Behind the scenes at West Point, and with The Old Guard—Jason Kelce hosts ‘Salute to Service’
Every year there are countless tributes to service members for Veterans Day, from free food to special concerts and more—but this year’s “Salute to Service 2026: A Veterans Day Celebration” premiering on PBS looks particularly dope. The program will be hosted by none other than Super Bowl Champion Jason Kelce, who played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats before playing thirteen seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles.
In addition to being ranked as one of the best NFL Centers of all time, Kelce is also the co-host of the sports podcast “New Heights” alongside his brother, Taylor Swift’s husband Travis, Kansas City Chiefs tight end and sometime Super Bowl opponent.
This is not Kelce’s first time paying tribute to veterans. The grandson of a World War II soldier—Willis “Bill” Kelce, who was shot down three dang times while serving on bombers, survived, and received the Purple Heart—Kelce holds a lot of respect for service members and their families. He’s contributed to multiple Veterans Day events, including special segments on “Monday Night Countdown” and even braving a Navy SEAL Push-Up Challenge.
“As Veterans Day approaches, it’s a reminder of the sacrifice that a lot of people put out there every day so we get to sit on this desk and enjoy this game,” Kelce shared in an emotional segment with former teammate Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen, whose grandfather gave his life to save his fellow Marines from a grenade during the Vietnam War.
“I mean, listen, he saved five other soldiers on that day. Those soldiers went on to have kids,” Kelce said, holding back tears. “Probably fifty, over fifty people alive today because of that decision, he did that leaving behind a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old.”
This year, Kelce will be joined by eight-time Grammy, Academy, and Emmy Award-winning musician Jon Batiste as well as Army veteran and former NFL player Alejandro Villanueva, who will take Kelce on a behind-the-scenes tour of his alma mater, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. There, cadets will roll out the red carpet for Kelce by ambushing him on the field, taking him for a helicopter ride, and lovingly inviting him to navigate the Water Obstacle Course.
Villanueva served three tours of duty in Afghanistan with the 75th Ranger Regiment, where he earned a Bronze Star. And while he also played as an offensive tackle for eight seasons in the NFL (for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens), he shares why his service in the Army was the highlight of his life.
Kelce will also join members of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment—“The Old Guard”—to learn about the meticulous traditions that protect the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Sentinels who guard the memorial protect their station twenty-four hours a day, every single day of the year, no matter the holiday, no matter the weather. Only the most elite are accepted into the unit, with strict and intense training to ensure the discipline and adherence to precise tradition.
In the special, Kelce will participate in athletic drills with the Sentinels, learn how to carry the flag from the Continental Color Guard, walk through a U.S. Army Drill Team’s gauntlet of moving bayonets, and get outfitted as a Drum Major by The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.
While it can be easy for vets to discount these kinds of events as dog-and-pony shows, I like to think of them as ways to bridge the civilian-military divide—and even service branch division. Learning the nuances and traditions of our many military units is fascinating and meaningful, especially for military families. Memorials like The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are a somber reminder of the cost of our freedoms and way of life; insight into the symbolism behind every precise movement unite us in our vow to never forget the sacrifices of the fallen and to value our constitution and country.
Why do the Sentinels carry a weapon at the “shoulders-arms” position? Why do they take twenty-one steps? Where were the remains of the service members entombed in the memorial found and from which conflicts? There is a thoughtful reason behind every detail.
The special also brims with an incredible concert of patriotic anthems. Batiste, a singer, songwriter, composer, and pianist who is but a Tony away from his EGOT (you hear that, Broadway?), will sing and play guitar, piano, and melodica with the Army Field Band 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.”
The grandson of a Korean War veteran, Batiste reflected on why it was important to him to honor the men and women who have served in our armed forces.
“Freedom is hard-earned and requires great sacrifice, often unrewarded and performed by unsung heroes that most of us never meet,” he stated in a press release. “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 the freedoms that we have and to continue to believe in freedom for all people.”
The U.S. Army Field Band, who celebrates their 80th anniversary this year, opens the show with “Gonna Fly Now,” joined by none other than goddamn Jason Kelce on the saxophone (seriously, his mother must be the proudest woman on the planet).
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 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.
“Salute to Service 2026: A Veterans Day Celebration” is produced by Snap Snap Productions and directed by Emmy Award winner Habib Azar (Armless). It is written by Sgt. Major Lauren Urquhart, Master Sgt. Pamela Daniels, and Sgt. 1st Class Scott Devereaux, who all helped to maintain accuracy and authenticity.
The program will stream on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, simultaneously with broadcast on PBS and be available on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS app.
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