No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Military groups to participate in Inauguration Day parade

Bianca Strzalkowski
by Bianca Strzalkowski
January 19, 2021
The MA VFW Honor Guard. Courtesy photo.

The MA VFW Honor Guard. Courtesy photo.

The 59th Presidential Inauguration will feature a virtual parade with representatives from all U.S. states and territories that includes military and veteran organizations. “Parade Across America” will showcase performances that celebrate America’s heroes and highlight the diversity, heritage, and resilience of the country, according to a press release from the Presidential Inaugural Committee. It will be livestreamed online Wednesday starting at 3:15 p.m. EST.

Surviving family members of America’s fallen record a video for TAPS participation in Inauguration Day.

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), an organization that provides comfort, care and resources to all those grieving the death of a military loved one, has had a presence at every inauguration since the group’s existence. COVID-19 restrictions and security concerns led event planners to create a virtual platform this year, and Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder of TAPS, says she is “honored” to participate in any way they can.

“It is very different. Primarily, of course, our nation has now lost hundreds of thousands to COVID illnesses and our number one concern is keeping our families safe. A large number of our families have lost additional loved ones in their larger circle to this illness and we take this very seriously. TAPS was so honored to be asked to participate in any way, however that is possible,” she explained.

Carroll founded TAPS in 1994 after the death of her husband, Brig. Gen. Tom Carroll, two years earlier. She shares what an event like Inauguration Day means to her and other surviving family members.

“I think of my husband’s service in the Army and his sacrifice to this nation,” she said. “TAPS is the organization that provides families of America’s fallen heroes with a safe place to grieve their losses, find their community, and honor their loved one — regardless of how or where that loved one died, they lived a life of selfless service to their country. On Inauguration Day, we celebrate our democracy and all that is best about it.”

The Massachusetts Veterans of Foreign Wars State Honor Guard is using its participation to pay special tribute to “The Greatest Generation” of World War II and to today’s “Newest Greatest Generation,” Brian Willette, Massachusetts Veterans of Foreign Wars State Sergeant-at-Arms, said.

Since his group can’t be in D.C. in the traditional sense, veterans went to a local landmark called Szot Park that has a backdrop of a tank from World War II. Their video presentation pays tribute to the incoming administration, Willette said. For him, Inauguration Day is a time for all Americans to come together.

“It means a lot. Washington D.C. to us is a very special place. My father was in the 3rd Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard at Fort Myer, in the Honor Guard. We’re both members of the Old Guard Association,” he said. “This day is a day that all Americans come together — and I guess nowadays for one brief moment — we come together to salute the new president and wish him well and for us to be a part of that moment of unity, for us is very important.”

The Honor Guard participants are all life members of the VFW who have all served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Willette was joined for the presentation by Massachusetts Air National Guard Master Sgt. Christine Lupacchino, Army veteran Eric Segundo, Navy veteran Rene Fuertes, and Marine and Air Force veteran Keith Buckhout.

“Parade Across America” will also include the Native American Women’s Veterans Warriors on behalf of the state of Connecticut, and performances from the United States Coast Guard Band and the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon.

Viewers can tune in starting at 3:15 p.m. EST and on the PIC’s social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch.

Read comments
Tags: Bonnie CarrollBrig. Gen. Tom CarrollInauguration DayOld Guard AssociationParade Across AmericaTragedy Assistance Program for SurvivorsVeteransVeterans of Foreign Wars Dept of Mass.
Bianca Strzalkowski

Bianca Strzalkowski

Bianca Strzalkowski has more than 10 years of experience in storytelling. Her portfolio includes interviews with former Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis, Air Force Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, “Shark Tank” CEO Daymond John, and countless elected and military leaders. Bianca holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and journalism. She resides near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, with her husband and two children. She is a member of the Military Reporters & Editors Association.

Related Posts

Space National Guard advocates discuss current ‘orphan’ status

by AmeriForce Exclusive
11 hours ago
0
Space National Guard

Leaders say space operations are “orphaned” & unsustainable, residing in the Air National Guard when a Space National Guard could...

Read more

Juneteenth: Meet the Black soldiers who delivered emancipation message

by Lucretia Cunningham
1 week ago
0
Juneteenth

Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, commander of the Military District of Texas, played a key role in what would become the...

Read more

Presumed sick? Burn pit legislation seeks to give vets benefit of doubt

by AmeriForce Exclusive
2 weeks ago
0
Burn pit

Bipartisan legislation to improve health care access for service members with burn-pit related illnesses is set for a vote this...

Read more

Units use unique recruiting events to entice enlistment

by Lucretia Cunningham
2 weeks ago
0
recruiting

Unique recruiting events immerse potential guardsmen with a unit, giving them a first-hand look at duties that individual soldiers perform.

Read more

Cyber Shield 2022 focuses on safeguarding DOD Information Network

by Kari Williams
3 weeks ago
0
Cyber Shield

National Guardsmen have converged to prepare for attacks against Department of Defense computer networks as part of Cyber Shield 2022.

Read more

Meet the guardsman helping Ukrainians blow up Russian tanks over the phone

by Military.com
3 weeks ago
0
Sgt. 1st Class Chris Freymann trained roughly 200 Ukrainian soldiers on the Javelin. Courtesy Chris Freymann

Sgt. 1st Class Chris Freymann became an ad hoc, over-the-phone tech support for Ukrainians trying to use Javelin missiles while under fire.

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL

GET RESOURCES

  • VETERAN TRANSITION GUIDE
  • MILITARY EDUCATION GUIDE

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • ENTREPRENEUR
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • TRANSITION
  • HEALTH
  • MONEY
  • TRAVEL
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • RESOURCES
    • VETERAN TRANSITION GUIDE
    • MILITARY EDUCATION GUIDE
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW