Voices of Freedom Takes a Road Trip Florida or Bust | | |
Late last year, we had a wild idea that was either inspired genius or the result of too much Christmas eggnog: haul the Voices of Freedom Mobile Recording Studio all the way to Florida, stopping in cities along the way to interview veterans. It sounded a bit ambitious, not just because we’d never ventured that far from home, but because wrangling interviews across multiple states is the stuff of logistical nightmares and travel bingo cards.
But the chance to make a real impact was too tempting to pass up, so we threw caution (and probably our GPS) to the wind, and we are so glad we did. Over 2,331 miles, we dined at Pedro’s, met a pirate (yes, it was as odd and random as it sounds), sipped a drink in a bar named after our 16th president, made not one but two live TV appearances; and because every road trip needs a little drama, blew out a tire on the way home. Oh, and we made a pit stop at a convenience store and gas station so legendary, its mascot is a giant beaver with a fan club. Most importantly, we had the honor of recording the stories of twenty veterans and meeting a cast of amazing folks who helped us along the way.
Here’s the story.
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We kicked things off on April 9th with a drive to Portsmouth to visit the local DAV, Chapter 27. There we interviewed four of their members -James, Dwayne, Sam, and Lonnie. It was a pleasure meeting them and hearing their stories. We also met Claudia and Kim, who couldn’t interview that day but later shared their stories, proving that persistence (and maybe a little gentle nagging) pays off.
All of this was possible thanks to chapter president Cynthia Madison, whom we’d only met a month prior, but made sure we had a place to park our studio, and arranged for the interviews. Thank you, Cynthia, for your support.
Our next stop was Pooler, Georgia, home of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, but not before a mandatory detour to South of the Border. If you’ve ever driven down I-95, you know the place: part roadside carnival, part souvenir superstore, and part time capsule from an era when neon was king. It is, without a doubt, over the top and unapologetically campy. We were compelled to stop.
After taking several pictures of the mobile recording studio with Pedro, and grabbing some lunch (We were advised by some not to eat there, but the food wasn’t too bad, and we didn’t suffer any ill effects.), we headed south to the Eighth Air Force Museum.
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At the museum, we interviewed four docents: O.C., Gilbert, Bruce, and Michael, then got a tour that included a peek inside the beautifully restored B-17 “City of Savannah.” The plane has been meticulously restored and serves as a tribute to the young airmen of the 8th Air Force, many of whom never came home. If you’re ever nearby, this museum is a must-see, if only to marvel at how many switches and dials could fit in one airplane.
A big thank you to Scott, the museum’s president and CEO, for giving us a place to park and set up the studio, and to Tiffany, Dawn, Sean, Heather, and Judy for their help.
Pooler is just a stone’s throw from Savannah, a city famous for its history, hospitality, and River Street, a waterfront packed with shops, restaurants, bars, and enough characters to fill a novel. We enjoyed great food and a few adult beverages at Abe’s on Lincoln, a cozy pub named for our top-hatted 16th president, where we met Eric the bartender and a pirate, yes, a pirate whose name I don’t think we ever got.
| | National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force | | Our Team - Ed, Dennis, & Greg with Heather | | Dennis Gill with Gill Terry | | | After Pooler, we headed south to Florida, stopping overnight in Ocala before arriving in Naples on April 13th to set up shop at Moorings Park Grande Lake retirement community that also happens to be home to our founder, Allan Cors. More on that in a bit. | | |
Over the next two days, we interviewed ten veterans from the American Military and 1st Responders Museum, the local VFW, and Moorings Park itself. Thank you to Dave, Sal, Thomas, George, Ronald, John, Pat, David, Justin, and Larry for sharing your stories.
Things mostly went smoothly until the local Fox affiliate arrived for not one, but two live broadcasts. It threw our schedule a little out of whack, but we couldn’t pass up the chance to spread the word about our mission. Thanks to Fox 4 in Naples and reporter Ella for making us look good on live TV.
| | | | LIVE on Fox 4 in Naples with Ella | | |
Thanks also to the staff at Moorings Park Grande Lake, especially Celeste, Kim, and Heather, for their hospitality; and to Dave from the American Military and 1st Responders Museum and Jim from the Moorings Park Veterans Group for helping round up interviewees.
Why Naples, you ask? Simple, it’s where our founder and the heart and soul of our project, Allan Cors, resides. This trip was a chance to reach new veterans, build new partnerships, and catch up with Allan, whose enthusiasm for our project is as strong as ever, even if he hasn’t been able to visit Northern Virginia lately.
After wrapping up in Naples, we pointed the truck and trailer north, very eager to get home. But as every road tripper knows, the journey home is never as smooth as you hope. A few hours in, we blew a tire, discovered our lug nut wrench was the wrong size, and had to make an emergency pit stop for the right tool and a tire change. Once back on the road, things went mercifully smoothly.
| | After an overnight in South Carolina, we made one last unforgettable stop: lunch at Buc-ee’s. Imagine a gas station, a theme park, and a snack-crazed beaver throwing a Texas-sized shindig for every traveler on the interstate. It was spring break, so the place was packed and the sensory overload was real. We grabbed lunch, survived the madness, and hit the road for the final stretch home, arriving on April 17th. | | |
With the mobile studio safely back at the Farm, we reflected on the trip. It was a long one for sure, but the people we met, the relationships we have created, and the stories we captured made it well worth it. We want to thank everyone who assisted us, those mentioned above, and those we may have left out. It is extremely difficult to coordinate and plan a trip like this, and without the assistance of many along the way, it would not have happened.
Special shout-outs to our CEO, Dennis Brant, who dreamed up this Florida adventure and even flew down to help (next time, he’s driving the truck back home), and to our generous donor on Long Island, whose support made this whole escapade possible.
So there you have it: 9 days, 2,331 miles, 5 states, 20 interviews, and enough stories to fill a book - though some are best left on the road.
Be sure to check out our website and our YouTube page to watch these stories, and the rest of the 800-plus we have captured since 2010.
| | The Voices of Freedom Project Podcast | |
The Voices of Freedom podcast showcases those stories that tell of the service and sacrifice of ordinary, everyday Americans whose service and experiences were anything but ordinary. These stories are told in their own words from their perspective. Nothing is edited or sugarcoated. It’s a raw and unfiltered look at history from those who were eyewitnesses to it. Recent podcasts include our interviews with WWII Fighter Ace, Philip Adair, Korean War Veteran Alfred Smith, and Vietnam Veteran, and former Delta Force original member, Lewis “Bucky” Burruss.
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