By Larry Jones
January 31, 2011

Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene J. Mulder introduced mayors at the January 20 luncheon to Salute Inc., an organization that provides a wide-range of support to the men and women in the military who have put their lives on the line to protect and defend our freedom. She said, "Today, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of JFK's [President John Fitzgerald Kennedy] inaugural speech. And he challenged, 50 years ago, the nation to ask ourselves, what is it that we can do to make a difference in someone's life? What can we do for the men and women who put on a uniform to protect and keep the very freedom that defines this country—America?"

Mulder invited Mary Beth Beiersdorf, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Salute Inc., to discuss the organization's mission. Beiersdorf, told mayors that the idea to create Salute Inc. grew out of her own personal life experience almost ten years ago when her husband was deployed on a military mission leaving her and the family in need of support. During that time she said, "Arlington Heights, as a community, helped our family out for almost a year and a half." It was that experience that later led her and her husband to start Salute Inc., which provides support to address the financial, physical and emotional needs of military service members, veterans and their families across the nation. "Now, eight years later, we're helping hundreds of families across the United States," she said. In closing Beiersdorf asked mayors to connect with Salute Inc. to find out more about how the organization can help support military service members in their communities. Information can be found online at www.saluteinc.org.

tion can help support military service members in their communities. Information can be found online at www.saluteinc.org.