>> unfortunately, that is all the time we have left this evening. happy thanksgiving and we thank you for making this show possible. set your dvr so you'd never mis an episode of hannity. stay tuned, laura ingraham and "the ingraham angle" are coming up next. have a happy thanksgiving. a special edition of "the ingraham angle" from watching temper tonight we wanted to ste away from politics and bring yo the greatness of america. from places you maybe haven't heard of, it is all part of my fox nation series it jump straight we will take you to philadelphia where i talked to local artist has made a big tim and i will talk to his family about his journey from unexplained rage to undiscovere artistic juniors. and then it's off to new orlean where i uncovered the history o

mardi gras and maybe we will se some bead throwing. would be good tonight in wyomin where i had the privilege of touring the incredible national national museum of military vehicles. ♪ it's not what you might expect , nestled along the. the largest of military vehicle and the world freight found it almost entirely successful business ambience arts, the museum tells the story of the courage, ingenuity and that manufacturing prowess that propelled america since the revolutionary war. we will show you these displays disclose listing the weapons that we're indispensable to america's survival. he is going to be our guide in along the way, we will meet up with a few surprise guests.

♪ >> dan, it is great to see you again. i was able to come with my kids this summer and i was able to stop in at this museum and i told you i was going to come back for it. >> wonderful to have you. thank you for coming brachii thought it was important for th nation to see what you and all your wonderful staff have done here at this museum. let's start at the beginning. how on earth did you pull this off? take it this was inspired by my wife and me wanting to celebrat a couple of our favorite values the value that veterans have valued which is freedom. for started just as a simple purchase, i wanted to restore a sherman tank and drive it in th fourth of july parade periods i didn't have any expectation to buy more vehicles brachii how many our in there? >> 488. they are not all in the museum right now, but it's 488 almost

entirely u.s. military vehicles pricking at the cost of doing something like this is prohibitive most people would say. you were amazingly successful i business at st. jude medical an all the other endeavors, a lawyer, came from buffalo, new york, late and interesting life but just give us a ballpark of how much it costs to build disparate. >> we have invested $100 millio of our own money to make all this happen. that tells you something about our commitment and passion and how valuable it is to honor and remember our veterans as well a to honor and educate the next generations on the history of american freedom. >> one reason our history is so important to us is the way that it can inform our decisions tha we are making today. a big lesson learned from world war ii is we have lots of

disadvantages we weren't ready to enter into world war ii. the reason we won as quickly as we did without losing more american lives is because of th domination of american manufacturing. >> they had superior aircraft. they manufactured 300,000 aircraft during world war ii. they ran out of aircraft carriers we manufacture. when world war ii broke out, we had about 400,000 americans in uniform. we put them in uniform and worl war ii, we had to manufacture the uniforms, boots, gear, the training facilities, the transportation, we manufactured for the allies that we supplied under our land lease program, w absolutely crushed germany and imperial japan because of our overwhelming superiority in manufacturing. that difference in manufacturin

made in world war ii, we no longer have that manufacturing capability china does, it is a big national security issue for the united states and the american public is generally sleep. >> they are completely obliviou to the much of what we would need in any future conflict wit china would be made in china, but it's cute we are creating awareness of that part this isn't just a question of american jobs this is a questio of america's survival. >> freedom. >> i know one of the most movin parts of this museum is to see their reaction of veterans from all of our various conflicts once they walk through these beautiful displays. how important is that? >> it is the most important thing about the museum, the

history of the american freedom is important as well, but this tribute that is honoring and remembering this validating the veterans and what they did was huge and deserve something like this museum to pass their stories along. that is a big part of what the is about eight. >> tributes to veterans mark every inch of this museum. dan introduced me to one marine corvette, a man named scott to instrumental in helping get thi entire operation off the ground. >> thank you for your service i the marine corps, why does this matter? >> as of that, it is great to see people who are willing to get back and on of the service and sacrifice of other veterans. i think most importantly, especially somebody with little kids, it's about educating them on the history of america

especially america freedom and making sure we carry that forward with the younger generation. >> given what you've seen in a military and the civilian capacity committee again people understand what it takes? >> it really requires our younger generation to become informed on our history and making sure that it is being taught at home and in our schools. >> is a being taught in our schools from what you can gather ? >> not from what i can gather. >> how did they take on the rol of educator and child rearward in all of this? >> they have an opportunity to come here it's a great place to learn about our history startin at world war ii all the way through vietnam. you could spend days, actually weeks getting lost here. the museum is home to some remarkable one-of-a-kind artifacts. like the guns that fired the first shots at the battle of bunker hill during the revolutionary war.

