Early on Memorial Day morning, May 27, 2024, the Bongard Family ALERT Cadets lined up in town for the holiday parade. The veterans already assembled seemed slightly bothered with these newbies joining their parade. However, when Cpl. Matthew Bongard called his brothers to fall in, the vets started to change their minds about these young fellows. 

Watching the young men stand at attention for five minutes without flinching, the veterans looked on in wonder.  One Navy vet approached the unit and said, “You boys can hold attention better than most army units.” He then said, chuckling, “When we came out fifty years ago, you could watch us and learn. Now, fifty years later, you don’t want to follow what we do.”

The county sheriff also walked by and praised the young men, saying, “You scouts are looking good today!” The Ladies’ Auxiliary noticed the boys’ discipline and told them, “You will have to bear with us. We do not know how to march.” The parade began, and MI3D [Michigan 3rd Delta, the name of their unit] marched a mile to the cemetery where the ceremony would take place. 

After the ceremony, the Cadets jumped into action! They took down tents and loaded up sound system equipment for the veterans. The older men were so thankful for the extra help. One local pastor wrote down the ALERT Cadet website information so he could encourage the boys at his church to join. 

This special day was a huge blessing to the Bongard family and to the community, but it did not happen by accident. Even though we do not have any other ALERT Cadet families in our area, our family has made every Friday night “Cadet Night” at home. Also, most Saturday mornings the Bongard sons will practice marching or do PT. 

When I saw the sheriff and other veterans praising the Cadets, I thought of the verse, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men” (Proverbs 22:29). I encourage all families to stay on the firing line, because God’s grace is sufficient, and it will be worth it all!