The hell with covid life must go on! What a day as the heat of this summer continues. Many outstanding Veterans help and assistance organizations were represented at this event hosted by the Alliance.

It is the Utah Veterans Alliance http://4rutvets.org goal to recognize and show our appreciation to Utah’s military community through service and by raising public awareness to the needs of our vets.

This outstanding organization is working closely with so many veterans assistance organizations to help all veterans. Please visit their resources page on their website here if you feel you are in need of any kind of assistance: https://4rutvets.org/veteran-resources/

This day August 14th was a fun day event organized around a good old car show. The event had raffles for some great gifts from tools to guns, and even two Motorcycles!

The Captain thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many fellow veterans and patriots who love and support our great nation and most of all one another.

Thanks to Utah Veterans Alliance for all they do and for hosting this great event!

The Captain enjoyed sharing time with so many veterans and patriots and I hope to see many of them again at the next big car show hosted by Colonial Flag Company on September 10th between 5pm and 8pm across from Sandy City Hall. This car show is just one event during the 9/11 memorial event running September 8-13th across from Sandy, Utah City Hall. Please visit https://www.healingfield.org/event/sandyut21/ to learn all about the 9/11 event.

Please come out to the United We Stand car show September 10th!!

Hope to see you all there, the Captain will have many Military vehicles on display that night!

In thinking of what to say this Memorial Day, I recently received the thoughts from one of my VFW post member’s fellow veterans. This Veteran served in the RVN (Republic of Vietnam) so long ago and later came to the United States and continued to serve us all. His words say it all, and I feel I could not have said it any better. So I am posting it here today.

As we approach another Memorial Day, so often celebrated by many as a holiday to enjoy beach and barbecue, it is so important to remember why this day is called Memorial Day:  To cause us to pause, to appreciate the sacrifices made by so many, most of them young men who never had a chance to live out their lives, as we have been able to do.  Veterans appreciate too well the risks involved in service, concepts that are not knowable by those who have never been in the military.  For those of us who have known the threat of combat, remembering those we knew who are absent today is palpable. Those who have been in the military, but who were spared the experience of combat might have simply been lucky in terms of timing, skill or assignment.  Those others, who never wore a uniform of any color, who have never tasted the consequent fear or threat – perhaps in any meaningful way in their lifetimes – should be especially appreciative of what was risked by all – and given by too many – so that they may live the secure lives they lead.  
Political positions, agreement or not with government policies, serving in the military is a special undertaking, and it carries its own set of risks, rewards, and hardships unknown to others.  
And so, because I think it’s important to remember the great number of men and women – mostly men – that we will never know, who left their world early, every day but especially on Memorial Day.  And I think it’s also important to remember those we knew in our military lives who are still here.  We’re getting old – lucky for us – and we won’t be here forever.  While we should remember those who are gone, we should also celebrate and be in touch with those who are still with us.  So: 
Call an old veteran you haven’t spoken to in a long time – perhaps decades – and tell him you were thinking of him and thought you would say hello.  While there’s still time to do so.  He’ll be thrilled to hear from you. 
And to those who tomorrow will say to me `Happy Memorial Day’, I will say `It’s not about being happy.  It’s about being grateful.  Be that, and now enjoy your barbecue’.

Bruce McInnes, Stagecoach 27, Ban Me Thuot, RVN  

I was also very moved by this tribute and story which aired Sunday morning. What a man, what service to us all. He expresses all we need to know about Memorial Day.

Semper Fi, Woody….God Bless You for all you have done and are doing.

Captain

Be safe everyone and never forget our Veterans, pick up the phone and make a live call and forget the text messages.

Captain Montefusco

It is with the utmost of sadness that I must report that we have lost an American Patriot. Sgt. Edgar Harrell, a man born from the Greatest Generation who served our nation and continued to serve us all until the end. Words can not express my deepest condolences for his family and all those who have had the pleasure and honor to meet this Marine.

