Salute to Service 2026: A Veterans Day Celebration
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Friday, Nov. 6, at 9 PM
Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1:30 AM
SALUTE TO SERVICE returns to PBS this November to honor our nation’s veterans as well as those currently serving. Hosted by Jason Kelce, this year’s installment features Army veteran and former NFL player Alejandro Villanueva and eight-time Grammy, Academy, and Emmy Award–winning singer, songwriter, composer, and pianist Jon Batiste. Performances by the U.S. Army Field Band and its musical ensembles — Six-String Soldiers, Jazz Ambassadors, Concert Band, and Soldiers’ Chorus — showcase a wide range of musical styles.
As host for SALUTE TO SERVICE, Kelce is all-in on the mission to bring “great music, great energy, and some incredible guests” together to celebrate America’s men and women in the military. Special guest Alejandro Villanueva, Army veteran, former NFL player and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, takes Kelce on a behind-the-scenes tour of his alma mater, including a helicopter ride, an “ambush” by cadets in the field, and navigating the Water Obstacle Course, including a 25-foot drop. Villanueva shares memories of his time as a cadet, his reasons for wanting to serve, and why — despite his NFL success — his time in the military is the highlight of his life.
Musical guest Jon Batiste sings, plays guitar, piano, and melodica with the Six-String Soldiers on “Big Money,” his one-of-a-kind blues arrangement of “Für Elise-Batiste / Alla Turc Movement,” his interpolation of Thelonious Monk’s “Blue Monk,” and his uplifting anthem “Freedom.” Batiste also reflects on his grandfather’s service in the Korean War and the influence of other family members. "Freedom is hard-earned and requires great sacrifice, often unrewarded and performed by unsung heroes that most of us never meet. Since the earliest days of this country my family has inspired me by their examples of service and resilience. They taught me the lessons of how important it is for us to cherish freedoms that we have and to continue to believe in freedom for all people,” said Batiste.
Celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2026, the U.S. Army Field Band has spent decades connecting the Army with American people through music. Leading off the show with a stirring rendition of “Gonna Fly Now,” the band is joined by Kelce on the saxophone. Other performances include “The Climb,” sung by Staff Sgt. Aaron McAleavey at the Library of Congress and “The Long Road Home”. The Six-String Soldiers perform the bluegrass classic “I’ve Endured” and Eric Clapton’s “Change the World,” with standout vocals on both from Staff Sgt. Megan Haskell. And Kelce gets a chance to wail on the baritone sax on “Moanin’” with the Jazz Ambassadors. The Soldiers’ Chorus features Staff Sgt. Alexus Monroe on “None So Beautiful,” a moving tribute honoring fallen soldiers, sacrifice and bravery filmed at Arlington National Cemetery.
Kelce participates in athletic drills with members of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment “The Old Guard,” the Army’s ceremonial unit, and learns about their duties. He gets a lesson on how to carry the flag from the Continental Color Guard, walks through the U.S. Army Drill Team’s gauntlet of moving bayonets, and gets outfitted as a Drum Major by The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. And at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Kelce learns about the meticulous training of the elite, handpicked sentinels who guard the tomb round the clock, and whose precision marching honors the unknowns who made the ultimate sacrifice.