>> had to do snack this weapon? >> witts was the personal firearm of he brought his personal weapon from home to confront the tyranny of the british at the battle of bunker hill road so the symbolism of this musket is what makes it so phenomenal. first shots, first battle, firs shots of the american army. three days later, the battle of bunker hill took place and this is in the hands of john simpson who fired that first shot. the reason we have a second amendment and it symbolizes the role of the citizen soldier in creating and sustaining their freedom of the united states. each person has a role and indeed a duty to step up in the way he or she can. >> it's a wonderful example for all of us to follow. to get this isn't your grandfathers museum, this is an experience it's more than just looking at something and a glas

case. he has created an environment that puts visitors into the action. >> dan, this is a realistic feeling. the lights in the shot shadows of the helicopters. this is the vietnam experience, what are we looking at here? >> here we are looking at the helicopter that was deployed to vietnam with the first calvary division and the early times of the years. it is the most immersive meaningful parts of the museum. they sacrificed a tremendous amount, accomplishing all of those military missions, we suffered about casualties. what we want to do in this

museum is we want to make sure that forever, americans are reminded of the valor, the stories come at the sacrifice, of the 3.4 million americans wh served in vietnam and came back and we're treated poorly. we had so many americans who came back from vietnam who as they came through the san francisco or denver airport wer spit on, they were called baby killers, they had given up a year of their lives, traumatic circumstances so we want to do our part to make it right. >> i talk with a world war ii hero in front of a higgins boat just like the one that transported him into the battle of you edema in 1945 right this incredible story is one you don't want to miss. stay with us.

>> i think i learned about more u.s. history and the thing i learned in an entire year of high school. including my conversation with former marine kenneth brown. he is one of the few remaining world war ii veterans who fough in the battle of iwo jima. we spoke next to an higgins boat , the same landing craft that took him into battle.

>> it is so incredible, to meet you, to have you here. you wrote on a higgins into iwo jima tell us about that experience. ticket there were 46 of us coming in. i was near the ramp to get up because i was escorting a high-ranking officer on the boa and he was of full commander an the navy. we were some of the first to go off the boat. >> still in the back flap falls don't, you are off. >> we were sending ourselves over. he said no, his orders were for

us to stop with not stop withou occasion. >> is men struggling. >> we how old were you? >> i was 20. >> i was one of the older ones for the average age of the men was 19 years of age. so just kids out of high school. >> within 6,000 marines died on iwo jima before americans were able to raise the flag over mounts are a bocce, it was one of the bloodiest battles in u.s marine corps history. >> how afraid with you? >> afraid? we had been so conditioned in our training, that we weren't allowed to be afraid. we just did what we were supposed to do. >> is there a day that goes by where you don't think of the me who were left behind?

i saw a couple of things and th war that i think if people coul have been with me and tenets, i don't think we'd have any wars. >> hearing a man almost a century old put the cost of war in such a stark terms, we see how important it is too. yours is an and boomer unbelievable america story. the history, warfare in the price of freedom again paretsky everyone has a role to play in other words. in america today, and this incredible museum, how key is i for folks who didn't serve to see this and understand this?

>> i think it is tremendously important. to understand the history of what happened. i think a lot of people don't realize we could have lost or. we could have lost it if things had just turned a little different in different places very. >> great honor to meet you, sir. >> it is an honor to meet you, laura. i feel privileged to be here in just to great to have had this opportunity here together. >> we made it, you made it off that boat, 98 years young, incredible. thank you, sir. securing america's freedom sinc our founding required enormous personal sacrifice, solid patriotism, and steadfast u.s. manufacturing. all of these stories are on display here in small-town america. it took the imagination and significant resources of one ma to make it all happened.

this is a quintessential american story, and another hidden gem. >> i just don't think people know this, and this is such a national treasure. your vision make this happen. you and your wife, you love, wyoming, you love you boy, you are happy to have this very. >> thank you for bringing awareness to what we're doing. you have seen all that beat throwing. you've heard about bourbon street, but what is the real mardi gras magic you might not know about freight what do locals want you to know? i went all over new orleans to find out, and yes we will show you a little bit of the big party at the end as well were local raymond arroyo even makes an appearance, so stay there.

