Van of Valor

A first-paw account of the mission through the lower 48.

By Dr. Kevin P. Wallace
Van of Valor

NORTH PORT, Fla. – As we continue our mission, we recognize that our most vital work often happens around the kitchen table. While the technical details of our progress are shared in meetings and reports, the heart of our purpose—building a stronger, safer future—is a legacy that begins at home. 

We invite you, the parents and grandparents of our community, to take a “Sunny’s-eye view” of this mission and translate our collective goals into meaningful moments for your little patriots. 

I would never tell anyone how to raise their children. By sharing these stories of teamwork and service, you aren’t just passing on information; you are instilling the resilient family narrative that helps children thrive and feel connected to something bigger than themselves.

The values we champion—bravery, kindness, and standing tall for what is right—are best learned through the examples you set in daily life. Whether it’s a bedtime story about our mission’s latest “win” or a simple conversation about what it means to be a helper, your influence as a role model is the bridge between our current efforts and the future leaders of tomorrow. 

We encourage you to use our updates as a springboard to explore your own family’s history of service and to celebrate the “small acts” of patriotism that happen in your own backyard. 

Sunny’s Big Mission

View from ‘Front Lines!‘

Hello to all my favorite Little Patriots!

It’s your friend Sunny here, and I have some super exciting news to share about our big mission. While the grown-ups are busy with their maps and important meetings, I’ve been keeping a “sunny-side-up” eye on everything happening right here on the ground.

Our mission is all about working together like a giant team to keep our neighborhood safe and happy. Just like when you help a friend on the playground or share your favorite toy, everyone on this mission is doing their part with a big smile and a brave heart! I’ve seen people shaking hands, sharing stories, and standing tall.

I wanted to make sure all the moms, dads, and grandparents had a special story to read to you tonight. Even when things seem a little busy, remember that we are all part of one big, proud family. We are learning how to be brave, how to be kind, and how to stand tall for what is right—just like true patriots!

So, the next time you see the sun shining, think of it as a giant high-five from me to you. Keep being helpers, keep asking great questions, and always remember that even the smallest patriot can make a world of difference!

Do you know what my human parents and I have been doing for the past 280 days? Buckle your seatbelts, because our engine is starting!

Wiggle your ears, because here comes the summer breeze!

We traded our cozy house for a giant, rolling “Van of Valor” that had already traveled as far as a rocket ship! When we first started our engine, the air smelled like fresh-cut grass and orange blossoms. But oh my, our poor van felt a little tired near the highway. I watched from the window as the big trucks zoomed by like giant metal whales.

By the time the flowers were fully in bloom, we gave the van some brand-new “legs” (a rear axle). While the mechanics worked, I sat in the shade of a giant oak tree and watched Mom and Dad talk to our very first hero. He had a smile as wide as the Florida horizon! We spent the next few weeks zig-zagging through the deep green forests of Alabama. I saw moss hanging from trees like long, grey beards and heard the “ribbit-ribbit” of frogs in the marshlands.

Cookie Alert: In Alabama, I got to try a tiny piece of a crunchy pecan, and I caught the most amazing scent of slow-cooked pulled pork drifting from a roadside smoker! We camped under stars that looked like spilled glitter, and I realized that the world is much bigger—and much friendlier—than I ever imagined!

Shake the “dust” off your paws, we’re heading West!

The air turned warm and sweet, smelling like saltwater and ice cream cones. We traveled way up north where the buildings touch the clouds! In the big cities, I saw statues of brave men on horses and flags waving from every porch. But then, in Massachusetts, the van got a rumbly “tummy ache.” It made a sound like a giant clearing its throat!

We had to borrow a “silly rental car” while the van went to the doctor. It was much smaller, and I had to sit closer to the suitcases, but we didn’t let that stop us! We kept exploring the “Pine Tree State” of Maine. The trees there are so tall they tickle the sky, and the air smells like Christmas morning every single day.

Cookie Alert: While in Connecticut, I got a “sniff” of the famous White Clam Apizza—it smelled like garlic and the ocean! Then, in Maine, I watched Mom enjoy a buttery lobster roll while I had my very own whoopie pie doggie treat! In New Hampshire, we climbed mountains that looked like giant sleeping giants covered in green blankets. Even when we had to use another rental car later that summer, Mom and Dad never stopped smiling. They gave every hero we met a big “thank you” hug, and I gave them a “good job” tail wag!

Put on your cozy sweaters, we’re almost home!

September brought a change in the air—it started to smell like crisp apples and dry leaves. But things got a little tricky. Our radiator got too hot and tired, and fixing it cost as many dog cookies as you could fit in a giant bathtub! We had to move slowly, like a turtle wearing sneakers, as we waddled into Wyoming.

Wyoming was magical! I saw bison that looked like giant, fuzzy boulders wandering across the golden plains. The van needed another long nap there, so we spent two whole weeks in a different car while the doctors worked on our “Mobile Studio.” I looked out the window at the “Purple Mountain Majesties” and felt so small but so brave.

Cookie Alert: In California, my nose was working overtime! I got a “hint” of tangy sourdough bread from a bakery in San Francisco, and I even got a little pup patty at a place called In-N-Out! Finally, we picked up our healed van and zoomed toward the big blue ocean. We stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon, which looks like a giant orange-and-red layer cake carved into the earth. The wind whistled through the rocks, telling us secrets of the old West!

And that is how we finished our giant game of follow-the-leader!

The air grew chilly, and the trees turned into skeletons of brown and grey. We reached the last part of our race as the world began to sparkle with holiday lights. We drove through the pretty South, where the red clay dirt matched the sunset. Every town we passed through had a town square with a big tree, and the people wore cozy scarves as they waved at our van.

Cookie Alert: As we zipped back toward Florida, I got to enjoy some juicy orange slices and a “sniff” of a warm key lime pie! After 27,106 miles and 280 days, we finally did it! We collected so many wonderful stories that the van was covered in names of heroes from sea to shining sea. When we finally pulled into our brand-new driveway, the moon was out to welcome us home. We weren’t just a family in a van anymore; we were a family that had seen the heart—and tasted the snacks—of the whole country.

Wow, what an adventure! From broken-down vans to meeting the bravest people in the land, we learned that even when the road gets bumpy, you just have to keep wagging your tail and moving forward. I’m so proud of our team, and I’m so proud of YOU for being such great listeners. Now, close your eyes and dream of big adventures, because tomorrow is a brand-new day to be a hero!

Love and licks,

Sunny