welcome to "news4 this week." >> holidayest season is fast approa approaching. forget the gifts, are you ready to travel? we go through airport security with a new mom helping you better prepare. and a local hero and a treat using to help soldiers with scars of war. we unlock some secrets of november with the washington capitals master of moustaches. hello. i'm veronica johnson. those are some stories we share this week. we begin with an incredible day of retired army service member, retired army captain who says he hopes to live up to the honor bestowed on him at the white

house. groberg received a medal of honor for his actions in 2012. his group was escorting senior military officials when they were approach by a suicide bomber. another soldier tackled him and the bomber's vest detonated. four americans were killed but the soldier's actions saved the lives of many others. president obama noted groberg said it was the worst day of his life. >> that's precisely why we honor heroes like him, because on his very worst day he managed to summon his very best. >> i'm grateful to have been given the opportunity to serve my country. this medal belongs to the true heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice and didn't come home. >> the medal of honor is the nation's highest military honor.

it is awarded for valor in battle above and beyond the call of duty. captain go better invited h-- r invited his former track coaches and what they saw when they saw he medal of honor. >> reporter: at bethesda high school, to the high school. he was seriously wounded and four others were killed. his heroism saved many lives. >> you react and trust your training and instincts. you trust you already have the inner fortitude to go out there

and do the job you've been ta tasked to do. >> his extraordinary bravery that -- and the courage that he sh showed. we don't see that stuff and that's the stuff that comes from the heart and made me the most proud. >> reporter: groberg ran track for the university of maryland and they keep a media guide with his picture on the cover and y says groberg has become an inspiration for a new generation of terrapins. >> we think about this, we think of groberg. we stress leave a legacy. >> reporter: groberg leaves a legacy that continues to grow and will be the graduation speaker in december. reporting from college park, chris gordon, news4. >> you can watch a longer interview with captain groberg

by going our nbc washington app search medal of honor. bethesda base marriott international is poised to become the world's largest hotel chain and buying its rival, starwood hotels for around $12 billion and will create a port foal yove more than 1 million rooms. portfolio of more than one million rooms and it will appeal to young travelers. it could be a new option for avoided traffic on the busy i-95. the virginia railway began service at a new station in spotsylvania county near interstate 17 and the existing railway. officials say it marks an important milestone in the transit expansion plans made in one day lead to more jobs in the county. >> that means we can go up and see if we can get some form of

agency or big business that would like to come down here. >> vre is hoping to double its ridership by 2040 and plans are in the work to expand the manassas line and new station near woodbridge. that will happen soon hopefully. we're just a couple of weeks away from one of those busy travel periods for new parents. it's often the first time their kids get a chance to fly. that means the first time you have to get them through security. it's not easy. news4's transportation report , reporter,ed a treporter, ed adam tuss has tips to help you get through a little faster through security. >> reporter: lines. >> anything under the stroller, we want to take that out and separate that. >> reporter: flying for the first time. >> do you have wet wipes? one of the things i do recommend, try to run the stroller first. >> reporter: flying for the first time with a baby. be prepared for a different experience all together and

remember, keep calm. >> so you can best concentrate on not having to do the additional screening. >> reporter: yep. it isn't easy. >> traveling alone with my son for the first time is always different. you're carrying a lot of items. >> reporter: emily has an advantage over most first timers. she works for the tsa and doesn't make it's easier for her and leo and has to take everything out of the stroerl and fold it up and go through test s for liquids like breast milk and swabs on her hands because she carried the child. you're doing all of this while trying to keep the little one of happy. the professional advice, plan accordingly and leave anything unnecessary at home. for instance, you may be able to rent a car seat when you land but call in advance making sure that seat is in good working order before you put your child in it. as a father of two little ones,

i can tell you these things aren't light, they're heavy and the less you can bring to the security checkpoint will make your life a lot easier. >> little leo made it through but there were hoops to jump through as we head through the busy holiday period, a tip from tsa. >> keep your kids items in ziploc bags so when they have to take it out for screening it's easier and makes the process a lot quicker. >> reporter: a tip from mom, emily. >> don't be afraid to ask for help, don't be a superhero, ask for help when you need it. >> the tsa says they want you and your stuff to make it through quickly. >> sometimes they don't believe that. it is our goal to make it through the process as quickly as possible. >> reporter: quickly through for everyone's benefit. happy traveling at reagan international airport. adam tuss, news4. >> good tip. thanks, adam. it's a popular way to cook a turkey but also one of the most dangerous. when "news4 this week" returns, we show you how to properly fry a turkey and a freeway to let a

pro do the work for you. plus, pandemonium building for bei bei's big debut when you

the last thing you want to do on thanksgiving day is take a trip to the emergency room. three times as many fires happen on thanksgiving day than any other time of the year. erika gonzalez has a warning about frying turkeys and where you can get it done for free. >> reporter: thanksgiving is around the corner. if you've ever had fried turkey, you know it is delectable but it can be dangerous preparing. that's why you should leave to it the pros and why we have mark joining us today chef of the medium rare restaurants in d.c. thanks for joining us. >> thanks for having me. >> reporter: we're doing this outside because it's where f frying turkey should be done, right. absolutely. >> reporter: you start with --

>> thawed, dried turkey. >> reporter: you can't just put it in frozen. >> you have to take the thermometer out of it and make sure it's dry when you put it in. >> reporter: how do we start this process? a lot of people use newspaper and cardboard. that's not right. >> you want it on a solid surface. if you put it on your driveway, don't put cardboard under, put it on asphalt. >> reporter: how much oil do people need to use. >> i usually use less. it drops over the sides and ignites and that's where you have your problems. >> reporter: once again, we're outside, do not fry your turkey outdoors. >> if this ignites don't hit it with water, have an extingui extinguisher. if you're going to buy a fryer, buy one with a timer and it shuts off every 15 minutes. you have to stay here. >> reporter: and last year, they saw more than 50 people with burns because of grease.