♪ >> welcome to fox news live. we are talking about black

friday, americans hoping to fin a black friday bargain that could be disappointing this year . retailers were advertised advertise up to 70 percent off of items, but many things will cost more than they did last year because of inflation from september to october choppers paid nearly 18 percent more for electronics and appliances than they did to your before they di everything cost, and gas have gone up making choppers more reluctant to buy expensive gifts . president biden was in massachusetts handing out pumpkin pie two firefighters on things giving. the president and first lady in there nearly three -year-old grandson visited emergency personnel. biden expressed his appreciatio for those who risk their lives to help others, he also spoke t u.s. service members on the phone who are away from their families. ♪

>> welcome to new orleans, this is mardi gras, the festival season that begins around the epiphany after the christmas season wrapped up and rolled right into the beginning of len where that period of sacrifice begins for so many americans freight look at this freight when you think of mardi gras, you think separate and of the beads that get tossed and all the fun that is at and may be a little too much drinking on. that makes so much of this possible, this is what makes ne orleans new orleans, the people the spirit, the food, the sense of community, and all the good that comes out of one big party. >> one of the oldest parading organizations is ricks, ricks emerged to draw tourism back to the city after the civil war, and is always one of the most

influential residents in the group is involved in civic orphic organizations, philanthropy, the grand marshal identity of the crew is kept secret until the monday before mardi gras and than traditionally the mayor of new orleans holds him a symbol exceed to the city. in norma's history on the 150th anniversary of rex, i am about to meet somebody who knows all about the king of carnival. >> he knows it is history bette than anyone. illness and most important thin that americans who have never been too new orleans, they thin mardi gras has offensive what d they need to understand about the spirit that too because beyond of the. >> celebration.

people come together. the other legacy, and of the carnival celebration are it's not just beautiful floats, but it's what's choosers, lick anywhere and you will see what we deserve here is part of our celebration. >> that is not understood well. i don't think the artistic prowess that i see walking in the fall shops downtown whether it is festive clothing. that is made here in many cases or jewelry that is crafted here with unique colors of this place . this is something i think peopl don't realize. to become of the insanity over weeks and weeks and weeks, this is not just a weekend or at night, this goes on for weeks and weeks. >> in not only sustains the

economy, but it sustains the fi have these. you see these beautiful floats ready to go. we come back in and we will tak them apart and start over. it is what we've done here for number of years fred. >> there is no other place not only in america, but this is hidden gem of the world. >> i hope we are doing this for another 150 years. that would be something to celebrate. >> thank you. >> what many may not realize is mardi gras isn't just a time to party, but also a time of religious reflection and alms giving. monsignor christopher nulty broke it all down for as.

the you are here in part as member and you bless the crew before it rolls on mardi gras morning very telus. >> these are all floats, if you've ever been to mardi gras, or if you've ever bent onto floats, you know it can be a little precarious there. is standing up on something moving. on all the members and all the people of this is a. we have a safe happy joyful celebration at mardi gras. get the timing of mardi gras is directly influenced by certain parts of the bible. >> one, it is the celebration o holy week, the last supper, the passion, crucifixion overlord, and easter sunday. they modeled it after when jesu went 40 days and 40 nights fasting in the desert in preparation for his mentorship. that 40 day starts on ash

wednesday. so what is fat tuesday? >> before all the period of sacrifice, you leave it all behind. the tuesday night of mardi gras of course people think it's the end up at. and its beginning. now it's a time of fasting. >> when people think of mardi gras, they are not seeming monsignor spiritual disciplines that is pretty far away, but we are introducing americans to th hidden gem including the knowledge of what this is all grounded in, so explain these three spiritual disciplines. we begin, we mardi gras, we feast, where people receive ashes as a sign of penitence, and we begin the three spiritua disciplines of which are prayer fasting, and alms giving. the organization also supports one of those disciplines which is to convince the members not just to provide a great party for the whole city, but also to

help those who are most privileged and in need in our community. >> now that we've learned the historical and religious aspects , let's get to the most eye-catching part of this entir celebration of floats. >> i understand that we have some former royalty with us? >> yes, come right over here. ticket nice to see you guys. so are we going to give at at the place right here, with thes incredible floats fred. >> absolutely. >> you were telling me, that th colors of mardi gras have been represented by the floats and then translating into our values . we are right at that justice float here which is quite something. could get the colors of mardi gras purple, gold, and green.

along the way, faith, plus justice, and power. we are going back over our 150 years of history and we are actually telling the stories of those original colors. >> so the history is represente in the floats. they are incredibly beautiful, but the history is in it as par of this that people don't understand. >> that story, what makes the writing such an experience because i know you do it with friends and family members, all ages are represented. >> i have wrote on the royal barge for a number of years. i will write their share with m brother come up my brother-in-law in a couple of our children and some of our best friends. >> so each year it is a different set of memories and experiences. gaffin, we will have guest writers from around the country that join us which makes it nice . >> when do they start working o next year's mardi gras?

