In Memory Archives - Page 2 of 2

William Entrekin Purple Heart Memorial Service

Last Salute Military Funeral Honor Guard

Recently, Last Salute was asked by VFW Post 9462 Commander, Bob Dunn, to present a Purple Heart medal to the grandson of a WW2 hero. Some time ago, the medal was lost. The family of this hero, William Entrekin, United States Army, wanted to replace the medal but were unsure how to do it.

VFW Commander Bob Dunn has a WW2 Purple Heart medal stored in the post’s office and felt that it could serve no better purpose than to be represented to the family. Specifically, to the grandson of William, Ryan Naylor.

Ryan is 13 and a Sea Cadet. He intends to join the military when he gets older and is extremely proud to be the grandson of a WW2 hero.

Below are some photos from the ceremony.

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Galloway Twp Annual Salute to Veterans

Last Salute is proud to join Galloway Twp each year as it honors veterans. For many years the township has honored its veterans each September with a ceremony, free BBQ lunch and free t-shirts to commemorate the event.

Last Salute has been a part of this event for over 15 years. Here are some photos from the event.

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Vineland Veterans Memorial For Pandemic Loss

Last Salute has for some time wanted to conduct a memorial honors ceremony for those veterans lost during the pandemic that did not receive military funeral honors. Most veterans that died during the height of the pandemic did not receive military funeral honors as the military suspended service for the safety of its personnel.

Last Salute continued to conduct honors during this period as far away as King of Prussia. We were unable to conduct services at the veterans homes so with the help of Rone Funeral Home in Vineland we organized a mass honors ceremony to honor all those veterans that died during the pandemic.

We would like to thank all those who attended for their support and commitment to honor those that served.

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Old Assumption Church Continues To Serve

The recently removed old Assumption Church on the White Horse Pike served the Galloway community for almost 100 years. It was the site of countless weddings, christenings, funerals and services. In our effort to preserve Galloway history and to conserve our communities enduring intrinsic memories, we asked to have some of the interior wood salvaged from the old church. Luckily, Father Nick Dudo and Joe Picardi, a representative of the church not only had preserved some of the wood but were kind enough to share it with us. Ray Ring from the church met us to make the wood available. The church has also saved part of the steeple, the cross and the cornerstone. We felt that using the wood to build items for our Military Funeral Honor Guard, “Last Salute”, would be a great way to repurpose and preserve something of such sentimental value. We have built two wonderful and unique pieces from the wood so far. First, we needed to build a stand for our recently acquired funeral bell. This large solid brass bell required a very sturdy stand that could be moved from one location to another frequently so in addition to framing lumber, we used the church wood as ornamental additions in the shape of big stars along the top beams. The bell stand turned out beautifully and is used at veterans funerals as well as other community events.

The second piece is a box used to hold the prayer cards which we collect. Each time we preform a military funeral ceremony, we take a prayer card that is generally made as a remembrance. All of these cards are now stored in the newly constructed box. They travel to each funeral for which we conduct services and a new card is added. The box pictured here was built by Chuck Knutson and master craftsman Steve Amadio who was also instrumental in the construction of our Civil War cannon the “Jaime Lee”. Upon the top of the box, the official “Last Salute” prayer has been carved.

Medal of Honor Recipients Visit Absecon VFW

Medal of Honor recipients Tom Kelley and Brian Thacker visited the Absecon VFW for lunch while in town for the Marine Corps Law Enforcement event. The VFW put out a very gracious spread with the help of Chef Elio from the Rams Head in Galloway.

While there, the Medal of Honor recipients signed Last Salute’s Humvee and trailer which are both used primarily for veterans funeral services as part of Last Salute Honor Guard.

There are 12 Medal of Honor recipient signatures in the Humvee. We are extremely proud to have them to help us honor those we provide services for.

Dr. Nina of Fox News was there to meet the heroes and to thank everyone at the VFW for their service.

