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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A LOOK AT WHAT'S BEING CALLED QUIET QUITTING OF EVANGELICAL SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CANADIAN VISITORS DECIDING TO DELAY, SHORTEN OR CANCEL WINTER STOPPING IN ARIZONA.

>>> AND AN EFFORT TO HONOR VETERANS AND ENSURE THEIR STORIES ARE NOT LOST TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT'S BEING CALLED QUIET QUITTING.

IT INVOLVES SOME MEMBERS OF CHRISTIAN AND EVANGELICAL COMMUNITIES DISENGAGING SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THE REASONS CHANGE FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OVERALL BEHAVIOR TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S IMMIGRATION POLICIES.

JOINING US NOW IS POLITICAL CONSULTANT CHUCK COUGHLIN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HIGHGROUND.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

TED: THIS QUIET QUITTING OF TRUMP.

WHY THIS?

WHY NOW?

>> IT'S STARTING.

THERE'S THE A BIT OF IT THERE.

LET'S BE CLEAR THOUGH, THE REPUBLICAN SUPPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT IS SUPREMELY STRONG, BUT THERE IS A FACTION OF MOVEMENT THERE, BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF THINGS.

THE KIRK FUNERAL, WHERE HE EMBRACED HATRED, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S NOT A CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE, RIGHT?

WE KNOW THAT.

WE KNOW SAID GOD LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF, HE LOOKED AT ERIKA AFTER SHE DID THAT AMAZING ACT OF FORGIVENESS ON THE STAGE.

I DON'T KNOW, I HATE MY ENEMIES.

I KNOW PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WERE LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, THAT'S SUCH A FUMBLE.

AS YOU REFERRED TO, THE NATURE OF OUR FAITH IS TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TREAT THE ALIEN WELL, AND WE HAVE BROKEN IMMIGRATION POLICIES, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, BUT YOU KNOW, PHYSICALLY, FORCIBLY, ARRESTING PEOPLE, HAULING DAY CARE WORKERS OUT OF DAY CARE CENTERS AND VETERANS, FATHERS AND ALL OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, IT'S A CALLOUS RESPONSE, AND I THINK THAT IMAGERY IS CAUSING A PROBLEM FOR THE PRESIDENT.

TED: AND YET, THIS IS THE MAN WHO MADE FUN OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, DURING THE FIRST TERM WHEN HE DID THAT.

DROPPING F-BOMBS AT WHITE HOUSE PRESS CONFERENCES HERE.

THE MASKED AGENTS TAKING UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS, SOME DOCUMENTED FOLKS GET CAUGHT UP IN ALL OF THIS.

THIS IS NOT NEW.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON.

YOU ARE SAYING IT'S STARTING DID.

IT REACH A TIPPING POINT?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S THERE YET.

HERE'S THE PROBLEM, AND THIS IS GOING TO UPSET OUR DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS.

IT'S LIKE WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE IN THE ALTERNATIVE HAS BEEN BROKEN.

THEY'VE BEEN SEARCHING AROUND.

THIS LAST CYCLE, THEY FOUND A BID OF A STRIDE WITH A COUPLE OF GOVERNOR'S ELECTIONS BACK EAST BUT THAT'S NOT ANYTHING WEST, NOT OUT HERE.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE, RUBEN OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SUPPORTABILITY ISSUE, AND THOSE THINGS SEEM TO BE RESONATING, BUT BY AND LARGE YOU STILL HAVE THIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT IS ALIENATED A BIG PART OF THE ELECTORATE AS WELL.

SO PEOPLE ARE LIKE, YES, I DON'T LIKE TRUMP BUT WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE.

>> THE QUIET QUITTING, IS IT LED FROM THE PULPIT OR PEWS?

>> I THINK IT'S PEW-DRIVEN.

IT'S PEOPLE MOVING THEIR FEET.

IT'S A GREAT DEAL OF PULPIT PREACHING GOING ON WITHIN THE EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY, BUT THERE IS LESS OF IT, TO SOME DEGREE, AND THERE'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

AND WE SAW THAT DURING THE KIRK FUNERAL.

