Following the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier across the US

This is First Lady Melania Trump at Arlington National Cemetery. We are waiting for the the ceremony to get underway. You see the Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. President Trump is expected at this ceremony, and he's expected to speak shortly. If you were with us about 20 minutes ago or so, we watched live as President Trump laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Certainly a somber and serious ceremony that often, you know, that happens there. And that is something that you can see, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. But there's also a traveling version that goes across the country. And joining us live now, who had the chance to actually catch up with this, actually just recently, Jason Linkus. With the Postcards Across America travel podcast on YouTube. Jason, we appreciate you joining us here on the Fox Orlando Live today. Always a pleasure to talk to you, Garrett, and especially today on Veterans Day. It's great to get some awareness here for the traveling tomb of the unknown soldier. Yeah, talk with us. I know you caught up with it outside Pittsburgh, if I'm understanding correctly. Just kind of talk us through what you saw, what you learned when you saw that. Well, there was a representative, Bill King, who's the chairman of the tomb. He's from Rome, Georgia, from the Exchange Club of Rome, Georgia. And he's traveled to over 38 states, over 10 years of doing this. And he allows people to see a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that is pretty much the same. It's a slightly smaller version, but it's what you would see at Arlington. And one of the really nice things that Bill does is Bill gives a ton of information on Not just... Who we are honoring, but also when you take a look at what goes into being a guard, the procedures, the processes, one of the things that stood out to me was he said that the person who is guarding the tomb. They take 21 steps in 21 seconds, then they hold for 21 seconds, and that's a way for them to give a 21-gun salute to that unknown soldier. And I thought that was extremely powerful, and Bill is a former major. Thank you. You see the passion, not just with Bill, but the other representatives that are there helping Bill out. If you don't feel patriotic seeing this and talking to Bill. I mean, it's one of, it's one of the best things I ever had a chance to do. And I was north of Pittsburgh in Zelienople, Pennsylvania, a great little town about probably 45 minutes north of Pittsburgh. And to see the community embrace this was absolutely phenomenal. Yeah. And learning some of that, um, you know, kind of symbolism and, and, and things that the, the, the care that goes into something like this, you know, really kind of makes you Makes you appreciate so much more, I think. Are you what you see? A hundred percent, and one of the stories, and we have it on our episode, that Bill told us was the story of how they eventually identified a Vietnam soldier that was shot down. His name was Michael Blasi. And he goes, and Bill talks in detail just how much went into identifying him. And of course, a lot of it now was with DNA, but what they go through to try to identify as many soldiers as possible. And Michael Blasi was a soldier that was shot down in 1972. And this was well over 30 years of going through processes and steps to identify him. And it was great to hear. And for his family, for the Michael Blasi family to get that closure, I'm sure means a ton to them. But the patriotic. Community that came around, that came about during 4th of July, July weekend in Zelienople was tremendous. It's one of the best experiences I've had filming postcards across America. It's one of those things, too, that I would imagine. If anyone has been to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and I have at Arlington National Cemetery, it is certainly hallowed ground. You can feel it when you approach it, when you're there. By the looks of it, they treat that traveling tomb with the same respect and the same honor as the real thing. That's a perfect way to put it, Garrett. They really treat it just like you were in Washington, and it's their chance to bring Washington to you. I mean, we all know today the cost of travel, getting up there is not easy today. And this was a chance for people in Zelienople, Pennsylvania. And for the travels that Bill has had throughout the years, it's allowed them to bring Washington. To local communities and to see the local communities embrace it with the passion that Bill has brought, that even makes it that much more special. And you talk about your podcast, Jason Postcards Across America, and I know we kind of caught you. You are in what, South Dakota? You're heading to Mount Rushmore today and going to be experiencing some of the Veterans Day events there. Talk to us about that. Yeah, I'm in Mount Rushmore. My travels take me all around the US and Canada, but I happen to be in the Dakotas. And I said, you know what, it's Memorial, it's Veterans Day. I'm gonna make my way down to Mount Rushmore. So I'm staying in Spearfish, South Dakota right now. I have about an hour drive down there, but I wanna record Mount Rushmore for two reasons. One, because it's Veterans Day, and two, the 250th anniversary of our country. Mount Rushmore was one of the first places I ever went to where I think my jaw dropped and I was there with my wife at the time and I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. I absolutely loved it and I said if I had a chance to go back, I was going to do it. And Garrett, you caught me this morning and said, hey, do you mind doing a quick spot? And I love doing it and I love coming on here and I can't wait to record Mount Rushmore today and get that on the postcards across America. Yeah. And Jason, why does that mean so much to you to kind of share some of these stories across America and also highlight some of these Veterans Day ceremonies? Why does that mean so much to you? Well, the channel started because we had a chance to show people, not the major cities, we wanted to show the hidden gems on this country. I was in Chugwater, Wyoming. I was in LaGrange, Kentucky These are spots that people never get a chance to see. And what we wanted to do is not only show you and these towns, but we wanted to show you the drive-in. you We wanted to get you reconnected with car travel again, so you see what Kentucky looks like. so You see what southeastern Wyoming looks like. But in terms of Veterans Day, much. we wanted to show people the different celebrations out there that are out there honoring the people that did not come home. And that's. We wanted to make sure not only for the people that are home, but the people that didn't, we wanted to make sure that we gave them their due and make sure that we showed them the respect that they deserve. All right. Jason Link is with Postcards Across America on YouTube. Thanks so much for joining us here on Fox Orlando Live today and talking with us about some of what you saw, some of what you've learned. And we look forward to seeing your updates there in Mount Rushmore from what you experienced this afternoon. We really appreciate it. Thanks for your time, Garrett.