SFLI Update

 SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION

      Chapter 76 - South Florida 

          “The Green Berets”

 

June 24, 2026

Hello Members and Friends of the Association,

We hope everyone is doing well and have big plans for our Nation's 250th Birthday Celebration.  The sacrifices of our military and Families have made this Nation great.

 

SFLI is a 501(c)(3) organization.  Our role is to preserve, honor, and sustain the legacy of Special Forces through the three pillars of our mission.  We accomplish that through the SF museum project, events that keep the SF Brotherhood connected, and the JFK Special Warfare Museum Gift store.  We do not compete with the benevolent organizations that provide programs and services to SF Soldiers, Veterans and Families.  Each organization in this space fills a distinct role in the SF Community.

 

SFLI updates:

 

We would like to thank the 96 SF and Family members that joined us on the Carnival Freedom in January.  It is always great to reconnect and spend time together.  A big thanks to Carle Hurst, Dream Vacations, for donating her commissions ($9,000.00) to the National SF Museum project.  100% of all donations go to building a privately-funded SF Museum.

 

Future Cruises, learn more and register through sfli.org/events/ : 

 

SF Group (50 Cabins) - Carnival Horizon from February 7-13, 2027.  Departing Miami and visiting Ports of Call - Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Bahamas

 

SF Group (50 Cabins) - Royal Princess from August 28 - September 4, 2027.  Departing Seattle, WA and visiting Ports of Call - Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, Ketchikan, and Victoria, B.C.

 

SFLI Charter Cruise - In discussions for a full boat charter in late 2028 or early 2029.  Where do you want to go?

 

We have launched our new website that details progress on the National SF Museum project, SFLI involvement in the SF Community, and support to SF small businesses through JFK Museum Gift Store and online sales.  Check us out!  DOL

 

https://sfli.org/

Respectfully,

 

Kevin L. Harry

President

SF Legacy Initiatives

https://SFLI.org

(423) 895-3769

Special Request for Michael Carricarte Funeral

 

SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION

      Chapter 76 - South Florida 

          “The Green Berets”

 

June 23, 2026

 

Brothers,

 

Mike Carricarte’s son Andrew put out the request that 10 of Mike’s friends stand with him at the burial service for a Final Roll Call ceremony. Please let me know if you intend to attend the burial service by responding to this email message, by text or phone to 954-445-1740. There is expected to be a large attendance, so please arrive early enough to park.

 

Please bring your berets or other military headgear as there will be a photographer for both occasions.

See clothing color preferences below.

 

 

The burial service will be held on June 27, 2026 at 2:00pm at Caballero Woodlawn North located at 3260 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135 which will be followed by a Celebration of Life at 4:30pm at the historic Biltmore Hotel located at 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134

 

Joe Pruett on behalf of

Ed Pijuan

President

 

Chapter 76 Facebook Site: https://www.facebook.com/SFA-South-Florida-Chapter-76-111343950710574/

 

Chapter Blog is located at http://SFACH76.Blogspot.com/

 

Special Forces Association Online Teamhouse https://teamhousespecialforcesassociation.org

 

Please update your email address to prevent interruptions

 

ED PIJUAN

PRESIDENT

 

ROGER KIDDER

VICE PRESIDENT

 

ED BELLO

2^nd VICE PRESIDENT & WEBMASTER

 

AL HERNANDEZ

SECRETARY

 

JASON PSALTIDES

SECRETARY

 

JIM TRICE

TREASURER

 

TOM HOUSE

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

_________________

 

DAN POIRIER

CHAPTER 76 BLOGGER

 

JOE PRUETT

COMMUNICATIONS

 

Final Salute

 

SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION

      Chapter 76 - South Florida 

          “The Green Berets”

 

 

Brothers:  Just a quick reminder of the funeral services for SGM Roy Reel on Tuesday morning – see WARNING ORDER below.

 

NOTE:  This will be a full military honors burial service with the Honor Guard coming from Miami as well as Airborne Chaplain who give the eulogy.

