AWTR Show #850: Waves of Hope

For a moment – think about what life was like during WWII. Your postman has a tradition of blowing a whistle outside of your house if you get a letter from your soldier. You hear the whistle and it’s a letter from a stranger letting you know that your soldier is still alive and is a POW.

Now imagine going through boxes at your mom’s house and stumbling upon hundreds of letters from families of POWs. This is Agnes Joan Negra and Ronald Edward Negra’s story. A story of inspiration, hope, and the kindness of strangers.

101 year old Agnes Joan Negra, is the subject of the Book, “Waves of Hope” now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Agnes, is so excited about this Book, which tells of her adventures during WWII, listening to her shortwave Radio from Nutley, NJ each day to Radio Berlin, to hear names of American POWs announced. She then wrote letters to their family to let them know their loved one was still ALIVE! Many of the POW family letters and postcards written back to her are included in the book, and Agnes’ story is woven throughout the text.

Ronald  Edward Negra, a NJ native, was born on November 9, 1947. He enjoys writing about genealogy and wrote his first book in 2004 titled, “The History of the Verdi Family…Celebrating 100 Years in America.” Ron was inspired to write “Waves of Hope” by his mother Agnes Joan Negra, after learning of her extraordinary role in World War II communicating with the families of American soldiers, as they were captured and became Prisoners of War. His mother always believed it was important for Americans to understand the sacrifices of these men and the emotions they and their families experienced, of fear, anxiety, sadness, and hope.

If you want to keep up with what Ronald is doing, check out his website at ronaldedwardnegra.com or find the book here or here.

Empowerment Patrol Report with Amanda

Today we are showcasing two of our volunteers who are MRE (Motivated and Ready to Empower) recipients.

Chrissy Gibbs, Content Curator

Chrissy married her husband in 2010, and jumped right into her milspouse role. She knew that life would be more adventurous and sometimes more difficult, but it would always be worth it. She had previously received her teaching degrees from Niagara University in Special Education and spent a few years teaching, but once she began having children, she chose to put those talents to work in her own home. Chrissy is a mother to four energetic boys, and one husky pup (also a male), so you could say she’s the queen of the castle! Chrissy and her family are currently living in Fort Leavenworth, but will have another PCS on the horizon.

Scot Shumski, Band of Bloggers

Scot hails from the former Republic of Vermont where his family goes back more than seven generations. Currently, he lives in the Bavarian region of Germany with his wife of more than 15 years and their three children. Previous stops on the thrill seeking rollercoaster ride of life include: Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Fort Lewis, Washington; and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Scot has visited all fifty United States and twenty countries. He is currently working on a set of universally accepted parameters with his son, Hunter, to help travelers determine if they can count a destination as having been visited. Before moving back to the United States, Scot plans on visiting all 27 European Union member nations. Before leaving this world he hopes to visit every nation on Earth. You can find him on both Twitter and Instagram @ScotShumski or on his website where he documents his travels, marathons, national park visits, and thoughts on life.

Paradise for Scot has beaches where you can relax, national parks where you can camp, mountains to climb, marathons to run, foreign languages to learn, new foods to eat, and new and interesting people to meet!

So much thanks goes out to our team members – Chrissy and Scot – for doing their part to empower military families all across the globe.

News 6 with Jolene

UN Implores China and U.S. to Get Along

The head of the United Nations “implored China and the United States to repair their ‘completely dysfunctional’ relationship before problems between the two large and deeply influential countries spill over even further into the rest of the planet,” reported The Associated Press. The UN met this week at its annual event among world leaders to discuss “COVID, climate concerns and contentiousness across the planet.” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told The Associated Press, “We need to re-establish a functional relationship between the two powers.”

DOD Names 56 Locations for Temporary BAH Increase

Fifty-six areas around the United States have been identified by DoD officials as requiring a temporary increase to their Basic Allowance for Housing. Military members impacted can expect to see the increase in their BAH on October 1, according to Military Times. The increase in is to help combat housing prices that have been climbing at steep rates in certain areas across the country. The rate increases are expected to remain in effect through December 2021.

Employers Missing Out on Eligible Candidates

Employers have been struggling to hire during what is being called “the Great Resignation”, the significant increase of people quitting their current job since Spring of 2021. This has been brought on by businesses asking employees to return to offices after working from home. NPR reported, “As pandemic life recedes in the U.S., people are leaving their jobs in search of more money, more flexibility and more happiness,” among other drivers of change.

For more on this week’s top stories, check out the News 6 Mashup.

Special Feature Interview

Next up on our double feature – we get tips about the new school year and finances with First Command Financial Service. Sarah Caballero is a financial coach who just sold her home to move into an RV to start a new adventure.

As we enter back-to-school season, here are a few tips to handle back-to-school expenses. Take stock of what you already have on hand. Also, see if your kid wants to get involved in this process. Next, you can look for sales at different stores. Don’t forget to shop on post where it’s tax-free. And remember that you don’t have to buy everything all at once. Lastly, First Command has offices all over and can meet in-person or online. Simply visit www.firstcommand.com and they will connect you with a local advisor.

Listen in and then connect with First Command on their website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

This episode of Army Wife Talk Radio was brought to you by our AWTR show sponsor, First Command Financial Services, whose mission is to help our nation’s military families build a future worthy of their service. First Command provides ongoing financial coaching that evolves over the course of your military life and career. And, with 170 locations worldwide, you’ll find a First Command office near most major military installations. Visit firstcommand.com today and find a First Command financial coach near you.

Thank You

Thank you for tuning into this week’s episode. Please leave a five-star rating and review on Apple podcasts, then send us a screenshot of your review to info@armywifenetwork.com or DM us on Facebook or Instagram @armywifenetwork to receive a special in-real-life gift as a thank you on behalf of AWN. We appreciate your engagement and support.

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