore and I could see a look of pride in his eye has he talked about that time.
However, it was during the podcast that this experience came in focus for me. He talked about another group that came and looked at the collection. One of the viewers 
said that there must be a lot of ghosts in these rooms. Gary looked at me and told me that there were, “No Ghosts Here”. This is not a place for ghosts he said, it is place of dignity. Where the deeds of those who went before us are kept alive.
I spent a lot of time reflecting on that thought as I prepared this podcast. I want to thank Gary and his son for taking the time to talk with me and show me something truly remarkable. Memories can be kept alive as long as we choose remember with dignity those who have gone before us.
Two pictures showing how Camp Edwards (Now Otis Air Base) changed in a year during WWII
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by Travis Partington | Aug 16, 2018 | Podcast
Episode 107 – Interview with Heath Phillips
I saw a story about a Navy Veteran who was exonerated after going AWOL (Absent Without Leave). Heath Phillips went AWOL because after 49 times of going to his command he still did not get the help he needed. Heath was being sexually assaulted and only by going AWOL was he able to escape this hell. I talked about this story after reading about this in Episode 96 – 49 X. Almost 30 years later, Heath’s discharge status was upgraded to honorable.
It was a complete surprise when Heath and others reached out to me on Twitter about the podcast. We began to talk about his story and what he is doing now. I asked him to come on OMR and he agreed. We did not focus much on what happened, but about how big the problem is and what can be done about it.
One of the things I got out of talking with Heath is that holding in sexual trauma is never a good idea. Also things have changed in the military where what happened to Heath should not happen to anyone else. I say should because there is always a chance that servicemember’s command will not do the right thing. However, there are resources to help:
We also talked about how parents and friends can help someone who has experienced military sexual trauma. Just being there for that person and letting them know that you love and care about them is probably the single biggest thing a person can do to help.
There is progress being made, but it is going to require continued vigilance and being proactive to make sure that someone never experiences what Heath had to do through.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4J8Z09zHXA[/embedyt]
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by Travis Partington | Aug 3, 2018 | Podcast
Episode 105 – Richard Fitts Jr’s Family at The Wall that Heals
Richard Fitts Jr. and the Abington Color Guard
I had first met Richard Fitts Jr. when we were talking about his documentary 21 Years a Folded Flag. ( Episode 92 – 21 Years a Folded Flag ) This is a labor of love for a father he could not remember because SSgt Richard Fitts was killed in Laos during the Vietnam War. He reached out recently because he wanted me to meet the crew from the Abington VFW when the Fitts Family joined them to do the Colors Ceremony for The Wall that Heals.
One of the take aways from the film is how Abington, Massachusetts wrapped their arms around the Fitts family. I got a chance to see this in action for the ceremony. Richard, his mother Valerie and his son Austin joined the guys from the VFW for this special ceremony. I got to spend time with Richard talking about everything from Joe Satriani to bass guitar styles to aspects of parenthood. I enjoyed how Mrs. Fitts was the “den mother” for all the Abington VFW crew. It was more like a family event than anything else.
After the ceremony, Richard and his son Austin talked with me about the film. He is almost done with it. He was able to interview a General who in Richard’s view adds a lot to the project. There is a lot of movement going on with another entry into a film contest, and he is finalizing the sound.
Seeing a Gold Star family like the Fitts participate in the color guard brought a different kind feeling out in me. It shows that family in the military can mean those who haven’t served as well as those from different branches of service.
Abington VFW & Mrs Fitts – Richard Fitts Jr is on the far left
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by Travis Partington | Jul 27, 2018 | Podcast
Episode 104 – The Wall that Heals
Dennis Donahue Riding
“Travis, get with Dennis Donahue, he escorted the Vietnam Wall that Heals to Weymouth.” Sometimes it goes just like that with my producer Keith Hayes aka Sinista1;) I knew the mobile Vietnam Veterans Wall was coming the Union Point, or what is locally known as South Weymouth Naval Air Station. I had already set Episode 103, so if I followed the schedule this podcast would have come out long after The Wall that Heals left Weymouth, MA. This was a problem because it could 10 or more years before this Wall came back. So Episode 103 and 104 dropped on the same day. The Wall that Heals is a mobile scaled down version of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. and Dennis was part of a motorcycle escort from Canton, MA to Union Point in South Weymouth, MA.
Dennis served over two decades in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Iraq and when he got out of the Army he had to adjust to civilian life. He missed the brotherhood and camaraderie of being in the Army and felt alone.
Around that time, Dennis got with the VA and 22Kill Boston to help him deal with his PTSD. He got help and started feeling better, and he was around people who cared about him. One of the ways Dennis gives back now is riding with the Patriot Guard Riders. The Patriot Guard Riders is an organization that does escorts, honor guard and funeral ceremonies for Veterans. We talked about how families and people in the community appreciate seeing the Patriot Guard Riders.
We both want everyone to go to The Wall That Heals while it is here. It is open 24 hours a day right now until Sunday, July 29th. I can’t wait to ride with Dennis and it is amazing how something like a motorcycle can help someone help someone else. Thank you for your service.
The Wall That Heals
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica & Mobile Education Center
Visits Union Point (South Weymouth Naval Air Stations) – Weymouth, MA
Wednesday, July 25th – Sunday, July 29th, 2018
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
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