#34: Supporting Our Veterans: Born Primitive's Mission and Personal Stories of Service

Listen to Born Primitive's remarkable initiative, where they pledge 100% of their online profits to alleviate $5 million in veteran's medical debt. As someone with firsthand experience in the Navy and Government service, I share a personal story that highlight the significance of this cause. This episode is a powerful reminder of the realities our veterans face, and how community support can make a monumental difference.

With $2.5 million already raised we showcase the collective power of giving back. This conversation also sheds light on why supporting family-owned businesses like Born Primitive resonates deeply with the values of community and integrity. As I recount these stories, it becomes clear why initiatives like this are not just about appreciation but actionable support for those who have served. Don't miss this heartfelt discussion, offering insights into the personal journey that connects us all to this meaningful cause.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Good morning. Today is Saturday, november 9th. Veterans Day is right around the corner. It's Monday, the 11th, and I wanted to share this with you today. This Veterans Day weekend all weekends started yesterday. Born Primitive is making the largest impact on veteran community and company history. All right, starting yesterday, the 8th, through November 11th Monday Veterans Day they're pledging 100% of all online profits, putting it towards paying off $5 million in veterans' medical debt.

Speaker 1: 0:39

I think about that for a minute. All right, 20 years in the global war on terror, and I think the misconception among a lot of civilians is well, your military, I don't know. I don't want to get all. This is one man's opinion. I'm not speaking for anyone else, but what I've seen, what I've lived through in basically two careers in the service of my country, first in the Navy, before, during and after the, the first Gulf war, before probably most of you were born, and then again immediately after nine, 11 and for 12 years uh, out of the 20 and the global war on terror. All right, what I've seen is an air of appreciation and you know, thank you. But it kind of goes like this If you make it just, you know the bullet items right, thank you for your service. Well, if you're a veteran, your military expenses are covered, and thank you for your service. Now I move on and complain about something else. All right, this is legitimate. Okay, military members, you know those medical bills still add up and they can be staggering, they can be crippling. Now, 100% of all online profits are going towards a $5 million veteran medical expenses as of yesterday. I received another update last night where 2.5 million have already been put towards that. So halfway to our goal on the first day of this initiative.

Speaker 1: 2:24

So you know, if you don't shop Born Primitive, you ought to check them out. Probably one of, if not the finest, provider of workout apparel training shoes, range gear. I mean, you name it, they make it, and they make it very well. All right, and I don't. Never in the 20 years CrossFit Pittsburgh has been in business, never once have we been cheerleaders who jump on the bandwagon for everything that comes down the road. All right, there's a lot of stuff that we get hit with. We'll try this. Here's a sample. Try that, and you know, in all good conscience, I'll try it if I don't use it, if I don't like it, I'll try it. If I don't use it, if I don't like it, I won't talk badly about it, but I won't promote it either. All right, from the first born primitive item I ever tried, loved it from the start and it only keeps getting better. All right, they keep getting better Family-owned business and it's probably a large part of why I like it as well and probably a large part of why I like it as well, you know, reminds me a little bit of my wife and I starting CrossFit Pittsburgh, literally in our home, between deployments, you know, back in 2004 when we affiliated, and 2006 when we opened our first, you know, brick and mortar location, excuse me.

Speaker 1: 3:43

And mortar location, excuse me, which, again, I owe my wonderful wife an apology because I literally leased a building, equipped it, built it out, got on a plane and went back to Baghdad for another deployment. So, yeah, we started an affiliate and I dropped it on her and went back to work, her and went back to work. But anyway, so as of this weekend, right, check it out. Born primitivecom, fantastic line of apparel for men and women, and you won't be disappointed, got my word on that. Check it out, Because you know the one thing I will share with you on a personal note, is this not just that I love the brand and I love the quality of the products, but October of 2003, three of my team well, actually, four of my teammates were ambushed by a filthy group of cowards in the Gaza Strip and three out of four were killed and there was one survivor.

Speaker 1: 4:42

Right now I will give the state department credit for one thing they were able to well, they they didn't really do. We were able to recover our, our loan survivor. We were able to recover oscar. We were able to bring him back into green line israel, get him on a medical helicopter and get him to a hospital in Beersheba. Israel started his initial recovery there and then state did fly him to Germany I believe it was Ramstein and then from there, got him back stateside and began his recovery process. So all through that process, I can tell you, no one waves a magic wand and makes all expenses go away. So they do add up. They can be staggering. And when you, when you, suffer injury in the service of your country, I think the least we can do as a country is to stand behind you.

Speaker 1: 5:45

Born Primitive is doing it. We want to help. So check it out, bornprimitivecom. Shop the cause. All right. Shop the cause. You do something great for someone else and you get some awesome apparel for yourself, so it's a win-win. Buy something for a friend and you, so then it's a win-win-win, all right. All right, veterans Day Monday Tell you what. Let's do this Check out the site, buy something. Then don't tell me happy Veterans Day on Monday, all right, that would be a fair trade. All right, enjoy the weekend. Okay, at least here in Pittsburgh, PA, it's supposed to be some good weather. So get outside, do something positive. All right, support the cause. Born primitive. Thank you.