The Captain and many others have traveled many miles with Sgt. Harrell so that he could share his story of survival during World War II. His telling of the tragic sinking of his ship USS Indianapolis and the loss of so many of his shipmates is a painful memory of war. But it is so much more. His experience having lived through that horrible act of war, only strengthened his faith in God and his love of country and all living souls, His story as told directly by him was one of honor, loyalty, courage, integrity, friendship, patriotism, survival, forgiveness and most of all faith.

My dear friend, brother Marine and servant of God touched many lives as I bore witness time and again. I and many others as well as our country will surely miss him.

May he be reunited with all of his and our loved ones who have gone before us. May he look down on us all now and gently guide us to find what we must do before our own history’s are complete.

January in Salt Lake City 2020

Edgar was always surrounded by Marines and all veterans at his speaking events.

Semper Fidelis, God Speed my old friend put in a good word for me.

Captain Montefusco

https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.austinandbell.com%2Fm%2Fobituaries%2FEdgar-Harrell-2%2FMemories&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cb8c2c7195c474f09ddba08d916086e60%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637565047727484521%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=bdqx7ntOF3oeymx2sLrDPFRMNR9IsM32aSR3ku%2F3Vww%3D&reserved=0

What a story he had to tell:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/surviving-marine-uss-indianapolis-dies-age-96/story?id=77609468

https://www.ksl.com/article/46778613/98-year-old-wwii-veterans-survival-story-now-includes-covid-19

Check this tough guy out. Yes one of the Greatest Generation. But also a Veteran, one who stepped up to the plate when her country called. This 98 year old Veteran, John Busch (WW2 Army Air Corps) represents all veterans and others who serve us all. Whether it is a fellow veteran, first responder or private sector business or individual supporting those who serve. John Busch should inspire us all! God speed well done John, thank you for your service and spirit which moves us and keeps you in the game.

Semper Fi, America….”America Strong”.

Captain Montefusco

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2eBxVxO0nh4

We are all lucky to be here in this country, the home of the free and the brave. No matter how you became an American, naturally or immigrant we are all one now! Embrace our liberty and freedom which was earned by and protected by our forefathers, our military and yes our law enforcement officers ever since.

I sure hope everyone celebrated in some way and did not let the Covid Scare scare you off. The Captain and the Utah Military History Group were invited to participate in a great 4th of July military vehicle “Roll out”.

The rollout was organized by one of the greatest military history groups that honors our Military, First Responders and everything great about America. Everyone should visit their web page support their cause and try to attend some of their events. Started by Vernon Stout and his Patriot family the organization does so much for the community. Check them out! below:

The rollout did 40 miles all over Orem, Utah showing no fear. The Captain made a special visit to Ken Watson, a young 93 year old WW2 Navy veteran who served with the 3rd Marine Division in the Pacific. He participated in 4 Island landing and survived having a ship sunk from under him. Proud of his service he lied about his age and joined at just 16 years old! He still lives with the loss of many friends and is one to be honored for his service. Semper Fi, America.

https://www.freedomvehicles.org/

The Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation will present a new mortgage free smart home to one of our own Utah wounded soldiers. US Army SFC . Travis Vendela who was severely wounded in Iraq during his time in service to us all and the Iraqi people.

https://patriotguardridersofutah.org/index.php/utah-pgr-hoth/utah-pgr-hoth-events/icalrepeat.detail/2020/07/03/898/88/2020-07-03-tunnel-to-towers-home-dedication-ceremony-huntsville-ut

The Utah Chapter of the Patriot Riders will escort and support this great event and Foundation which does so much for all our service members and first responders. God bless them all.

The Captain will be making the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation one of the primary Foundations to receive a check at the completion of the epic cross country trip appropriately named Gartforvets, “GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP FOR VETERANS”.

SEMPER FI AMERICA! DISPLAY YOUR PRIDE, HONOR, LOVE OF COUNTRY AND RESPECT FOR ALL THOSE THAT SERVICE IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM. AMERICA RUNS STRONG…AMERICA STRONG!

Get on over to the greatest patriotic store around! The 4th is tomorrow!!!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/khecCLVn4XM?autoplay=1&autohide=1&border=0&egm=0&rel=0&showinfo=0