>> ash wednesday. that the day after mardi gras. all the oats floats are painted white and then they start all over again with next year's. >> do they reuse, only the original seven? one float is the butterfly king the whole idea of that is to a butterfly that is made in a cocoon and income site just for a brief time. well, that same image that we have been working in this kicking will come out one day and shine and then go back to never be seen. >> unbelievable. >> it may seem like the floats that you see at mardi gras just magically appear, without a second thought as to how they get there in the first place. we are here at mardi gras world in is the birthplace to some of the most astonishing and intricate floats that you see o the streets of new orleans. this whole operation was founde back in 1932 by the current family.

they are now four generations i and have not lost their special touch, to craftsmanship, and al the grandeur that goes along with this is here. >> this is go time for you. telus what this whole process i like, this hidden gem of america . >> it all starts with new orleans. the city is one of the only places in the world. when we talk about the mayan people here in new orleans, it has a population of about 400,000 people and you have got 60,000 people and these organizations and they pay to put on the show. >> so new corporate sponsors of the floats fred. >> no corporate sponsors at all. these people and families come together. its generations of families. i am the third generation my so

is the fourth and building thes floats. mardi gras brings everybody in new orleans together in away that's other places don't do. >> what was it like last year t not have mardi gras? >> literally everybody in new orleans had house floats that went around the world. it was amazing, it is such a part of the cultural lives and it they just become part of it and they make it into there. everybody has their own traditions fred. >> one thing and left about thi and we don't have this in other cities as much is the young coming together with the older generations in learning from each other. that is wonderful. on these floats, these young kids with the lieutenants in th captains. these clubs, the most successfu organizations in mardi gras carnival are the ones that can

interact the very end because a lot of these guys want to be ou there, the grandfather wants to have his son and his grandchildren they put on evidence where they will attrac everybody. this is a family thing. >> in the 1870s, the way the floats were made and the celebration was horse-drawn, ha hey, real grass and wagons with beautiful costumes. but this is super high-tech stuff year. i mean this is still artistry, but it's also, it really pops out at you. >> when my dad started the business it was small, it was maybe less than a dozen crews, the floats would carry six or eight men, you know how floats that are literally so the way that they are built, the lighting, the technology, the animation, it is amazing.

to get what hasn't changed is getting hit with beads on the streets. have to be careful where goggle fred. >> if you're at legacy is what you leave behind, with this continuing to that next generation in then the next generation after that, how important is it for you to lear from each mardi gras out what w got right, what we can do bette the next year. >> mardi gras is constantly evolving and that is the reason it successful. this is not a scale thing. it changes every year, but we have the history and traditions there are certain organizations that have all these ideas, then these other organizations came in and change things. everybody has their place, ever crew has their own personality. they do there own thing and contributes to let this is as carnival. again now that you learned abou

the history of mardi gras, let' check out the parade, raymond arroyo served as this year's grand marshall for the crew of end to mia, the largest one in the city. >> i have the grand marshal outfit, i have the top hit, thi is going to be quite the thing. every year from the time was that big, we would gather here for mb feehan, said to be named grand marshall this parade is t me like a full circle moment an really coming back. i love you guys. the wonder of mardi gras, it is a family celebration parade we have to let the whole nation know that great i love that you are here, i love that we are coming together again.

[cheers and applause] >> we salute you on behalf of all of our residents all of our elected officials, please accep the key to our city. as we've been talking about how special and resilience are a city is, write a book about that . >> thank you, ms. maier. >> i am privileged that you decided to join us for this all excess look at mardi gras. what i love most about this entire season is that it is a moment of togetherness, it brings people from different cultures, races, religions coming together in unity, and love, and joy. if people take a little of that spirit as a country, we would b

a much better people. >> next, join me in philadelphi were a self-taught artist who happens to have autism is takin the professional art world by storm. i can't wait to share this unbelievable story with you.e? aspen dental is here for you. this season, and every season, we offer the custom dental treatments you need, all under one roof, right nearby. so, we can bring more life to your smile, and more smile to your life, affordably. new patients without insurance can get a free complete exam and x-rays, and 20% off treatment plans.

