On this episode of HomeFront SitRep, we welcome Stephanie Settles, City Clerk & Treasurer for the City of Paris, Kentucky, for a deeply personal conversation about public service, family, community, veterans, and the legacy we leave behind. Stephanie is a Kentucky Certified Municipal Clerk and has earned the internationally recognized Certified Municipal Clerk designation through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. Her career in municipal government reflects a commitment to professionalism, accountability, and serving the people of her community. But Stephanie's story begins long before City Hall. She spent the first 15 years of her life in Owsley County in Eastern Kentucky before moving to Bourbon County, where she now lives with her husband, Tony Settles. She is the proud mother of two sons: Kenneth, 23, who has special needs, and 12-year-old Arlo. Her experiences as a mother have helped shape her commitment to serving others and creating opportunities where individuals of all abilities can contribute, work, and belong. That commitment can also be seen through her service as a volunteer board member with AccuTran Industries, a nonprofit providing meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, as well as her work with CASA and other nonprofit and community organizations. A Family Legacy of Service Service runs deep in Stephanie's family. Her grandfather served his country as a Staff Sergeant, E-6, in the United States Army during World War II, establishing a family legacy rooted in service, sacrifice, responsibility, and hard work. Stephanie is also the proud sister of her late brother and only sibling, who served in both the National Guard and United States Army Reserve. We will respectfully touch on his service and the influence he had on Stephanie while recognizing that his loss remains a sensitive and deeply personal part of her family's story. And that military connection may be continuing into another generation. Stephanie's 12-year-old son, Arlo, has discovered an interest and talent in sharpshooting—leaving his family wondering whether a future calling to military service might just be somewhere in his DNA. Legacy of Freedom One of the centerpieces of our conversation will be Legacy of Freedom, a special effort in Paris and Bourbon County to recognize veterans and preserve their stories. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Legacy of Freedom gives veterans an opportunity to share the experiences behind their service, sacrifice, resilience, and patriotism. Through the involvement of professional songwriters, those experiences can become something extraordinary: original songs inspired by the veterans who lived them. For HomeFront SitRep, that mission hits close to home. We have always believed that every veteran has a story worth hearing. Those stories are part of our families, our communities, and our nation's history. When we lose the veteran without preserving the story, we lose a piece of that history with them. We'll talk with Stephanie about what Legacy of Freedom means to Kentucky, why recognizing veterans at the community level matters, and why America's 250th anniversary provides an opportunity not simply to celebrate our freedom—but to remember the men and women whose service protected it. We'll also go behind the scenes of municipal government to discover what a City Clerk & Treasurer actually does, the challenges of serving the public, the importance of transparency and accountability, and the lessons Stephanie has learned throughout her career. Ultimately, this isn't simply an episode about someone who works at City Hall. It's the story of an Eastern Kentucky girl, wife, mother, sister, daughter and granddaughter whose life has been influenced by family, disability advocacy, military service, loss, community, and a belief that serving others still matters. From Owsley County to Bourbon County, from her grandfather's World War II service to the veterans being honored through Legacy of Freedom, this is a conversation about the thread connecting generations of Americans: SERVICE. SACRIFICE. COMMUNITY. LEGACY. Because freedom has a history. And every generation has a responsibility to remember the people who helped write it. 🇺🇸 Real People. Real Stories. Real Impact. This is HomeFront SitRep