There was a time when I paid little attention to politics or current events. Back in college, most of my energy went into bartending, partying, and trying to ignore the regret of walking away from collegiate basketball and the dream I once chased. Sure, I knew who the president was, caught the headlines during elections, and voted once in a while - but deep down, I didn’t think any of it really mattered.

Life moved on. Marriage, a mortgage, and years working as a Realtor eventually led me into running my own investing business.

Then came September 11th, 2001. For a moment, it got my attention. My wife and I were in our twenties with no kids and a pre-paid fishing trip for that day. After a short conversation, we decided to stick to our plans. Looking back, that choice reflected the insulation I lived in - far removed from the sacrifices others were making to keep our country safe. Over time, that distance eroded. And so did my marriage.

By 2014, I was a divorced father of two young kids when I met the true love of my life, Barb Allen. Barb had already been through hell and back. In 2005, she lost her husband in Iraq - not to the enemy, but murdered by a fellow soldier. Her four boys were just 6, 5, 3, and 1 when their dad was taken. Her story had been national news. She’d written two books and was working as a Veterans Services Officer when our paths crossed.

I’d lost my own father to suicide when I was just three years old. That gave me a connection to her boys and their pain. The closer I grew to Barb and her family, the more I learned about the real sacrifices made by our military and their families - and the more I began to value the principles those sacrifices defended.

When Trump came down that escalator and the country lost its mind, Barb and I felt called to do something. Together, we launched American Snippets to remind Americans why this country is great. Barb interviewed over 250 people, sharing their stories of courage, sacrifice, patriotism, and grit. We hosted a four-day resilience and entrepreneurial event for Gold Star women - women who had lost a husband, sibling, son, or fiancé in service to this nation.

That effort grew into the Great American Syndicate. We went on to host two more live events that brought together patriots, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Eventually, we stepped back to focus on our own family and businesses.

Today, Barb is working to bring her third book to life as a film. My business continues to grow. Our kids are grown. My daughter is serving in the Air Force and my son is headed off in pursuit of his own American Dream.

And me? Well…I am more passionate than ever about using my voice to stand up for America and the core values it was founded on.

We’ve both lost friends and business simply for refusing to surrender our values. We’ve both been on the receiving end of hateful attacks that come only from a place of ignorance and darkness. But none of that changes this truth:

I will continue speaking out. I will continue building this community. And I will continue inviting you into this conversation.

God Bless America. 🇺🇸