once the oil gets to 350 degrees, you drop the bird in and cook about half hour, you're left with oil, what do you do with it? >> you bring to it your local restaurant and we collect it in the back in a recycling bin, let it cool and be safe. >> reporter: that's a lot of work for the average consumer. you should leave to it the pros. mark's been doing it for eight years. you take him a turkey and he will fry it for you, no mess and no fuss, all the details how you can get mark to fry your turkey for you on your nbc washington app and search "fried turkey." >> absolutely. mark, i'm there. not going to cut in line, i'm there. great news for maryland's governor, larry hogan, gives us an update on his cancer battle and inspiration. when we come back, healing unseen wounds, how a local retreat is helping vets approach depression and post traumatic

many military service members bravely face the trauma of deployment and the stroefs reintegration. now, there's a new rehab program for the growing number of so-called war fighters living with problems like post traumatic stress, depression and substance abuse. news4 pat muse tells us about a local retreat that's helping them heal. >> three months ago i had an attack. when i have an attack i black out. >> reporter: jeremy maccabi spent 20 years in the marines as a gunner then a sniper with tours in five countries including iraq and afghanistan. his home coming was tough. >> my wife was just saying my name, jeremy, jeremy. and i said -- i woke up and i said, what? and i had her neck. getting ready to snap her neck. >> reporter: jeremy is one of many local vets and active duty

service members who come here for help. >> who thinks they want a ride, please? put it up high. >> reporter: this is operation tohedo that help s vets with pot tramatic stress disorder related to their service. >> any vet with combat deployment and operational tour. >> reporter: a college veteran designed the program to help those like retired master sergeant chris lopez reintegrate. >> i realized i had a problem when i was walking out my house with a pistol, when i reached my lowest point saying it was time to find some help. >> glover. >> here. >> jackson. >> here. >> reporter: they spend seven days here talking and healing. they find comradery and a safe place to release. >> it's tough. >> swing around. >> reporter: horseback riding is part of the therapy. there are also classes on co coping, even nutrition.

>> it's based on what veterans think helps them and not what institutions thinks ought to help them. >> reporter: wanda, who suffers nightmares and isolation after 22 years in the air force says the retreat restored her peace of body, mind and spirit. >> when i left and i went home, my husband, and he continues to tell me, too, it's so awesome to see me smile again. >> reporter: chris lopez came back to the retreat as a mentor. >> it taught me how to walk away, when i need to, and how to breathe, how to deal with things. >> we do have people telling us, you know, you saved my life. >> reporter: graduates say the retreat improves their mental health, lessens depression, reduces dependence on medication and gives them better self-control. the program, run by melwood, is free. >> i'm very thankful to be able to report that incredibly, as of

today, i am 100% cancer-free and in complete remission! [ applause ] >> yes. it's news many of you have been waiting five months to hear. maryland governor, larry hogan, is cancer free and he had a special person to thank, his penpal, 5-year-old andrew overly of baltimore is also a cancer patient getting treated at the maryland medical center and andrew has been an unexpected friend to the governor and says it all started when he got a handwritten notes with tips for coping with cancer. >> he told me to keep my hugging person with me when i'm feeling down along with nine other great pieces of advice. andrew is right up front. >> the other nice thing is andrew and the governor are both now in remission. hogan says his body still needs time to recover. as for the second term, he tells us he's not even thinking about that yet. mustaches, they aren't

always the most popular facial accessory. this month, they are everywhere on the washington capitals bench. who has the best stash and why they do it, next.

60 more days, that's how long we'll all have to wait to get a live look at the new panda cub, bei bei. the national zoo announced bei bei will make his public debut saturday, january 16th. people with a zoo membership get a week's head start and it will be january 8th. bei bei is three months old and recently took his first little panda steps. he's so cute. the washington capitals will be back on the verizon center ice tonight. you'll notice the facial hair coming on strong. they're not beards, that's for the playoffs. november is all about the mustache, as carol maloney

reports, november is not just for fun, it's for a good cause. >> i don't think the mustache gets respect, not a fun of respect. >> reporter: this november, mustache captain alder hoping to put the stash back in. >> people make fun of the stash. >> i'm not growing any. >> nick, he tries, just not there yet. fine. he's good at other things. >> i have disgusting facial hair. >> he's working hard but he's got blonde hair and you can't quite see it. the whole point is guys trying. that's all we can ask. >> one mustache help but with an entire roster of mos, great things can happen. >> one of the big things with being an athlete is you have an opportunity to open up a few more eyes to certain things. men's health, i guess maybe as a guy we put ourselves on the back

burner an want to care about other people. it's nice we get a chance to open up people's eyes to that as well and do it in a fun way. >> reporter: for a bro nervous to grow an mo, the caps mustache captain has one piece of advice. >> i say go for it. you have one month to have a mustache and not be made fun of. i guess you will be made fun of and to not really care about it and it will be okay. i figure, just go for it. that's what the majority of us are doing. >> if you want to help to donate to the november to raise awa awareness to men's health, just search "november." that's all for "news4 this week." i'm veronica johnson. thanks for joining us as always. until next time, be safe and be kind and be happy. bye-bye, everybody.

chronicles" i'm larry michael. each week we take an in-depth look at a piece of this team's storied legacy. today we sit down with an icon, hall of famer bobby mitchell. the redskins are in action this sunday as they travel to carolina to take on the panthers, a team that is unbeaten, 9-0. cam newton leading the way for carolina, coming off a win over tennessee. the redskins coming off that huge win over the