A Standing Salute at Boots on the Beach
By the time dinner reached the tables at Thursday night’s Boots on the Beach gala, every person in the room was on their feet. The veterans rose first, then everyone with a loved one who served, and finally anyone who sleeps soundly knowing someone in uniform stands watch somewhere in the world. That last category, as Boot Campaign CEO Shelly Kirkland intended, left no one sitting down.
With Veterans Day coming up this Wednesday, the evening struck a poignant chord. Kirkland marked milestone anniversaries since 9/11 and recent troop withdrawals by throwing down two direct questions to the room: What do you stand for, and who do you stand with? Boot Campaign’s answer remains unwavering: restoring veterans’ lives through direct, customized care.
Keynote speaker Mike Sarraille, a former Recon Marine and decorated Navy SEAL officer, commanded the floor. Beyond his military career, Sarraille has translated elite Special Operations principles into two bestselling business and mindset books: The Talent War, a corporate leadership guide on hiring for character, and The Everyday Warrior, a practical roadmap for personal accountability and mental toughness.
Telling raw stories of fallen teammates like Navy dog handler John "Jet" Douangdara and Medal of Honor recipient Michael Monsoor, Sarraille focused on the bonds forged in the sandbox. He was just as clear-eyed about the long road home, reminding guests that real healing happens when a community steps up to back its own: If we send them, we must mend them.
Special thanks to the Boots on the Beach Host Committee Jean and Jim Ueltschi, Tori and Andrew Barnett, Dr. Michael and Bethany Fortunato and David and Monica Collins as well as sponsors The Hill Group and Peter Anderson, Raymond James Financial Services, for making the night possible. Since 2009, Boot Campaign has delivered customized, no-cost care to more than 13,000 veterans and military families. Missed the evening? You can still take part. Boot Campaign’s online Boot Salute auction went live yesterday and closes on Veterans Day this Wednesday. To learn more or support the mission year-round, visit www.bootcampaign.org.
