Randy Parker, CEO, Hyundai Motor America, Oswaldo Perez, U.S. Marine Corporal, Diane D. Nemecek, Senior Director, Folds of Honor, José Muñoz, President and Global Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor Company, and President and CEO, Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America pictured with the Perez Marin family, Folds of Honor Scholarship recipients during the check presentation at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Miami on May 26, 2023.
As a part of this commitment and for a second year in a row, Hyundai is donating $50,000 to Folds of Honor to provide scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members.
The National Salute to America’s Heroes presented by Hyundai returned to Miami Beach for the seventh year this Memorial Day weekend May 27-28, 2023. The patriotic two-day event is designed to pay tribute and honor military and first responders and includes the Hyundai Air & Sea Show, U.S. Army SaluteFest, Music Explosion presented by Hyundai, and a display village with interactive exhibits, simulators, and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.
Since its debut in 2017, the National Salute to America’s Heroes has become the largest U.S. Military celebration and remembrance event during Memorial Day weekend and is a part of Hyundai’s long-term commitment to supporting the U.S. military.
“We’re proud to support the U.S. military and honor America’s greatest heroes as a partner of the National Salute to America’s Heroes since 2017,” said Jose Munoz, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America (pictured at right). “At Hyundai, we all share the greatest respect, admiration and appreciation for the contributions and sacrifices of the men and women in our nation’s armed services.”
“Thanks to the support of Hyundai, we are able to create a national signature event that honors and pays its respects to the men and women of our military and first responders,” said Mickey Markoff, executive producer, Hyundai Air & Sea Show. “There is no better time than Memorial Day weekend to pay tribute to our military, first responders, and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our freedom.”
This spectacular eye-popping, ear-splitting two-day event on Memorial Day Weekend featured the Cigarette offshore powerboat racing exhibition, ThunderCats Racing Exhibition, extreme water sports, the FPL Display Village, USA Boxing Exhibition and more, all on the beautiful shores of Miami Beach. Each of these elements are dynamic action-oriented activities that are well known in South Florida.
National Salute to America’s Heroes
The National Salute to America’s Heroes is anchored by the Hyundai Air & Sea Show, The Greatest Show Above the Earth, showcasing the men, women, technology and equipment of all five branches of the U.S. military, police, firefighter and first responder agencies.
(Randy Parker, CEO Hyundai Motor America (pictured left) paid tribute to the Folds of Honor scholarship recipients prior to presenting the $50k check.
Live Entertainment
This year, The National Salute to America’s Heroes, in collaboration with the U.S. Army, proudly presents the U.S. Army SaluteFest, a spectacular addition to the Hyundai Air & Sea Show.
U.S. Army SaluteFest, features four musical acts including platinum-selling country music star Chris Janson, viral singing sensation JVKE, platinum-selling Latin Pop music singer NATTI NATASHA, and country music artist BRELAND.
Our favorite display: The AH-64 Apache
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American twin-turboshaftattack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. It features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems. It is armed with a 30 mm (1.18 in)M230 chain gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft's forward fuselage, and four hardpoints mounted on stub-wing pylons for carrying armament and stores, typically a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods. The AH-64 has significant systems redundancy to improve combat survivability. We enjoyed the opportunity to check it and we have several special videos showing us in action with the pilot. Attendees had trhe chance to check it out as well during the event.
The event will be hosted by former football player Rob "Gronk" Gronkowski, a four-time All-Pro tight end. The U.S. Army SaluteFest™ will feature an interactive Display Village, a mesmerizing drone show, and a fireworks extravaganza. Attendees can also expect to see the U.S. Army's top technology, innovations, and career opportunities on display.
After the Hyundai Air & Sea Show® on Sunday, May 28 the stage in the LiquorSplit Beach Club will be transformed for the Music Explosion™ presented by Hyundai featuring country music stars Big & Rich. In addition, there will be performances by U.S. Military Bands culminating with the spectacular Veterans Florida Fireworks Extravaganza.
To add a touch of class and style, the eleganrt new Hyundai Ionic 6 was on display right outside the hanger (as seen above) and as you can see, it didn't disappoint.
For the legions of attendees to the show, an FPL Display Village is over four city blocks long of interactive displays along Ocean Drive centered on Lummus Park and will include the Hyundai Hangar, a patriotically inspired consumer lounge honoring the military and first responders located between 12th and 13th Street, featuring the 2023 IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, a collaborative chalkboard memorial wall for messages to family and friends who have served and other interactive activities and themed giveaways.
Hyundai’s Military Support Hyundai shows its support for the U.S. Military with its Stars and Stripes employee resource group created to honor veterans, military service members and their families within the company. In addition, Hyundai’s Veteran Employment Transition program actively recruits military veterans for Hyundai dealership parts and service positions. The company allows veterans free access to its factory training centers both in-person and via online courses throughout the United States where they can jump-start their automotive career even before their separation from the military. Hyundai has also been recognized as a 2023 Military Friendly® Employer from VIQTORY (an honor Hyundai has received ten times) for being a company that hires, retains, promotes and supports military veterans in addition to being named a “Best for Vets Employer” by Military Times.
Our Favorite part of Media Day: The Honor Guard: Precision, Pride and Military Swag
This well dressed, razor sharp young military drill team blew everyone away with dynamic, high precision choreography while spinning, twirling and manuevering their rifles in perfect unison.
The presentation gat better with each second. Here's a short clip below
About National Salute to America’s Heroes The National Salute to America’s Heroes presented by Hyundai is a nationwide two-day celebration held on Miami Beach, Florida featuring the Hyundai Air & Sea Show, Music Explosion presented by Hyundai, U.S. Army SaluteFest, and Salute 365 initiative. Held Memorial Day Weekend, Hyundai Air & Sea Show focuses on honoring and paying tribute to the military and first responders who protect the freedoms of all Americans and those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. For more information and to view the promotional video, please visit, www.USAsalute.com.