Medal of Honor recipient Tom Kelley signs the Humvee for the Galloway Patriot

Military Funeral Honor Guard Acquires Civil War Cannon

Last Salute, the Military Funeral Honor Guard, has recently acquired a Civil War cannon for use at military funerals and veteran’s ceremonies. The “Jaime Lee” is scheduled to be christened on July 4th at 7am in front of the Absecon VFW building. The Honor Guard is awaiting the wheels and axle for the cannon’s field carriage. The building of the carriage will be done by Chuck Knutson with the help of Schairer Bros. Saw Mill in Galloway, as well as Steve Amadio and will consist of locally sourced white oak. The wheels are solid hickory and are being built by the same carriage company that built the funeral hearse for President Abraham Lincoln. The cannon is a Mountain Howitzer 12 pounder and will weigh close to 1000 pounds when completed. It was forged at a foundry in Missouri and a blacksmith in Tennessee forged the carriage hardware. The “Jaime Lee” is in the foreground in the photo above. Behind the cannon is the Honor Guard Marine Artillery Unit and the Honor Guard Rifle Squad flanked by the VFW Post 9462 Commander Bob Dunn. We would welcome the help of any local woodworking craftsman or metal workers willing to donate their time to help with this important community project. Contact Chuck Knutson if you would like to help at 609-780-7432. To learn more about the free veteran’s services the Honor Guard provides, visit www.LastSalute.US

MEMORIAL DAY 2016

Establish a perimeter….if you want to sleep safely.…if you want your family….your loved ones….to sleep safely….. Establish a perimeter……..

A single person…. such as a president or a governor establishes a perimeter to provide safety…security…

That security is provided by armed men and women willing to sacrifice everything….not necessarily for a person….but for a greater purpose.

We the people…of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice and insure domestic tranquility have established such a perimeter……. to provide our country……..our people…….with the safety….the security….within which we may live and prosper….where we may raise our families…where we may break bread in the security and safety provided by those willing to lay their lives upon the altar of freedom….

The men and women of the United States military whom have made the ultimate sacrifice…..the solemn gift of faith and blood…..believe in a greater purpose.

The preservation of freedom…………

If you are willing to fight….you may…or can… provide yourself freedom…..if you are willing to fight…to give this freedom to others…to others you may not even know….to others you may not agree with…to others, unlike yourself….to others that may not support you…………it is an endeavor of the greatest honor……for only those among us with the courage… the character….the commitment……….to the greater purpose of freedom for all men……have been blessed with the true serenity bestowed through selfless sacrifice…….

On this day………..Memorial Day…….we the people…..remember…….we honor……those who have bled for us………..those who have died for us.

We must honor them…….we must always remember them….we must hold their names…their sacrifice…..in high honor. The gift they have given us is a bond of trust….a trust we must not violate……it is the trust….. that we will not squander or surrender the freedom they have provided us.

Do not become complacent in your freedom….celebrate your freedom…honor those that have preserved it……let us raise our flag to honor them….to remember them….

If you possess the flag of our great country…..raise it…..raise it outside your home. If you do not have a flag……..get one…….raise it…….raise it high a-top a pole or alongside your front door….keep it there.

Be proud of our military……..be proud of our people…….Be proud to be an American……

Chuck Knutson
Publisher, Galloway Patriot

Sgt. at Arms
Military Funeral Honor Guard
www.LastSalute.US

Please remember what Memorial Day is for……………….

Prayer Box Flown Over DC & Arlington by Coast Guard

Coast Guard MH-65 flanked by Last Salute’s Humvees

We carry them with us, we remember, we honor………………… we will not forget them.

Last Salute would like to thank the United States Coast Guard for helping us honor the heroes placed in our Prayer Box by flying them over restricted air space in Washington DC and over Arlington National Cemetery. We would like to the thank the flight crew that made this incredible honor mission happen, pilots, Jeff Graham and LT Christi McGee as well as Flight Mechanic AET1 Aimee Duncan.

Watch the amazing video

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