WE SAW SOME ACTIVE DEBATES AMONG CHRISTIANS DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME AS WELL, ABOUT WHAT THE DEFINITION OF WHAT CHRIST'S MISSION IS, VERSUS WHAT THE POLITICAL MISSION IS HERE.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, IS THIS -- EVANGELICALS, CHRISTIANS, FOLKS WHO HAVE A STRONG FAITH, LEAVING DONALD TRUMP, LEAVING MAGA?

OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT IMAGINING THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY UNLESS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOW IS MAGA.

WHAT ARE THEY LEAVING?

WHERE ARE THEY GOING?

>> WHERE DO THEY GO?

DOES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CREATE A DOOR, CREATE A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO PEOPLE OF FAITH?

I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE OF FAITH WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S AN OPEN DOOR TO THEM RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T THINK YOU'D SEE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS A PLACE THAT'S EMBRACING CHRISTIANITY AND FAITH, AND SO I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR THEM.

I THINK MANY OF THEM SPEAK TO THAT, MANY LEADERS -- RUBEN, SENATOR KELLY AND OTHERS -- SPEAK TO THAT.

CAN THEY PUT MORE AIR INTO THAT AS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO MIGRATE TO.

TED: WE CALL IT QUIET QUITTING, IT'S REFERRED TO THAT, BECAUSE THOSE DOING IT ARE AFRAID OF REPRISAL, AFRAID OF RAMIFICATIONS FROM THE FLOCK.

THEY SAY IT LOUDLY, BUT SAYING IT QUIETLY.

>> YES, BECAUSE IT'S A ROUGH SPACE OUT THERE.

TED: YES.

>> CHRIST HIMSELF SAYS YOUR TESTIMONY WILL BE COSTLY, AND SO THIS IS PART OF THAT.

IT'S PART OF WHAT THAT'S GOING ON, AND SO YOU KNOW, AND THE POLARIZATION OF THE ELECTORATE RIGHT NOW IS NOT -- IT'S NOT WHERE I WANT US TO BE, AND I'VE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT.

I'M A SINNER.

I'M GUILTY OF THAT.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEYOND ME TODAY.

IT'S NOT HELPFUL.

THE VILLEIFICATION OF ONE ANOTHER AND NOT HAVING A DISCUSSION.

TED: I IMAGINE THE DISCUSSIONS NEAR CHURCHES, WITHIN CHURCHES.

>> I HAVE FRIENDS THAT GO TO HISPANIC -- I HAVE AN EMPLOYEE WHO GO TO HISPANIC CHURCHES, THEY HAVE TO LOCK THE DOORS.

THIS IS HERE IN PHOENIX.

THEY LOCK THE DOORS TO FEEL PROTECTED IF THERE'S AN I.C.E.

RAID GOING ON.

TED: WE TALKED ABOUT DEMOCRATS AND THEY'RE WAITING TO PICK UP WHATEVER BALL WAS LEFT ON THE GROUND FOR THEM.

WHAT ABOUT REPUBLICANS?

MIKE PENCE WAS VERY LOUD IN HIS FAITH AND IN HIS BELIEFS.

SOME WOULD AGREE, SOME WOULDN'T, BE THAT AS IT MAY, HE IS ABSENT.

SHE -- HE IS AWOL.

IS THERE ANYONE, EVEN MAGA, THAT CAN COME UP AND SAY HOLD YOUR HORSES A LITTLE BIT?

>> AN ACTIVE DEBATE AT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION RIGHT NOW ABOUT NICK FUENTES AND TUCKER CARLSON, AND YOU WOULD HOPE THAT AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THAT, WHICH IS AN INSTITUTIONAL IDEOLOGICALLY CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATION WOULD EMBRACE THAT NOTION OF WHAT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS, AND THE STATUE OF LIBERTY IS, AND EMBRACE A RULE OF LAW.

I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE ABOUT THIS, WE HAVEN'T HAD AN IMMIGRATION LAW SINCE REAGAN, AND IT HAS TO HAPPEN.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.

SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN TO CREATE A PLAYING FIELD SO OUR ECONOMY CAN PROSPER BECAUSE THE VICISSITUDES OF TRUMP LIKING SOMETHING AND NOT LIKING SOMETHING IN AN OVERZEALOUS GROUP GOING IN -- IT'S NOT HELPFUL FOR THE CONSISTENCY OF A PRODUCTIVE ECONOMY.

TED: ANY OF THIS, THE QUIET QUITTING ESPECIALLY, WAS ANY OF IT EVIDENT IN TUESDAY'S ELECTIONS?

THE RECENT ELECTIONS?

>> I GOT TO THINK IT WAS TO SOME DEGREE, THAT YOU HAVE DISSATISFACTION WITH THE REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL, PARTICULARLY IN SOME OF THOSE EAST COAST, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, VIRGINIA WHERE THESE I.C.E.

RAIDS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING.

WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT A BIG PART OF OUR LIFE OUT HERE.

IT HAS HAPPENED IN LOS ANGELES, IT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER WEST COAST CITIES, IN PORTLAND, YOU HAVE TO THINK THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE, AND SAYS WHAT IS THE AMERICAN MILITARY DOING IN OUR STREETS IN AMERICA?

TED: I CAN'T LET YOU GO WITHOUT COMMENTING ON THE DEAL.

AS WE'RE GOING LIVE HERE, THEY'RE HAMMERING WHATEVER DETAILS THEY WANT TO HAMMER ON.

DEMOCRATS HAVE CAPITULATED TO SOME DEGREE, REPUBLICANS SAY WE'LL PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE AND ADD A FEW COINS HERE AND THERE, BUT SOUNDS LIKE, AND I'M HEARING A LOT OF HUE AND CRY FROM THE LEFT THAT THE DEMOCRATS CAVED?

>> THERE'S A GROUP OF DEMOCRATS.

THERE'S TEN DEMOCRATS.

>> ENOUGH TO CHANGE IT.

>> ENOUGH TO GET BY THE FILIBUSTER THAT ARE DEEPLY -- HAVE DEEPLY OFFENDED THE REST OF THE PARTY.

THIS IS A TEST TO THEM AS TO HOW THEY HANDLE THIS, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO REOPEN.

DO THEY MAINTAIN THEIR NARRATIVE?

THIS WILL ONLY WORK THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY, I BELIEVE.

TED: RIGHT.

>> AND THAT ISSUE IS BACK ON THE TABLE WITH THE PREMIUMS, THOSE COVID-ERA TAX PREMIUMS WILL HAVE EXPIRED BY THEN, AND IS THERE STILL A PLAY?

I WOULD ARGUE THERE WILL BE BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE BILLS ARE GOING TO COME DUE.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE START DROPPING OFF OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH CARE EXCHANGES AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, THAT'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM.

IT COULD BE FOR REPUBLICANS.

YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO BRING IT UP FOR A VOTE.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE THINKS IT'S GOING TO SUCCEED.

THEY ALL THINK IT'S GOING TO FEEL UNLESS REPUBLICANS THINK WE'RE ON THE WRONG END OF THE STICK HERE?

>> GETS TO THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THE NARRATIVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

WE SEE THE PRICE SPIKES AND THE PRICE INCREASES HAPPENING, AND THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE SEEMS TO BE HAVING TRACTION WITHIN THE ELECTORATE.

THIS WILL BE ANOTHER BRICK IN THAT WALL FOR DEMOCRATS TO SPEAK TO THAT THEY'RE MAKING HEALTH CARE MORE EXPENSIVE FOR AMERICANS, AND WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON THAT?

YOU KNOW, YOU TALK TO MOST HEALTH CARE POLICY EXPERTS.

THEY SAY MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SHOW UP.

THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW UP FOR UNCOMPENSATED CARE, WHICH HOSPITALS HAVE TO COVER, AND THEY BILL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THAT.

WHAT'S A BETTER WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY.

TED: WE WENT THROUGH THAT, HAD QUITE THE DISCUSSION HERE IN ARIZONA.

YOU WERE A BIG PART BEHIND THE SCENES.

CHUCK COUGHLIN, BEHIND THE SCENES OF A LOT OF THINGS AROUND HERE.

GREAT HAVING YOU HERE.

>> GREAT BEING HERE, THANK YOU.

.

TED: ARIZONA IS EXPECTED TO SEE FEWER CANADIAN VISITORS THIS SNOWBIRD SEASON.

REASONS INCLUDE A WEAKER CANADIAN DOLLAR, NEW U.S.

POLICY THAT REQUIRES REGISTRATION FOR STAYS OF OVER 30 DAYS AND CONTINUING TENSION BETWEEN THE U.S.

AND CANADA INVOLVING TARIFFS AND TRADE.

WE ASK GLENN WILLAMSON OF THE CANADA-ARIZONA BUSINESS COUNCIL.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TED.

TED: SEEING 20 TO 30% DROP IN VISITS TO ARIZONA THIS YEAR, YOU AGREE WITH THE NUMBERS?

>> 20%.

TED: THAT'S A LOT.

>> OUT OF A BILLION DOLLARS, THAT'S $200 MILLION IN TOURISTS.

TED: A BIG HIT FOR ARIZONA, BIG HIT FOR THE COUNTRY.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM FRIENDS UP NORTH?

>> HEARING AN AWFUL LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE'RE HEARING BORDER CROSSINGS ARE DOWN BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU SAID, ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF REGULATIONS AND FACE PICTURES AND CANADIANS ARE FEELING VERY CONCERNED ABOUT INVASIVE TYPES OF OPERATIONS AT THE BORDER.

IT HEARD HAPPENS ON PLANES, SO WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT ARIZONA IS A PLANE ENVIRONMENT.

USED TO BE AUTOMOBILE, NOW IT'S PLANES.

PEOPLE FLYING DOWN HERE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THOSE DRIVING ACROSS.

TED: THOSE COMING DOWN HERE ARE SAYING, I'M SEEING REPORTS, NOT THIS TIME, NOT NOW, MAYBE LATER.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

OR WHEN IT STARTS GETTING 10 DEGREES BELOW ZERO FOR A HIGH, FOLKS ARE GOING TO LOOK LONGINGLY BELOW THE BORDER?

>> THE 51st STATE COMMENT IS WHAT STARTED THIS WHOLE THING.

TED: YES.

>> THEN ELBOWS UP AND CANADIAN PSYCHE WAS PERSONALLY MASSIVELY INSULTED.

HOWEVER, A BYPRODUCT OF ALL OF THIS IS AMERICANS STOP GOING TO CANADA, AND THAT IS A FLIP OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

TED: WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> SO WE'RE FINDING AMERICANS HAVE DECIDED THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO TO CANADA, AND THE CANADIAN INDUSTRIES ARE NOW FEELING THIS, AND THE TONE AND TO KNOWALITY OF WHAT'S GOING ON IS CHANGING.

WE'RE WATCHING IN PALM SPRINGS, WHERE THEY GO WE LOVE CANADIANS.

WE'RE WATCHING IN MONTANA WHERE THEY'VE GOT A WE LOVE CANADIANS.

WE'RE SEEING REGIONAL TOURISM HAPPENING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER BELOW THE FEDERAL ISSUES.

>> REGIONAL TOURISM BELOW THE FEDERAL ISSUES, AND YET I CAN GUARANTEE YOU IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS THERE IS A BELLIGERENT COMMENT OUT OF WASHINGTON TOWARDS CANADA.

ARE CANADIANS TAKING THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT?

GOODNESS GRACIOUS, HOW MUCH YOU CAN TAKE?

>> YOU CAN ONLY INSULT PEOPLE SO MANY TIMES AND THEN THINGS CHANGE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

PROBLEM IS CANADIANS ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY TRAVELING TO OTHER AREAS THEY THAULTD BE EASIER, AND THAT HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT OF THE TRAVELING CONCEPT IN CANADA.

ARIZONA IS STILL ONE OF THOSE SAFE HAVENS.

THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE DOWN HERE.

SNOWBIRDS FEEL GREAT DOWN HERE AND NO REASON TO SELL THEIR HOUSES DOWN HERE BECAUSE THE CAPITAL GAINS IN CANADA WOULD KILL THEM.

TED: ARE THEY?

I'M SEEING REPORTS SOME CANADIANS ARE SELLING THEIR HOMES DOWN HERE.

>> SMALL, AND ABOUT EVERY FIVE YEARS, THEY TAKE THE PROFITS AND THEY COME BACK AND RENT.

TED: INTERESTING.

TALK ABOUT THE BUSINESS ASPECT HERE.

CANADIAN BUSINESSES, ARIZONA BUSINESSES, THAT RELATIONSHIP.

HOW HAS IT CHANGED?

>> CANADIAN COMPANIES ARE MOVING DOWN HERE AT A FASTER PACE SINCE TRUMP PUT IN THE TARIFFS, AND THE RATIONALE BEHIND THAT IS IF YOU'RE A CANADIAN COMPANY, THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS RESEARCH AND BUILD AND SEND ACROSS THE BORDER BE AND TARIFFED.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW, CANADIAN COMPANIES ARE SETTING UP PARALLEL COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES TO MANUFACTURE AND SELL TO THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT PAYING TARIFFS.

TED: ALL RIGHT, DOES THE ADMINISTRATION SEE THAT?

THAT RUNS COUNTER TO WHAT THE WHOLE IDEA IS, REGARDING AMERICANS TAKE OVER WHAT WAS IMPORTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LET ME TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER.

THIS ADMINISTRATION IS ALLOWING CANADIAN MONEY TO POUR INTO THE U.S.

APPROXIMATELY $4 TRILLION IS HELD BY THE PENSION PLANS IN CANADA.

52% OF THAT IS INVESTED IN THE UNITED STATES.

13% IN CANADA.

TED: AND THAT'S NOT CHANGING?

>> NOT CHANGING ONE IOTA.

TED: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BUSINESSES AND CANADA?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RESIDENTS IN CANADA?

>> CANADIANS GET A BETTER R.O.I.

ON PENSION PLANS AND BUSINESS AND TRUMP HAS ALLOWED THIS TO CONTINUE AND CANADIANS ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING MONEY IN THE U.S., THE MARKET IS BIGGER.

TED: ARE THEY SO INTERESTED IN MAKING MONEY IN THE U.S., THEY'LL TAKE ANOTHER 51st STATE COMMENT?

>> NO, THAT IS PROBLEMATIC.

THE PEOPLE AT DINNER TABLES DISCUSSING THAT, PRIVATELY IN BOARDROOMS, THEY'RE NOT.

TED: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE, WHEN YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON BUT ALSO NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE BORDER, AND SEEING THE MACHINATIONS HERE BECAUSE IT CAN BE COMPLICATED.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE?

WITHIN REALISTIC TERMS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOT GOING TO SAY I WAS KIDDING, WE LOVE CANADIANS.

WHAT CAN REALISTICALLY BE DONE?

>> SOMEONE HAS TO REALIZE THAT PROJECT NORTH AMERICA WORKS AND WE NEED TO STAY WITH IT.

THE CONCEPT OF DEGLOBALIZING A HORIZONTAL BUSINESS MODEL TO A VERTICAL MODEL WITH EUROPE, ASIA AND NORTH AMERICA, AT SOME POINT, SOMEONE HAS TO REALIZE THAT MEXICO AND CANADA ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT NEEDS TO COME OUT SOMEWHERE AT SOME TIME.

TED: IS CANADA WORKING MORE WITH MEXICO, AND HOW MUCH MORE CAN THEY WORK WITH MEXICO?

>> TO A DEGREE.

IT IS A DISCUSSION IN BOARDROOMS BUT THEN IN REALITY WHEN YOU TRY TO DO IT, IT IS MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU THINK.

