News – Veteran Valor Coffee

Part 3: The Flag Folding Ceremony — And Who Receives the Flag

September 19, 2026

Hey there, it’s Kevin again. If you’ve ever been to a military funeral or a veteran’s graveside service, you’ve seen it. After Taps plays, the honor guard carefully lifts the... Read more...

25 Years Later

September 11, 2026

Twenty-five years ago today, I sat in Mrs. Binder’s second-grade classroom. I was eight. The television said “New York” and “attacked.” It sounded like something from a video game. I... Read more...

Part 2: Where the “Backwards” Flag Tradition Actually Started

September 1, 2026

Part 2: Where the “Backwards” Flag Tradition Actually Started Hey there, it’s Kevin again. In Part 1 we talked about why the American flag on the right shoulder looks reversed... Read more...

Part 1: Why the “Backwards” Flag Isn’t Backwards at All

August 15, 2026

Part 1: Why the “Backwards” Flag Isn’t Backwards at All Hey there, it’s Kevin again. Today I want to talk about something that still bugs a lot of us veterans... Read more...

Respecting the Flag: An 8-Part Series on American Flag Traditions

August 15, 2026

Respecting the Flag: An 8-Part Series on American Flag Traditions By Kevin Laughrin • Medically Retired LSSN, VFA-103 “The Jolly Rogers” • August 2026 The reverse-oriented American flag patch worn... Read more...

Tales of Our Great Nation

July 23, 2026

An introduction from the deckplates I’m Kevin Laughrin, a medically retired Logistics Specialist Seaman from VFA-103, the Jolly Rogers. As America marks its 250th anniversary, it feels right to begin... Read more...

Army vs. Navy — Who’s Top Dog? Every Branch Gets a Seat at the Table!

July 21, 2026

Kevin and I have a running bet. Army vs. Navy. I’m Team Army all the way. Always have been. (Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment still runs through... Read more...