The Atlantic City Electric Veterans Breakfast 2019 drew an even bigger response than last year and provided quite the spread of food as well as guest speakers. Last Salute was so honored to be asked to address the crowd and do a flag folding exhibition.
The employees of Atlantic City Electric are great supporters of Last Salute and we want to thank them for their generous support.
We would like to single out Joe McCarraher, Alexandria Likanchuk and Cliff Aguado for their support and donations to Last Salute. It is support like this that helps Last Salute continue its mission of providing free military funeral ceremonies.
The Township of Buena held an amazing Veterans Day. The event was put together by Katrina D’Alessandro who works tirelessly for veterans causes not just here in New Jersey but also in Texas.
The Buena event featured speakers, an orchestra, a choir, displays, a great steak dinner and much more. It could not have been a nicer event.
Last Salute was honored to participate. Chuck Knutson of Last Salute was the main speaker. See his Veterans Day address HERE
Veterans Day
2019 Charles Knutson,
Sgt. at Arms – Last Salute
Throughout
history societies have prospered and people have progressed. Progress and prosperity as well as the
peaceful pursuit of happiness all require the presence of order. The establishment of security forces to
secure order would be as essential to any group as is food and water.
Providing
security for the masses as they follow personal pursuits is essential. Without it, marauders from other areas would
simply take the product of their labor and enslave or kill them.
For a people
to live in an environment of safety and peace there must be those willing to
defend them. This defense often comes at
great cost. To stand the ground between
the people you have vowed to protect and those intending to do them harm is a
commitment unlike any other.
Often the
very people you protect are completely unaware of the daily risk or sacrifice
willingly rendered. They know not your
name, not your life, not your family or dreams.
They have never met you and occasionally don’t even support you. Yet you place yourself between them and ever
present danger. Willing to do whatever
is asked. Willing to breathe your last
breath on a war torn and chaotic battlefield so that they may never suffer the
same.
Marine,
Soldier, Sailor, Airman, a name given to each individual as they enter the
United States military. Personal identity cloaked behind a title which
represents the very definition of protection and security.
Americans
live lives of greater prosperity and happiness than any other society before
them. It is no coincidence that they are
protected by the greatest military in human history. The American military is so well trained and
competent that hundreds of millions are protected by less than one percent of
their total population.
This unique
historical distinction is unparalleled.
It is a much greater anomaly when one considers the fact that many
allies of the United States as well as smaller countries, either partly or
completely depend on the American military to provide them the same safety and
security Americans enjoy.
Never have
so few stood so selflessly committed to the protection of so many. This selfless commitment requires a
discipline and attitude that often creates detachment and separation from those
benefitting the most. As our military
continues to evolve, the culture of professionalism and singlemindedness
pervades. Due to these traits many people see the military as an increasingly
distinct society and subculture. It is
simply a devoted dedication, a pledge, a faithfulness demonstrated by
discipline, bearing, honor and valor.
The divide
existing between most of society and the military all but vanishes in time of
war, when televisions stations string together seemingly endless coverage of
young Americans so far from home and family conducting dangerous mission after
dangerous mission. Absent of war, the
media rarely focuses on the military unless there is a specific high profile
mission or a training accident resulting in the loss of life. These stories should remind society of the
ever present danger in the persistent and relentless training required to
achieve such a high level of proficiency.
The military
life is a path which requires a dedication of total self. It is transformative of character and
abilities. It is a path that both
demands and expects a level of responsibility and accountability distinct from
all others. Responsible for life and
death, accountable for personal actions ……… all while remaining
uncompromisingly professional.
The
standards and values America’s veterans represent are undeniable and unyielding
as is their vigilance in protecting those they serve.
We as a
nation must do more than celebrate Veteran’s Day. We must celebrate a commitment to each
other, to serve each other, to help each other, to dedicate our lives to
something larger than ourselves.
We must
remember that a veteran stands for all of this.
As Veterans
we stand together. Even in passing, we
remember and honor our fallen. Honoring
one’s service to country is memorialized in a final gesture of respect
underscoring the nobility of military service.
The rendering of military funeral honors endures as a sacrosanct
ceremony permanently confirming the fallen’s
contribution to his fellow man.
Reflecting
upon the importance of this final tribute was the genesis for establishing Last
Salute military funeral honor guard. Upon
combining our forces with the VFW rifle team we created a ceremonial funeral
honor guard capable of conducting highly professional and extremely elaborate
honor ceremonies.
Honoring
those who serve and comforting their families at quite possibly the saddest
moment they will experience is unquestionably our primary mission.
Last Salute not
only conducts well over one hundred funeral ceremonies each year but countless
memorial ceremonies on holidays such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Last Salute also provides support and
assistance to many veterans’ charities, veteran’s services organizations,
Police Departments, Fire Departments, municipalities, and the United States
military.
In addition
to ceremonial support which includes presentation or posting of colors, flag
folding, Taps, memorial bell, Civil War cannon firing, gun salute and event
management, Last Salute also provides considerable static displays. These displays include Humvees and other
military trucks as well as numerous other military items.
Last Salute
also visits many schools to conduct exhibitions and engage students. Last Salute enjoys a very constructive
relationship with area schools. Schools appreciate
our efforts to connect with children. Teachers value the demonstration,
education and display services which Last Salute provides.
We are
currently collecting donations of military equipment to complete the creation
of a mobile military history museum to be used at the many schools we
visit. This will give us a very unique
opportunity to educate the students about military life and its history….
Legacy…..
the courage, determination and integrity of America’s veterans is
undeniable. This legacy must be
supported through continued acts of service, for each other, for our
communities, for our children. The story
of America’s heroes, America’s veterans,
needs to be told in both word and
action.
Celebrate
those who served today. Reflect upon all
that is gained by that service. Support
our military, its veterans and organizations serving them.
Thank you for your service and Happy Veterans Day.
Copyright 2019 Not for reprint in whole or part without express written permission.
The town of Brigantine is proud of its veterans and put on a great veterans day service every year. This year there was a parade followed by a great ceremony at the town’s Veteran park.
Last Salute was honored to participate and would like to thank everyone involved for such a great ceremony.
Wow, that’s all you can say when you see the amazing welcome the children at Brigantine Elementary put together for area veterans to thank them for their service. Grades K through 8 were great and so gracious.
They gave all the veterans hand made cards and did a great job singing the National Anthem.
The Brigantine Elks brought the veterans a great hot lunch.
Last Salute was very honored and happy to participate in this great event and wants to thank everyone for the generous and thoughtful donation.
Sgt. at Arms Chuck Knutson of Last Salute is often asked to provide direction and instruction to honor guards and funeral directors. He is widely considered to be the expert on Military Funeral ceremonies.
He also provides instruction and assistance to Police and Fire Honor Guards.
Due to his experience in conducting approximately 800 ceremonies and his ongoing dedication to teaching others how to conduct honorable and professional funeral ceremonies, the Funeral Directors Association asked him to teach a class on the subject.
Sgt. at Arms Knutson developed an accredited course for funeral directors which helps them understand the importance of a military funeral ceremony and how to properly conduct the ceremony. They also receive ongoing education credit units for taking the class.
The course will be available on Amazon soon for a small donation to Last Salute.