 

PLEASE let me know if you are planning on coming so we can help Lori plan accordingly.  Any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me…

 

 

De Oppresso Liber 

 

Chris R. Bell, MSG (R)

Special Projects Officer

Special Forces Legacy Initiatives (SFLI)

(727) 244.1016

SpecialProjects@SFLI.org

 

 

 

"It is easy and most common to run from our fears.  To turn and face the fear is rare, but to step towards it, is truly a measure of courage. The Green Berets" – LTC Kevin Holbrook, 1^st SFGA

 

 

Brothers:  I want to provide you with confirmation and the following information of the Memorial Service for SGM Roy Reel:

 

1. The burial service will take place on June 23, 2026 at 10:00AM
2. The burial service will be conducted at the Garden of Memories located at 4207 E Lake Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610.
3. There will be a full military Honor Guard being coordinated by LTC(R) Danny Paul.
4. We will form up as a Detachment by the grave site and after the honor guard has concluded their duties, we will come to ATTENTION and the FINAL ORDERS will be read and copies presented to Roy’s son, Russell and daughter, Lori. Please bring and wear your Green Beret.
5. We will render a HAND SALUTE to honor one of our own and then remain AT EASE while the Chaplain gives a eulogy.
6. Immediately following the service, there will be a reception at the funeral home located very near the burial site.

 

It is my hope that if you served under SGM Reel you will want to honor his life of service to the Special Forces community. If you only know him by the history shared by those who knew and respected him, you come and recognize a valued member of the Brotherhood.

 

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me…

 

 

De Oppresso Liber

 

Chris R. Bell, MSG (R)

Special Projects Officer

Special Forces Legacy Initiatives (SFLI)

(727) 244.1016

SpecialProjects@SFLI.org

 

Joe Pruett on behalf of

Ed Pijuan

President

 

Chapter 76 Facebook Site: https://www.facebook.com/SFA-South-Florida-Chapter-76-111343950710574/

 

Chapter Blog is located at http://SFACH76.Blogspot.com/

 

Special Forces Association Online Teamhouse https://teamhousespecialforcesassociation.org

 

Please update your email address to prevent interruptions

 

ED PIJUAN

PRESIDENT

 

ROGER KIDDER

VICE PRESIDENT

 

ED BELLO

2^nd VICE PRESIDENT & WEBMASTER

 

AL HERNANDEZ

SECRETARY

 

Michael Carricarte Services

 

 "We Have Lost One Of Our Own"            

 COL(R) Michael Anthony "Mike" Carricarte 83         

       ***DOB June 22, 1942  ~ DOD June 15, 2026***

Here you go Brother. 

I’d like to lead a Final Roll Call at the burial. If you have some guys from the SF Group to participate in 

the Final Roll Call formation to honor him, I’d greatly appreciate it. Just a beret or service hat and regular 

clothes would be required. 

I would like to thank Mike's son Andrew for sending us this information wear your beret's or service hat to

 honor Mike.

_{RIP Mike}                                                                                                                                                               

_{SFC®  William H."Bill" Eades Jr}

BillyEades@yahoo.com

(786)  426-1174

All the best,

Andrew

Andrew L. Carricarte

Chief Executive Officer

 

3/20th. Special Forces Roll Of Honor

 

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---

Iran’s president offers resignation, citing total takeover by IRGC commanders

You read it here first.

Joseph L. Shaefer Jun 2

READ IN APP

Just a brief posting… I wrote in my analysis three months ago, in March, “The U.S. Is Hunting the Wrong Enemy in Iran.” I noted that this is not, and should not be, about the Iranian people. Nor is it about “radical Islam.”

It is about the power of the tyrannical IRGC and their street thugs, the Basij. There can be no successful end to this war as long as the IRGC controls the nation. They cannot afford to lose. If they do, they lose everything and must answer to the Itanians so long repressed by the IRGC. I believe most of their members will die rather than give up the power and the illicit income they enjoy, riding on the backs of the Iranian people.

The IRGC has painted itself into a corner. It is a very powerful corner, with the benefit of the defender. From here, they must win diplomatically against a foe more interested in the next election than in the miscalculation of a swift victory in Iran. Anything less than their ouster or demise looks to the world like a victory over a very large paper tiger that has the world’s most capable military, but politicians with weak spines.

