Jake Halpern (Host)

And for the record, these were rainbow-colored tutus. Once they were all tutued up, it was picture time.

And for the record, these were rainbow-colored tutus. Once they were all tutued up, it was picture time.

And there it was. A modern day VFW celebrating in tutus. It was the sort of VFW that Dave had envisioned, and it seemed that Sarah had played a key role in making it happen. And the real proof of this, the crowning proof, was that a few years later, when Dave stepped down as commander of the post, it was Sarah who took over. She became the next commander.

And there it was. A modern day VFW celebrating in tutus. It was the sort of VFW that Dave had envisioned, and it seemed that Sarah had played a key role in making it happen. And the real proof of this, the crowning proof, was that a few years later, when Dave stepped down as commander of the post, it was Sarah who took over. She became the next commander.

And then, she really was the poster child of Post 152.

And then, she really was the poster child of Post 152.

Michelle and Sarah met at the gym. Sarah presented herself as a veteran, unemployed and struggling with some injuries. There were even a few times that Sarah wore these clunky hearing aids that looked like they were from the 1980s. Because she was partially deaf, or so she claimed to Michelle.

Michelle and Sarah met at the gym. Sarah presented herself as a veteran, unemployed and struggling with some injuries. There were even a few times that Sarah wore these clunky hearing aids that looked like they were from the 1980s. Because she was partially deaf, or so she claimed to Michelle.

One day, when Sarah was getting ready to start her workout, Michelle noticed that Sarah's sneakers were untied.

One day, when Sarah was getting ready to start her workout, Michelle noticed that Sarah's sneakers were untied.

So in Michelle's words, she became the primary shoe tier. On many occasions, Michelle got down on her hands and knees, just tied Sarah's shoes because Sarah didn't have the dexterity in her fingers to do it herself.

So in Michelle's words, she became the primary shoe tier. On many occasions, Michelle got down on her hands and knees, just tied Sarah's shoes because Sarah didn't have the dexterity in her fingers to do it herself.

Sarah would eventually tell Michelle a great many secrets about herself and her tragic past, secrets that would draw Michelle deep into Sarah's world.

Sarah would eventually tell Michelle a great many secrets about herself and her tragic past, secrets that would draw Michelle deep into Sarah's world.

And all of this was more than just a pet charity. It was a moment that seemed to clarify what this community was all about. It wasn't just some place where you did burpees and crunches. It was a place where people showed up each day with and for one another.

And all of this was more than just a pet charity. It was a moment that seemed to clarify what this community was all about. It wasn't just some place where you did burpees and crunches. It was a place where people showed up each day with and for one another.

a place where when someone was struggling, a hero, someone who'd served and suffered and still mustered a little bit of sunshine, then damn it, you did something about it. You rallied. Not just because it was the right thing to do, but because it was an affirmation of who this community was. It almost seemed like Sarah, with her needs, provided something that the gym itself needed too.

a place where when someone was struggling, a hero, someone who'd served and suffered and still mustered a little bit of sunshine, then damn it, you did something about it. You rallied. Not just because it was the right thing to do, but because it was an affirmation of who this community was. It almost seemed like Sarah, with her needs, provided something that the gym itself needed too.

It all started one night when Sarah arrived unannounced at Kate and Mark's house.

It all started one night when Sarah arrived unannounced at Kate and Mark's house.