JEFF SEEBER

Transcript of Military Salute Project Director Jeff Seeber's speech to the Tribute To The Troops Concert at the Medina Entertainment Center on September 7, 2008 ...

I am willing to bet that Rockie Lynne and Gregg Schmitt had no more idea what would follow when they launched Tribute To The Troops in 2004 than I did when my group started the Military Salute Project a year earlier, but I know for certain that their efforts have impacted many lives, and mine is one of them.

One night in September, 2004 while I was making copies of our Military Salute video we used to mail all over the world upon request, I happened to be watching the local news and my attention was drawn to a report about a group of motorcycle riders who had visited several families in the Twin Cities earlier that day. Each of the families had lost loved ones who sacrificed their lives in the Global War On Terror.

The pictures needed no words. The faces of the family members said it all. The riders offered handshakes, hugs, words of comfort and their tears. I tried to imagine what the families must have felt when that group of strangers rode up their driveways to let them know their loved ones had not been forgotten. That was when I learned about Tribute To The Troops.

When the segment ended, I realized that while some of the riders were obviously Veterans, many of them, or even most of them, were not. That stunned me. I remember shaking my head in disbelief, because I had lived long enough to see something I never thought I would see … a group of Americans who had not served honoring and remembering those who had given the last full measure of devotion.

That moment was the beginning of a personal healing that has been taking place ever since. Being asked to speak here tonight presents me with the opportunity to say something to all of you who have not worn a military uniform, yet who support our men and women serving in America's Armed Forces, and especially the families of the Fallen.

Those of us who served during Vietnam and throughout the Cold War expect our brother and sister Veterans to stand for those who are serving now because we are determined that what happened to us will not happen to them. But because of what we experienced in the 70s, 80s and 90s, we never expected those who have not served to do the same.

When I saw that news report and noticed the majority of the participants were apparently not Veterans, I suddenly felt an ember of warmth and a ray of light penetrate the cold, dark cavern inside me that had been filled with anger and frustration for more than three decades.

A few days after your third ride in 2006, the Military Salute Project began notifying individuals and groups throughout Minnesota about EchoTaps Worldwide, a joint effort of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and Bugles Across America scheduled for May, 2007 to publicize the availability of volunteer buglers to sound Taps at the funerals of Veterans.

My group had volunteered to coordinate the ceremony at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Gregg Schmitt was the first group leader to respond, offering the services of Tribute To The Troops in whatever capacity we could include them.

To be honest about it, I used EchoTaps for another reason than that which it was intended. I designed the program to serve as the Military Funeral Honors several of my buddies who died in 1970 earned, deserved, but did not receive because of the political climate at the time.

When the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the National Cemetery Administration saw what we had put together, he decided to come to Minneapolis from Washington, DC to witness the event, even though he had more than 125 facilities to choose from.

The morning of the event, the Secretary asked me to tell him about the biker group he had heard about that visited Minnesota families every year. I looked at my watch, noticed it was almost time for the riders to enter the cemetery from across 34th Avenue, and I said, "It would be easier if you saw it for yourself. They're on the way." Moments later, we heard the approaching rumble.

Through the main gates you came, motorcycles stretching as far as we could see, some 150 bikes strong. Then you lined both sides of the street to welcome the Minnesota Patriot Guard as they entered the cemetery. Finally, you took your places on either side of the main aisle of the seating area, surrounding the Gold Star and Blue Star families in attendance.

I approached the Secretary just as you were leaving following the ceremony. He was watching your departure with tears in his eyes. There we were, two Vietnam Veterans who had endured years of physical pain from our service-connected injuries and decades of the much worse emotional pain inflicted by other Americans who had abandoned us, crying in amazement.

He immediately noticed the same thing I had noticed two years earlier. Almost in awe, he said, "Most of them aren't Veterans." I replied, "Did you ever think you'd live long enough to see that?" A new wave of tears was the only answer he could give.

For more than 30 years, the only non-Veterans I knew and respected were my wife, Candace, and the spouses and family members of the men and women I know who I see frequently at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. That changed when I met members of Tribute To The Troops and the Minnesota Patriot Guard.

Your willingness to support our men and women who wear the uniforms of our Armed Forces, the Minnesota Army and Air National Guard, and especially the families of the Fallen, has changed the lives of tens of thousands of Cold War Veterans. You have helped to heal us. You have helped to bring us home. On behalf of my brother and sister Veterans, thank you.

Earlier today, you visited troops at Camp Ripley to show your appreciation for their service and their sacrifice. In World War II, 12.2% of Americans wore a uniform. More than half of them were inducted through the Selective Service System. During Vietnam, 4.3% of Americans served. Slightly less than one-quarter of them were drafted. Since 1973, our Armed Forces have been all-volunteer. During the Persian Gulf War, 1.1% of Americans answered the call. During the War On Terror, the number stands at 0.7%. Let me repeat that. Less than one percent of America's population currently shoulders the responsibility for keeping the other 99-plus percent free.

The huge majority of American citizens go about their daily lives enjoying the rights and privileges available to them because they live under an umbrella of freedom being held aloft by an ever-shrinking percentage of the population.

Those who sacrifice everything for everyone else deserve our support and our appreciation. To all of you who have served since September 11, 2001, whether in one of the five branches, the Reserves, or the National Guard … and to all of your family members … thank you for your service.

Tribute To The Troops riders fanned out across the state yesterday and Friday to visit the families of the fallen in the hopes of providing some comfort and to let them know their heroes, and our heroes, are not forgotten.

I know what it's like to lose a buddy, but I cannot imagine what it must be like when that friend was also a spouse, a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother or a sister. I have no comprehension of that level of grief. All we have to offer are our tears and our support. On behalf of all those who love freedom, thank you.

The Military Salute Project is a proud Freedom Sponsor of Tribute To The Troops this year. Because of what Rockie and Gregg started 4 years ago, my group also does whatever we can to let Gold Star families know that their loved ones are not forgotten.

A few months ago, during the 2008 Honor & Remember Ride To Washington we helped PGR member Jim Benson coordinate, many of the 15 people here tonight as my guests visited the gravesites of Minnesotans buried at Arlington National Cemetery. We took pictures at each headstone and posted them on our website so that the families and friends of Minnesota Heroes would know that strangers had stopped by that sacred place to spend a few minutes honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

Because of the comments we have heard from Gold Star families all across this nation since we posted the photos in early July, the Military Salute Project is now preparing for the 2009 Remember The Fallen Tribute.

On seven weekends in May, June, July and August we will visit every Minnesota gravesite of those who gave their lives in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation Noble Eagle. We will place a floral arrangement, sound Taps, take pictures at each headstone, and then post them on our website just as we did at Arlington.

When we announced our plans a few weeks ago, Gregg Schmitt was once again the first group leader who responded and offered whatever assistance Tribute To The Troops could provide. We are very appreciative. On behalf of all of us at the Military Salute Project, we look forward to continuing to work with you to honor and remember all those who serve, their families, and especially the families and friends of our fallen heroes. May God bless all of you and may God bless America. Thank you.