# VETERANS DAY SPECIAL | THE EARLY BIRD

Free with YouTube's ads, posted by Real America's Voice.

Ed Martin opens the Veterans Day special by thanking America's veterans for their service and sacrifice.

Afghanistan War veteran and Veteran Action founder Mark Lucas joins Ed to discuss Democratic criticism of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth amid ongoing impeachment efforts and questions over military leadership. Lucas addresses Hegseth's focus on restoring a warrior ethos, recent Pentagon policy shifts, and the real-world impact on America's service members.

Real America's Voice national political correspondent Neil McCabe joins for a special Veterans Day conversation. An Iraq War veteran and Bronze Star recipient who served as a combat historian, McCabe reflects on his military service, the sacrifices made by American troops, and what Veterans Day means to those who have served.

Former Navy SEAL Command Master Chief Bill Brown discusses the challenges veterans face after leaving military service. Brown shares how he helps veterans and others apply the resilience, discipline, and sense of purpose developed during their careers to overcome life's obstacles through community and purpose.

Ed welcomes his brother, retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel James Martin, for a personal Veterans Day conversation about service and sacrifice. Martin reflects on his five overseas deployments, including three to Iraq and two to Afghanistan, and his continued commitment to serving others as a firefighter, husband, and father.

Ed examines the history of Veterans Day, from the November 11, 1918, Armistice ending World War I to the 1954 expansion of the holiday to honor all American veterans. He reflects on the nation's weariness with endless wars while reminding viewers never to forget the courage, commitment, and sacrifice of those who volunteer to serve.

Ed closes the Veterans Day special with a simple request: display the American flag. Whether outside the home, on a flagpole, or in an everyday setting, show the Stars and Stripes as a visible expression of gratitude and…

- What it is: Recorded live
- Length: 1 h
- Shown live: Wed 11 Nov 2026, 09:59 UTC
- Rights holder: [Home - Real America's Voice News](https://americasvoice.news/) (its site links the channel: https://americasvoice.news/)
- Channel: [Real America's Voice](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMGZ8pfQHgZ6Yj0-92PMENg)
- Plays: Wherever YouTube plays: its rights holder sets no limit
- Who can watch here: Adult profiles and older (no rating is recorded on YouTube, so adults only)
- Made for kids: No, as YouTube designates it
- On YouTube: [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMxdAF6aZI4)

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