I believe, as well, that Mojtaba Khamenei, if he is even alive, is probably not the true leader of Iran. That is the image presented, but I see him as more likely a puppet that the IRGC pays fealty to, yet one it controls by deciding what information to provide or withhold. Everything goes through “The Office of the Supreme Leader,” a la the information-filtering servants in Gulliver’s Travels.

The article below was published late yesterday by Iran International, a London-based publication. It is not squeaky clean, either. They get the news right, as they did here, but slant their editorial content. Investigative reporting by The Wall Street Journal has detailed that the channel's initial launch and funding came via corporate structures linked to the Saudi Arabian royal court and figures close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. To the article:

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian

“Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has submitted an official letter of resignation to the Office of the Supreme Leader, a source familiar with the matter told Iran International.

“In the letter sent on Sunday, Pezeshkian stressed that the president and the government have effectively been excluded from major and vital decision-making processes in the country, and that the vacuum created by this situation has enabled hardline factions within the IRGC to take control of affairs, the source said.

“Pezeshkian added that under such circumstances he is unable to run the government and carry out his legal responsibilities, and for that reason has requested to step down immediately.

“It is not yet clear whether Mojtaba Khamenei will accept the president’s resignation, but the contents of the letter point to a deep and unprecedented rift at the highest levels of power.

“This comes after months of tensions between the government and the Islamic Republic’s military-security institutions. Iran International previously reported that the IRGC had gradually restricted many presidential powers and effectively taken control of key parts of the government.

“According to informed sources, the situation has left Pezeshkian’s administration trapped in a political and executive deadlock, preventing diplomatic negotiations from moving forward [emphasis mine] and the completion and implementation of desired changes to the cabinet structure.”

© Joseph L Shaefer 2026

This Saturday June 6, the Miami-Dade Military Museum presents a D-Day remembrance on its 82nd anniversary.

 June 3, 2026

Hello Members and Friends of the Association,

This Saturday June 6, the Miami-Dade Military Museum presents a D-Day remembrance on its 82^nd anniversary.

https://www.miamimilitarymuseum.org/

The DAV Chapter 12 has presented the museum with an as yet unassembled granite bench which I had Gemini AI

assemble for the purposes of this message. FYI, there is no bronze plaque in front of it.

FUNERAL FOR SGM ROY REEL

 Brothers:  I want to provide you with confirmation and the following information of the Memorial Service for SGM Roy Reel:

 

• The burial service will take place on June 23, 2026 at 10:00AM
• The burial service will be conducted at the Garden of Memories located at 4207 E Lake Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610.
• There will be a full military Honor Guard being coordinated by LTC(R) Danny Paul.
• We will form up as a Detachment by the grave site and after the honor guard has concluded their duties, we will come to ATTENTION and the FINAL ORDERS will be read and copies presented to Roy’s son, Russell and daughter, Lori. Please bring and wear your Green Beret.
• We will render a HAND SALUTE to honor one of our own and then remain AT EASE while the Chaplain gives a eulogy.
• Immediately following the service, there will be a reception at the funeral home located very near the burial site.

 

It is my hope that if you served under SGM Reel you will want to honor his life of service to the Special Forces community. If you only know him by the history shared by those who knew and respected him, you come and recognize a valued member of the Brotherhood.

 

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me…

 

De Oppresso Liber

 

 

 

 

Chris R. Bell, MSG (R)

Special Projects Officer

Special Forces Legacy Initiatives (SFLI)

(727) 244.1016

SpecialProjects@SFLI.org

 

view the web version of this email Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Passes Legislature Today, May 29th, marks the last day of the Florida special session. HB 7031-E received final passage and will soon be transmitted to Governor's desk for his consideration.  HB 7031-E includes holiday sales tax exemptions for ammunition, firearms, and firearm accessories. Their amended agreement includes suppressors as firearm accessories, and the sales tax exemption will be from September 1st, 2026, to December 31st, 2026. NRA thanks Primary Sponsor and House Ways and Means Chair Wyman Duggan, House Speaker Danny Perez, Senate Majority Leader Jim Boyd, Senate President Pro Tempore Jason Brodeur, and all legislators who voted in favor of HB 7031-E. Please stay tuned to the NRA-ILA website and your inbox for future updates.