THE SAME THING WITH CANADA TRYING TO WORK WITH CHINA, THAT IS MORE COMPLEX THAN IT SOUNDS LIKE.

TED: BECAUSE WE KEEP HEARING CANADA SAYING WE'LL FIND NEW TRADING PARTNERS.

WE'LL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

NOT SO EASY?

>> CORRECT.

THE CANADIAN PROVINCES DON'T PLAY WELL TOGETHER TO BEGIN WITH.

THE TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES IS VERTICAL BETWEEN PROVINCES AND STATES AND NOW YOU'RE ASKING A COUNTRY TO GO HORIZONTAL WITHIN ITS OWN COUNTRY.

THEY HAVE TARIFFS BETWEEN ITS OWN PROVINCES.

>> GLENN WILLAMSON PRESIDENT OF CANADA-ARIZONA BUSINESS COUNCIL.

MAYBE THE SUN IS SHINING BRIGHTER AS FAR AS THIS IS CONCERNED.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TED.

.

TED: IMPRINTS OF HONOR IS A PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS STUDENTS WITH VETERANS FOR ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS THAT WORK TO HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HELP DEVELOP FUTURE LEADERS.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM FROM IMPRINTS OF HONOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MICHELLE DIMURO AS WELL AS BARBARA HATCH WHO FOUNDED THE PROGRAM.

BARBARA, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

WHAT WAS ALL THIS ABOUT WHEN YOU GOT THIS STARTED?

>> STUDENTS SAW THE MOVIE "SAVING PRIVATE RYAN," AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW MORE OF THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES, WHAT WENT ON.

SO AT TIME, THE VETERANS WERE IN THEIR 70s, SO WE REACHED OUT IN THE VALLEY AND DIDN'T FIND SO MANY OF THOSE, BUT A LOT OF OTHER VETERANS FROM WORLD WAR II ESPECIALLY WERE READY TO TALK.

PERFECT MATCH.

TED: TALK ABOUT THAT MATCH.

WHAT REALLY GOES ON HERE, THE STUDENTS DO AN INTERVIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WORDS AREN'T LOST, HUH?

>> YEAH, THE STUDENTS CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW WITH THE VETERAN.

WE UTILIZE THE VETERAN'S HISTORY PROJECT SAMPLE QUESTIONS AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, AND THEY ARE TAUGHT LISTENING SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ASK FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS TO REALLY CAPTURE THAT VETERAN'S SERVICE STORY, BUT ALSO WHY DID THEY JOIN THE SERVICE, WHAT LESSONS DID THEY GAIN FROM IT, HOW DID THEY APPLY THOSE TO ADDITIONAL CAREERS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE?

THEY'RE GETTING NOT JUST FIRST PERSON HISTORY BUT A CHARACTER IN CIVIC EDUCATION AS WELL.

TED: WHAT GRADE LEVELS?

>> 7 THROUGH 12, BUT WE ALSO WORK WITH SOME COLLEGE STUDENTS.

>> INTERESTING.

BARBARA, EACH STORY IS PRESERVED IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, IS THAT TRUE?

>> MOST OF THEM.

SOMETIMES YOU INHERIT A STORY ANOTHER WAY, BUT THEY ARE VIDEOTAPED, IT COULD BE AUDIOTAPED AND THEY'RE ARCHIVED AT OUR NATIONAL LIBRARY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

I CAN STILL LISTEN TO THE TAPES WE DID 21 YEARS AGO.

TED: TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR REACTION.

WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED DOING THIS, WAS THIS WHAT YOU ENVISIONED IT WOULD BECOME?

>> NO, AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER, I TAUGHT FOR 40 YEARS, HISTORY.

YOU JUST START, AND THE VETERANS HAVE BEEN COMING TO MY CLASSROOM ALREADY, BUT THIS WAS A CHANCE TO GO FROM AND GET DEEPER INTO THE STORIES THEY WERE TELLING IN THE 20 MINUTES MAYBE IN A CLASS.

