A beautiful day and big turnout made the 2025 Salute Honor and Remember Walk & Run one to remember. It was a great tribute to our veterans and their families.
Founder Mary Beth Beirsdorf (left) shown here with Team Burhop. We were stationed at the finish line with complimentary water and electrolytes, and a fun pinwheel pick for participants to win a prize!
Whole Foods generously sponsored post-run/walk refreshments. Participants grabbed bags filled with food and water to refuel after their walk or run.
Signs along the route represented a soldier honored by loved ones, from friends and family to devoted spouses. They were later gathered on the hill in a powerful tribute to our local soldiers.
Leaders, participants, volunteers, and sponsors gathered to hear remarks from Salute founders, the Beiersdorfs, Arlington Heights’ new mayor, and long-time Team Salute members.
Honoring Service: A Spotlight on Salute, Inc.
BY EMILY DOUBEK / PUBLISHED JULY 10, 2025
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Across communities nationwide, one organization shines as a steadfast source of support for veterans and their families: Salute, Inc.
Founded in 2003 by Will and Mary Beth Beiersdorf, Salute, Inc. was born from personal experience: Will’s deployment to Guantanamo Bay after 9/11 and the financial strain his family faced back home. Together, they turned their gratitude into action, creating a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting those who have served.
From these humble beginnings in Palatine, Illinois, Salute has evolved into a nationwide network of hope. With over 26,000 lives touched, millions distributed, and programs ranging from adaptive cycling to hospital support, Salute illuminates the path forward for those who once stood on the front lines.
This past Memorial Day Weekend, The Burhop Group had the privilege of sponsoring Salute’s Annual Honor and Remember Walk & Run, held at Lake Arlington in Arlington Heights. Participants had the option to run a 4-mile route or walk 2 miles, coming together to honor both fallen and active service members. Along the path, Honor and Remember signs, purchased by loved ones, lined the route—each one a heartfelt tribute to those who have bravely served our country.
How You Can Support
To love and serve is to echo Salute’s core. If you've ever wondered how you can personally make a difference, Salute, Inc. offers a clear path—through giving, volunteering, and raising your voice. Together, we can ensure that veterans and their families thrive, not just survive. Here’s how you can help:
Volunteer Your Time: Join Salute’s community events and activities throughout the year. Every hour volunteered helps advance veteran assistance programs.
Make a Donation: Your financial support helps cover essential expenses like rent, utilities, car payments, and basic living needs for veterans and military families facing hardship.
Join Team Salute: Run, walk, or fundraise in support of injured veterans. Team Salute members proudly represent the cause, raising both funds and awareness while spreading a message of hope.
Visit saluteinc.org to learn more, donate, or join Team Salute today. Whether you give your time, resources, or energy, your support provides stability, dignity, and opportunity for all those who have served.
“The importance of the role that SALUTE has played in our work with high-risk veterans cannot be overstated.”
Salute, Inc. is a nonprofit organization committed to providing individualized assistance to veterans and military families facing financial hardship. Recognizing that no two situations are the same, Salute works directly with each veteran to assess their unique circumstances and determine the most impactful form of support.
The organization focuses on addressing immediate, critical needs that help stabilize daily life, including:
Housing Stability: Assistance with rent and mortgage payments to prevent eviction or foreclosure.
Transportation: Support for car payments and repairs, ensuring veterans can access employment, medical care, and essential services.
Basic Living Expenses: Financial support for groceries, diapers, clothing, daycare, and uncovered medical bills.
Utilities: Payment of utility bills to maintain safe, functioning, and livable homes.
In addition to these core services, Salute also provides specialized assistance such as adaptive bikes for rehabilitation, laptops to support job searches, or tuition assistance for continuing education—tailored to the needs of each individual veteran.
Since its founding, Salute has earned recognition for its highly personalized and impactful approach to veteran support. Through compassionate, targeted assistance, it remains dedicated to empowering veterans, strengthening families, and fostering long-term stability.