Vermont Edition

Vermont veterans share stories of deployment, return & transition to civilian life

By Mikaela Lefrak,

Published November 10, 2022 at 3:49 PM EST

Vermont soldiers wearing camouflage, walking dogs, and carrying heavy rucksacks walk down a paved sidewalk alongside a busy road, where cars bedecked with the iconic green Vermont license plates are driving. — Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers participate in the Vermont Remembers 11k Ruck in Colchester in September. This hour, we're talking to Vermont veterans and their military service and civilian life.

This hour, Vermont Edition hears from multiple Vermont veterans as they share stories of military service, deployment and return. They'll also discuss support groups, book clubs and friendships that have helped them readjust to civilian life and connect to their communities.

Our guests are:

Zac Conaway, Army combat veteran from Groton who's been involved in veterans support efforts
Jon Turner, Marine Corps veteran and board member of Vermont Vets Town Hall
Dan Barkhuff, Navy SEAL veteran, founder and board president of Veterans for Responsible Leadership and doctor of emergency medicine at UVM Medical Center
Heather Lafont, Veteran Outreach Specialist with the Vermont National Guard Family Programs based at the guard armory in Newport

Broadcast live on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at noon.

Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or tweet us @vermontedition.

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Mikaela Lefrak

Mikaela Lefrak joined Vermont Public in 2021 as co-host and senior producer of Vermont Edition. Her stories have aired nationally on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Marketplace, The World and Here & Now. A seasoned local reporter, Mikaela has won two regional Edward R. Murrow awards and a Public Media Journalists Association award for her work.

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Matthew F Smith

Originally from Delaware, Matt moved to Alaska in 2010 for his first job in radio. He spent five years working as a radio and television reporter, radio producer, talk show host, and news director. His reporting received awards from the Alaska Press Club and the Alaska Broadcasters Association. Relocating to southwest Florida, he was a producer for television news and NPR member station WGCU for their daily radio show, Gulf Coast Live. He joined Vermont Public in October 2017 as producer of Vermont Edition.

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Tedra Meyer

Tedra joined Vermont Public as a producer for Vermont Edition in January 2022. Before moving to Vermont, she was a journalist in New York City for 20 years. She has a master’s degree in journalism from New York University.

See stories by Tedra Meyer