TULALIP — It was a night for festive song, flavorful cuisine and terrible impressions of Marlon Brando in The Godfather, but it was also a moment to honor those who had sacrificed on behalf of others.

The seventh annual Taste of Tulalip’s dinner Nov. 13 offered rustic polenta lasagna, seared Chilean sea bass and Filet Mignon Braciole, all served Italian family-style, as the Tulalip Resort Casino’s Executive Chef Perry Mascitti and Sommelier Tommy Thompson provided diners with insights on the wine and dishes before them.

“You all are mi familia, my family,” Mascitti said, affecting an intentionally bad Italian accent. “We’re surrounded by artisan winemakers and chefs who poured their hearts out for what you’re about to enjoy here.”

Thompson added: “By serving everyone from the same shared plates, it encourages you all to speak to each other.”

Lisa Severn, director of food and beverages for the casino, drew parallels between the meal’s spirit of fellowship and the generosity of community service organizations that the Tulalip Tribes seek to reward.

Representatives of the group “Heartbeat: Serving Wounded Warriors” received two checks for $10,000 each, one from Tulalip Resort President and COO Ken Kettler, and the other from Tulalip Tribal Chairman Mel Sheldon Jr.

Sheldon explained that Heartbeat serves veterans and their families at no cost, seeing to their physical and psychological needs with SCUBA, equine and upcoming dog therapy programs.

“It’s critical that we serve those who gave up so much for our freedoms,” Sheldon said. “I was a Vietnam veteran, and if programs like this had been around back then, it would have changed everything. This is truly healing medicine.”

Heartbeat’s Janice Buckley presented Sheldon with a plaque in recognition of the Tribes’ contributions, while fellow representative Helen Smythe noted that an average of 23 veterans commit suicide every day.

“We must do better for them,” said Smythe, who added that Heartbeat has two Christmas programs coming up, one to “adopt” military families for the holidays, and another to stuff hundreds of military members’ stockings.

“We cannot do this alone,” she added. “We’re not federally funded. All of our money goes to the local community. By swearing an oath, these veterans wrote a blank check to their country, up to and including the cost of their own lives, to keep us free. So now, it’s our turn to serve them back.”