Few things get radio broadcasters going as much as Memorial Day. This year, there will be no shortage of related programming available on networks or syndication. No station can tell listeners that they aren’t running any Memorial Day programming because they couldn’t find any.
Fisher House, a charity dedicated to wounded vets and their families, has produced “A Hero’s Best Medicine.” The three-hour show features vignettes about critically wounded veterans and their families’ stay at Fisher House locations. It is aiming the program at news/talk stations.
The show is completely free and has been picked up for airing by: WMAL(AM/FM), Washington; WCCO(AM), Minneapolis; WBAP(AM) and KLIF(AM), Dallas-Fort Worth; KOA(AM) and KHOW(AM), Denver; WSB(AM), Atlanta; WJAS(AM), Pittsburgh; KTAR(FM), Phoenix; WISN(AM), Milwaukee; WBT(AM), Charlotte, N.C.; WHAS(AM), Louisville, Ky.; KSTE(AM), Sacramento, Calif.; KQTH(FM), Tucson, Ariz.; WOWO(AM/FM), Fort Wayne, Ind.; WAKR(AM), Akron, Ohio; WHBL(AM), Sheboygan, Wis.; and KPEL(FM), Lafayette, La.
Program syndicator Westwood One has at least three available, hosted by Dierks Bentley, Nick Jonas and The Offspring.
Bentley will be hosting a four-hour country music special, “Memorial Day Special.” Guests include Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban. The special will feature material about summer and tributes to military personnel.
Last year’s winner of Rush Limbaugh’s Salute to Veterans Mahindra tractor Giveaway Lt. Colonel Mike Petzinger sits in his prize. Nick Jonas and The Offspring will be hosting Memorial Day summer music and fun specials, “Summer Jam” and “Coming for You,” respectively.
All three are airable anytime over the three-day weekend.
Premiere Networks will be syndicating “Reflections From a Grateful Nation,” from TheBlaze Radio Network. It will feature editors and writers from TheBlaze along with appearances by Gary Sinise, Pat Sajak and others, including members of the military. The special is airable May 23–25.
On Memorial Day, “The Rush Limbaugh Show” will be highlighting its second annual Salute to Veterans. Like last year, Limbaugh is working with utility tractor maker Mahindra USA to give away a light tractor to a vet (see picture).
And speaking of veterans, United Stations Radio Networks has announced that its “Serving Your Country” veteran-oriented program has been picked up by the American Forces Network’s country format channel. The program is a hybrid of country music and veterans news, affairs and information, hosted by WUSN(FM)’s Ray Stevens.
