Van of Valor

Dr. Kevin Wallace
Van of Valor

PUEBLO, Colo. – For weeks, the mission had a different rhythm. We conquered the soaring peaks of Colorado and the painted deserts of Utah in a rental car. 

We carried the message through the neon blaze of Nevada, the deep canyons of Arizona, and the high deserts of New Mexico. 

We honored our heroes at the U.S. border in El Paso, at the storied grounds of Fort Bliss, and under the vast skies of Holloman Air Force Base.

We documented 30-some more stories, and sadly, today we added another 37 fallen to the Van, which brings me to my point.

All this time, it all felt like we were traveling without our heart.

The Van of Valor was more than just a vehicle; it was a rolling testament, a four-wheeled piece of the mission itself. And it was missing.

But it wasn’t lost. 

It was safe. 

Tucked away in the quiet, sun-dappled back yard of a 91-year-old veteran, an avid follower of our journey on Facebook, who asked only to remain in the background. 

A silent guardian, he kept watch over the van as we traversed the West, a living link to the very community we sought to serve. 

Our gratitude to him is a deep and permanent thing, a cornerstone of this entire endeavor.

Now, the heart is back where it belongs.

The Van of Valor sits in the driveway, not as a relic, but as a veteran ready for one last, honorable patrol. 

It carries the scars of its service — a new “limp” in its gait, a governor insisting we take it slow at 55 mph. It hasn’t another mile to give beyond this. 

And so, tomorrow we will resume the mission within its familiar, hallowed walls. 

We will revisit the sprawling landscapes of Texas, the plains of Oklahoma, the forests of Arkansas, and the bayous of Louisiana. We will interview heroes and families of the fallen in each, with a short break in New Orleans so that Kevin, Lauren and Sunny may enjoy a short Thanksgiving break. 

We will carry on through Mississippi and conduct our final interviews in Florida, all from the cockpit of our trusted van.

On December 18th, in North Port, Florida, the Van of Valor will finally, and deservedly, retire. Its engine will fall silent, its odometer frozen, a hero’s journey complete.

But the mission is not over. 

It merely changes form. 

Soon after, the baton will be passed, and we will resume the road in my truck, carrying the spirit of the Van of Valor forward on a new set of wheels.

Its legacy, and our promise, continues. 

Follow our journey at www.HelpVoV.com.