Story Behind the Stone

"War does something to you...it affects you for the rest of your life."

This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with New York Times bestselling author and veteran Stephen Harding. Stephen shares how a year in military hospitals shaped his lifelong commitment to telling the stories of those who served and those who never came home.

His work explores the human cost of war, the complexities of remembrance, and the quiet heroism often lost to history.

In this episode:
- Learn how FBI agents in Army uniforms hunted American traitors in WWII
- Discover the story of a German officer who defied the SS and died defending French prisoners alongside American troops
- Hear why military cemeteries carry a different kind of weight and what they reveal about national memory

"We want the public sentiment to turn away from war and towards reconciliation."

This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Professor Anoma Pieris and Arthur Tsakonas from the University of Melbourne about the Yokohama War Cemetery and the exhibition they co-curated at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.

Eucalypts of Hodogaya is more than an architectural story. It’s a reflection on memory, diplomacy, and the quiet power of collaboration. Anoma and Arthur share how Australian and Japanese architects worked together in the 1940s to build a cemetery that honors the dead and invites the living to reflect.

In this episode:
- Learn how a Japanese garden design shaped a Commonwealth cemetery
- Hear the story of a POW who taught architecture in a prison camp
- Discover why reconciliation is central to the exhibition’s message

“They're ordinary people who in a moment of time on the battlefield, courage met circumstance, and they did something extraordinary.”

This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Mike Caldwell and Kevin Basik of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation. Together, they’re building a museum, a monument, and a movement to help people reconnect with the values that hold a nation together.

Mike shares how the museum’s design reflects the weight and meaning of the medal, while Kevin introduces the Griffin Institute, a leadership hub helping people face life’s battles with courage, character, and clarity.

In this episode:

- Hear how the Griffin Institute is helping leaders define their creed
- Find out why Arlington, Texas was chosen as the home for the museum
- Discover how Medal of Honor stories are being used in classrooms and corporate boardrooms

"I didn’t go looking for it. It found me."

This week we speak with Cyndi Benavides, Army veteran and founder of the nonprofit Mallory Cemetery, a historic cemetery tucked into the heart of Franklin, Tennessee.

In this episode, Cyndi shares how a quiet walk in 2020 turned into a mission of preservation, storytelling, and connection.

In this episode:

- Learn how one veteran became the voice for a forgotten cemetery
- Hear about the Revolutionary War patriot, John Mallory, buried on site
- Find out how Cyndi rallied the community behind the cemetery's restoration following a devastating hurricane

"Just because they hang up the uniform doesn’t mean they stop serving."

This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Steve Topham of Wounded Warriors Canada about the healing power of remembrance, the importance of community, and the transformative experience of the Battlefield Bike Ride.

From Vimy Ridge to the Scheldt Estuary, Steve shares how this annual ride helps veterans, first responders, and families reconnect with history, with each other, and with themselves.
 In this episode:

- Learn how the Battlefield Bike Ride became a gateway to healing
- Hear stories of veterans rediscovering their family history on the ride
- Discover why trauma is trauma, and why no one should struggle alone
 Learn more: woundedwarriors.ca and bbrseries.ca

“We had a nominee called Bryan Phillips, unbelievable lad. Double amputee. He was in the Irish Guards, lost his legs in Afghanistan. And when I saw his name was called out and he stood up ... I turned to my wife and I said, that's why I've done this.”

This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Jason Gillard, veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of Veteran Awards Ireland.

Jason’s mission is nothing short of transformative: giving veterans permission to step out of the shadows, celebrate their service, and reconnect with community and business.

In this episode:

- How the Awards are rewriting the narrative for veterans in Northern Ireland and expanding to the Republic of Ireland in 2027

- The life-changing power of recognition

- Learn about Connect Through Service Ltd and the power of trust in veteran employment

Follow: Veteran Awards Ireland on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X

"I didn’t understand the stakes until I saw what these men had done and how they continue to serve."

This week we speak with John Shertzer, Executive Director of the Medal of Honor Foundation, about the sacred mission of preserving valor, inspiring citizenship, and connecting generations through the legacy of America’s highest military honor.

From classroom programs to national museums, John shares how the Foundation is amplifying the stories of Medal of Honor recipients and helping young people rediscover courage, service, and civic pride.

In this episode:

- Learn how the Foundation is reaching 20,000+ teachers and transforming classroom culture

- Hear the story behind the real-life Medal of Honor ceremony used in Forrest Gump

- Discover how the Citizen Honors Awards spotlight everyday acts of heroism

"Commemoration is another kind of service. It is about remembering those who came before and inspiring those who come next."

This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Jay Singh-Sohal, active reservist, veteran, Chairman of the World War I Sikh Memorial,  Trustee of The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation, about representation, remembrance, and the power of storytelling.

From Birmingham to Burma, Jay shares how his personal journey led to a global mission honouring Sikh and Commonwealth contributions, challenging historical gaps, and helping future generations connect with service and sacrifice.

 In this episode:

• Learn how the WWI Sikh Memorial in England is reshaping remembrance
• Hear about the African Labour Corps Memorial and the movement to correct non-commemoration
• Discover why diversity in service brings strength, insight, and innovation

Explore the memorial and Jay’s work: [Search “WWI Sikh Memorial” or “Jay Singh-Sohal”] 
Listen on Apple, Spotify, and Wreaths Across America Radio at the links below.

“We’re carrying that torch of remembrance - that baton we’re passing over for future generations.”

This week on Story Behind the Stone, we sit down with Ben Mayne, battlefield tour guide and UK Director of Liberation Route Europe, to talk about remembrance, reconnection, and the power of walking in the footsteps of history.

From Normandy to the Netherlands, Ben shares how Liberation Route Europe is building a network of trails, stories, and sites that help families, veterans, and future generations connect with the past in deeply personal ways.
 In this episode:

• Hear how a battlefield tour reunited a WWII veteran with the family of his fallen comrade
• Learn about the Canadian Trail, a 1,000+ km route tracing Canada’s WWII journey through Europe
• Explore how technology is reshaping remembrance for a new generation

 Learn more about Liberation Route Europe: www.liberationroute.com

This week on the podcast we go deep into history (literally and figuratively) with Gail Francis-Tiron and Pete Jackson M.B.E. , two passionate stewards of history, preserving Gibraltar’s World War II legacy at The Tunnels Gibraltar's WWII Experience, which preserves miles and miles of tunnels carved into the Rock.

Join us as we explore:

🌄 The strategic role Gibraltar played in WWII

🚢 Discover the emotional stories of wartime evacuation and return

🕵 Learn how Ian Fleming’s time in Gibraltar inspired James Bond

🍁 Hear about the Canadian engineers who helped carve the rock