♪

>> what is art, and who defines what makes something masterpiece ? and what qualifies someone to b called an artist? in this episode of america's hidden gems we confront these questions as we introduce you t the dazzling works of artist campbell smith. diagnosed with autism as a child , his life story toggled between unexplained rage and undiscovered artistic genius. undiscovered until his father wanting realized his son was trying to communicate through his art. now almost 20 years later, that channeled motion in the form of architectural sculpture is taking the art world by storm. from young age, he stuut his so was different. he started having difficulties at school and his behavioral problems were a constant issue.

lonnie tried to get his son help , but they had no idea what campbell was going through. eventually he was diagnosed wit autism and he was still struggling to communicate until one day he discovered something that would change their relationship and his life forever. >> tell me about the first time you noticed his unique talent? >> the first time i noticed his talent would be living in montgomery county and we were moving out of an apartment in a noticed event hanging off of th wall, i went to adjust the vent and pieces of paper came out an there had to be over 100 pieces of paper that he had hidden in the event. as i started to unravel the papers i saw they were images o superhero that they drew. it was one hero in a bunch of villains. the thing that struck me the most is one of the villains looked like me.

from that, i kind of saw our relationship through a differen lens. i am trying to help him them, but at the same time he thinks i'm his enemy because i was doing at the wrong way. >> la niña that he was trying t speak, but speak through his art . >> when i found those drawings pretty much knew that this is what he wanted to do. i started creating stories abou those characters and i would have to come up with a story fo the day was difficult i would have little notes and everythin is to create a story and i woul come home and he would listen t the stories and for the first time, i had his attention. he would sit there and look at me and listened with interest. this is when we started to bond. >> eventually they started creating characters in stories together to. >> so you find found your own new language. >> wright, i found a way.

>> in touch with him and figuring out what he actually wanted to do. >> he had been drawing on canvas , but when lonnie was unable to afford it anymore, he started working with cardboard. sometimes even taking it from the garbage. he move seamlessly from two-dimensional drawings to three-dimensional sculptures. >> where do you get your cardboard? >> from the neighbors. >> from your neighbors you get it? >> the neighbors give me their cardboard. >> is there any building that you want to sculpt or create? that you haven't yet? that you are thinking about? >> is. what building. >> i was thinking about making something taller. >> he was working like this in his front yard one day when a neighbor posted a picture on

social media. the post went viral and quickly drew the attention of art deale and gal wrist chris byrne, he was immediately impressed. not too because of his autism story, but because of the art h was creating. >> did you know much about his background? 's diagnosis of autism, any of his family dynamic before you met him? >> no, we had just been introduced as images on social media. >> so the art just spoke to you. >> it is, the reproduction. they were interesting enough an we wanted to go see them and than obviously, learning more about campbell and has background was also an importan part but there is lots of parts that without. >> we had the pleasure of havin the visiting the gallery. alex baker is the galleries director. >> told me about the first time you saw his work.

>> well, it was in 2019 at the outsider art fair and i was totally blown well. i found out he was from philadelphia and i was like com on, i'm a philadelphian and i don't have the skies work and i. it was fantastic it was buildings based on iconic phill architecture. there was a philadelphia museum of art, there was the concept, it was just unbelievable the attention to detail and the rawness at the same time. if you look closely you can see the materials that he uses, which is found objects like cardboard, all kinds of different paints, spray paints, clues, but when you stand back, it looks perfect. >> he is in some of the most risky just collections and the united states. he is in some of the most renowned unite museums and the united states, does he understand how significant that is, as an artist, forgets as

someone with a disability. as an artist, does he comprehen that? >> no. his art takes the focus away from his rage. he turned his rage into creatin cardboard paintings. he is just constantly moving. he would move his hands constantly. that was when one of the things i saw in him as far as being able to help them come out let' put something in those hands, w put the tools he needed to create in his hands and he is a master at what he desperate. >> his journey would nip impossible without the devotion and love of a father who refuse to give up on him. >> lonnie saul the way forward when the educational system had pretty much given up. this is another reason to honor what art can do. art has empowered him.

it seems like it's only going t continue to grow. >> it is love. we'll help at the corporate it all comes from a position of love. this story shows us what is possible when a parent commits to finding and then fostering the unique gifts that every child possesses, especially those who may not fit into the traditional box that schools an sometime society wants to put them in. the story is still being written , i can't wait to see where it all ends up. in final thoughts when we return .

>> i want thank you for tuning in this thanksgiving night hope you had a wonderful time with family and friends pick out from behind the scenes at mardi gras to the little-known military museum in wyoming defining art and the most unlikely places i had a lot of fun discovering all these hidden gems all across america and i hope you enjoyed watching. if you want to see more of the full episodes of hidden gems,

they are available right now on foxnation.com, watch them at home, on the go, basically anywhere. go to foxnation.com right now and enjoy. that's it for us tonight thanks for watching this special edition of the ingraham angle. set your dvr so you stay connected with us and remember it's america now and forever, happy thanksgiving. greg gutfeld takes it from here ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> greg: happy thanksgiving, it's me greg from the distant past again. i tape to this video you are seeing right now seven years ago and i'm predicting by november of 2022, i'll have a hit show. i'm sure it's filled with great guests, great live audiences and of course me being