Jake Halpern (Host)

And that look worked for him, came like his calling card, as he put it. So that if you lived anywhere near his town in Rhode Island, you knew that Dave, the guy with the handlebar mustache, he was the dude in charge of the local VFW post 152.

And that look worked for him, came like his calling card, as he put it. So that if you lived anywhere near his town in Rhode Island, you knew that Dave, the guy with the handlebar mustache, he was the dude in charge of the local VFW post 152.

So many of the charities that help veterans in the U.S. operate just like this. They try to compensate for all the government's inefficiencies and shortcomings. And they do this by jumping in and helping veterans right away when they need it most.

So many of the charities that help veterans in the U.S. operate just like this. They try to compensate for all the government's inefficiencies and shortcomings. And they do this by jumping in and helping veterans right away when they need it most.

They were gathering in a parking lot when Sarah shows up to join them. It's all pretty informal, except for one bit of paperwork.

They were gathering in a parking lot when Sarah shows up to join them. It's all pretty informal, except for one bit of paperwork.

A DD-214. It's actually a very important document in this story. You may recall us talking about it in the last episode. It's the official military discharge paper explaining how and when someone left the service. And it's what proves that Sarah is, apparently, a veteran.

A DD-214. It's actually a very important document in this story. You may recall us talking about it in the last episode. It's the official military discharge paper explaining how and when someone left the service. And it's what proves that Sarah is, apparently, a veteran.

So right there on the spot in the parking lot with Sarah standing there, Dave calls for a vote.

So right there on the spot in the parking lot with Sarah standing there, Dave calls for a vote.

And like that, Sarah was marching in the annual Veterans Day parade. I've seen a video of this parade from a different year, but the mood is timeless. People are waving flags. The members of a local high school band are playing their drums and trombones. Veterans are walking down West Main Street together, waving.

And like that, Sarah was marching in the annual Veterans Day parade. I've seen a video of this parade from a different year, but the mood is timeless. People are waving flags. The members of a local high school band are playing their drums and trombones. Veterans are walking down West Main Street together, waving.

The Boy Scouts are there, too, marching past the package store and the antique dealer and the quilting shop. It's classic America. And right there, in the middle of it all, was Sarah Kavanaugh, the newest member of Post 152.

The Boy Scouts are there, too, marching past the package store and the antique dealer and the quilting shop. It's classic America. And right there, in the middle of it all, was Sarah Kavanaugh, the newest member of Post 152.

A few months after she joined the VFW, Sarah got engaged to a woman named Nicole. Nicole was originally from New Mexico. She was very sporty, an avid hiker, played softball, loved the beach. The two of them seemed like a great match. And of course, Sarah's veteran buddies rallied to celebrate.

A few months after she joined the VFW, Sarah got engaged to a woman named Nicole. Nicole was originally from New Mexico. She was very sporty, an avid hiker, played softball, loved the beach. The two of them seemed like a great match. And of course, Sarah's veteran buddies rallied to celebrate.

Dave invited a bunch of VFW members, including an old Vietnam vet. They all enjoyed a few brewskis together.

Dave invited a bunch of VFW members, including an old Vietnam vet. They all enjoyed a few brewskis together.

Because you're a big dude.

Because you're a big dude.