Volunteer Tom Kasbeer honors patient Bill with a salute for his service.
Volunteer Tom Kasbeer honors patient Bill with a salute for his service.
Sound of Freedom, News for the Luke Community
July 1, 2026
by Lin Sue Flood
This July, as we celebrate America’s independence, the bonds of military service between two veterans are stronger than ever. This powerful connection drives Hospice of the Valley's Saluting Our Veterans program, which matches patients with volunteers who also served our country. Specially trained volunteers have completed more than 3,500 tribute visits since the program launched in 2011.
For hospice patients like Bill, an Air Force veteran of the Korean War era, these visits bring a profound sense of peace. His volunteer, Tom Kasbeer, is a fellow veteran who visits frequently to talk about the olden days.
When I salute him, it makes me feel proud to be a veteran, Tom says. Its like I have a whole new friend in Mr. Bill.
During the Korean conflict, Bill held a high-level Department of Defense security clearance. He served in a communications role and as a teletype operator in High Wycombe, England, working grueling night shifts to transmit encrypted strategic orders and intelligence.
Despite his vital service, Bill remains incredibly humble. “I got no business getting a salute,” Bill chuckles, downplaying his role because he was never in direct danger. But Tom firmly disagrees: “Bill’s not good about being honored... he very much deserves the honors he’s gotten along the way.”
That much-deserved recognition came to fruition recently. Bill was originally selected to travel to Washington, D.C., with Honor Flight Arizona. But as his health declined over the last couple of months, his son and daughter realized the cross-country trip would be too taxing for the 95-year-old.
Instead, Honor Flight Arizona partnered with Hospice of the Valley to bring the best part of the journey directly to him: the Welcome Home ceremony at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Honor Flight Arizona pulled out all the stops, presenting him with an official Honor Flight T-shirt, a Mail Call bag packed with letters of gratitude written to veterans and a starring role in the airport parade, rolling under a sea of American flags while 130 people stood and cheered.
Wiping away tears throughout the emotional ceremony, Bill was saluted by dozens of travelers. At one point, a pair of Southwest Airlines pilots spotted his Air Force hat and offered a sharp nod and a salute. Back home in his Tempe residence, Bill now treasures a custom, patriotic quilt handmade by a hospice volunteer. As a former high school woodworking teacher from the Chicago suburbs, Bill appreciates the craftsmanship of the gift, smiling and noting, “It’s my colors.”
Hospice of the Valley welcomes volunteers interested in bringing comfort and camaraderie to patients like Bill can visit hov.org/volunteer/saluting-our-veterans to learn more about joining the tribute team.
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