#192: SSG Alex Viola Memorial Car Show - Gold Star Father Frank Viola

#192: SSG Alex Viola Memorial Car Show - Gold Star Father Frank Viola

From The Jedburgh Podcast by Fran Racioppi

March 31, 2026 · 24 min · Episode 192

About this episode

Frank Viola shares the story behind the SSG Alex Viola Memorial Car Show and its impact on the community.

Cars aren’t just a mode of transportation. They’re a passion. An image. A lifestyle. For many families, they are the bond that brings together father and son. For Frank Viola, cars are the legacy of his son, Green Beret SSG Alex Viola.   Alex graduated as a Green Beret in 2011 and then went on to get his Combat Dive Certification. In September 2013, his team deployed to Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom. On November 17, 2013 Alex lost his life to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while on dismounted patrol. After the loss of their son, Frank and his family faced the unimaginable challenge of how to move forward. The answer came from something Alex loved deeply: cars. Alex was a true car guy, and restoring vehicles with his dad was one of the ways they spent time together. What began as a simple idea to honor Alex’s memory turned into the SSG Alex Viola Memorial Car Show . The first event was held in freezing weather with modest expectations, but the community showed up, raising twenty thousand dollars that first year alone. Today the event has grown into something far greater than anyone imagined. Nearly four hundred cars fill the lot each year, and…

People in this episode

Host: Fran Racioppi

Guest: Frank Viola

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Green Beret Foundation

Books & works: Operation Enduring Freedom

Places: Afghanistan

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