The 2026 Marine Corps Law Enforcement event was a huge success as always. The event spanned 3 days with a formal evening gala including the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle, the Silent Drill Team, many dignitaries and 3 Medal of Honor recipients including; Mike Thornton, Robert Patterson and Donald Ballard. The Medal of Honor recipients honored those in the Last Salute Memorial Prayer and all 3 signed the side of the Last Salute “combat rubber raiding craft” which is used every Memorial Day to carry the Prayer Box 10 miles across the Absecon Bay to honor those inside. U.S. Navy Seal, Mike Thorton added his signature to the Medal of Honor signatures in Last Salute’s 2 Humvees. The black Humvee now has been signed by 11 Medal of Honor recipients and the slant back, “Caisson” has been signed by 9. There are almost 400 photos in the gallery linked below. First a few highlights for the families Last Salute is honored to serve!
The Marine Corps Silent Drill Team
Marine Corps Drum and Bugle
The Knutson family in front of their Last Salute static display which is included every year
Medal of Honor recipient, Robert Patterson signing Last Salute’s combat rubber raiding craft
Medal of Honor recipient, Donald “Doc” Ballard signing Last Salute’s combat rubber raiding craft
Medal of Honor recipient, “Doc” Ballard getting a good flame out of the “Mike D” cannon
All 3 Medal of Honor recipients with Last Salute’s Chuck Knutson preparing to fire the cannons to start the charity golf event. Entertaining side note, Navy Seal Mike Thornton who is also a bomb tech (EOD) was very comfortable sitting on Last Salute’s box of explosives with cannon charges.
Medal of Honor recipients, Mike Thornton and Robert Patterson fire Last Salute’s cannons
Medal of Honor recipient, “Doc” Ballard and Jon DiFrancesco fire Last Salute’s cannons. Jon fires the “Mike D” cannon which is named after his father.
Medal of Honor recipient, Mike Thornton signing Last Salute’s “Caisson” slant back Humvee
Medal of Honor recipient, Mike Thornton signing Last Salute’s black Humvee
Medal of Honor recipient, Mike Thornton signing Last Salute’s combat rubber raiding craft
Medal of Honor recipient, Mike Thornton signing Last Salute’s Memorial Prayer Box
Last Salute was honored to have Medal of Honor recipients continue their tradition of firing Last Salute’s cannons to honor the fallen. You can see the memorial prayer box on the hood of the Humvee. Donald “Doc” Ballard fired the Jaime Lee and Brian Thacker fired the Mike “D”.
“Doc” also signed his name in the caisson Humvee bringing the number Medal of Honor signatures to 8 in that Humvee. He had previously signed the Gun Carriage Humvee dash years ago which has 10 Medal of Honor signatures.
