Elite Edition Inc. was born from the deeply personal experiences of U.S. Army CPT (Ret.) Shaniqua Walton, whose time in service exposed her to the silent struggles of those who wear the uniform and the families they leave behind.  

 

Two names etched into her heart are SGT Blair Allendale, a soldier who served directly under her leadership and lost his battle after leaving the military, and SGT Julian Harris, a fellow soldier from her unit who worked closely with her during their deployment to Afghanistan, only to tragically lose his battle while still on active duty.  

 

Deploying with soldiers who once stood shoulder to shoulder, only to return with empty spaces in the formation, spaces that would eventually be filled by someone new, left an eerie and lasting impact. She attended too many funerals of soldiers gone too soon, witnessing grief-stricken families and feeling the weight of their loss long after the services ended.  

 

As a Signal Officer, she was often appointed as an Investigating Officer, a duty that exposed her to the harsh realities of loss in ways no training could prepare her for. She sifted through tragic details, examined photos no one should have to see, and inspected bloodstained vehicles to determine whether a soldier's death happened "in the line of duty", a distinction that decided whether a grieving family would receive benefits. But once the final report was written and the benefits determined, who ensured the soldier’s legacy endured? Who made sure the families didn’t feel forgotten?  

 

Then came her own battle, medically retired due to an injury sustained on her final deployment to Korea. It was then she realized a harsh truth: service alone wasn’t always valued enough. Soldiers return home as different people, changed in ways only other service members truly understand. Some come back to families who underestimated their sacrifices, deployments survived without a single letter or care package, homecomings met with minimal support, missing milestones that made them feel like outsiders in their own lives.  

 

With all these experiences, one undeniable truth became clear: the fight doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. That’s why she created Elite Edition Inc., to ensure that families never feel alone after losing their hero, and that the legacies of all the serve and currently serve, whether military or first responders, are celebrated. Their service mattered. Their sacrifices mattered. And their names will live on.