SOING ABOUT IT OUT TO THEIR HOMES AND INTERVIEW COULD LAST THREE HOURS OR LONGER.

GETTING THAT IS SO POWERFUL FOR STUDENTS.

>> MICHELLE, WHAT GOT YOU INVOLVED IN THIS?

>> I GOT INVOLVED, I'M IN MY 11th YEAR WITH THE PROGRAM, AND I STARTED OUT AS A CONSULTANT WITH THE ORGANIZATION, HELPING WITH FUND-RAISING AND BOARD DEVELOPMENT, AND THEY WERE LOOKING TO BRING ON THEIR FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IT WAS ALL VOLUNTEER RUN, AND I WAS INTRIGUED AND EXCITED TO TAKE ON THAT OPPORTUNITY AND THAT CHALLENGE.

TED: TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON VETERANS AND THE IMPACT ON THE STUDENTS ASKING THE QUESTIONS, BECAUSE AGAIN, TWO TRAINS HERE.

>> YES, SO FOR OUR VETERANS, SOMETIMES IT'S THE FIRST TIME EVER SHARING THEIR STORY.

EACH YEAR, ANYWHERE FROM A QUARTER TO THIRD OF OUR VETERANS ARE SHARING THEIR STORY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SO THAT OPENS UP THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEIR FAMILY FOR ONGOING CONVERSATIONS, AND THE STORY IS PRESERVED AND STUDENTS WRITE IT AND PUBLISH IT IN A BOOK, SO THE BOOK IS THE FAMILY HEIRLOOM FOR THAT VETERAN.

ALSO EVERY YEAR, ABOUT TWO THIRDS -- AS MANY AS 85% WILL TELL US THAT IT WAS A VERY CATHARTIC EXPERIENCE FOR THEM IN SOME WAY, AND THEY FEEL LIKE -- 100% SAY THEY WOULD RECOMMEND ANOTHER VETERAN TO PARTICIPATE.

FOR OUR STUDENTS, THEY ARE BUILDING THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS WITH WRITING AND HISTORY, BUT THEY'RE ALSO HAVING OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND THEY'RE DEVELOPING A MENTOR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR VETERAN.

TED: I BET SOME OF THE STUDENTS -- YOU NOTICED A DIFFERENCE BEFORE THE INTERVIEW AND AFTER THE INTERVIEW IS OVER?

>> USUALLY WE GET PRETTY GOOD KIDS.

WATCHING THEM I'VE WATCHED THEM FOR OVER 25 YEARS, AND THEIR VALUES.

ONE STORY, A BOY IS A DOCTOR, WHEN HE HAS TO TALK TO THE ELDERLY FAMILIES, THE SKILLS HE LEARNED TALKING TO ELDERLY VETERANS AND GETTING TO KNOW THEM HAS HELPED HIM HIS WHOLE LIFE.

HE'S A QUIET BOY.

SO I SEE THAT ALL THE TIME.

YOU'RE SO PROUD OF THEM THAT TEACHING THEY'RE MEANT TO SURPASS YOU, THEY'RE THE BEST WHO OF WE ARE.

>> THE IMPACT ON THE VETERANS AS YOU MENTIONED, IT MUST BE VERY REWARDING.

>> IT'S A WIN-WIN.

TED: YES, IT IS.

WHERE DO WE LEARN MORE ABOUT IMPRINTS OF HONOR?

>> IMPRINTS OF HONOR.ORG.

WE HAVE A VETERAN PAGE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE PROGRAM FROM THE VETERANS' PERSPECTIVE AND HOW THEY CAN SIGN UP TO BE INVOLVED.

WE HAVE A STUDENT PAGE THAT TALKS ABOUT IT FROM THE STUDENT SIDE OR THE EDUCATION SIDE.

HOW TO BRING THE PROGRAM TO YOUR SCHOOL OR PARTICIPATE AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

TED: ALL RIGHT, MICHELLE DIMURO, BARBARA HATCH, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

CONTINUED SUCCESS AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.